Europe's most in-form teams heading into the 2022-23 season

Milan celebrate

The new season is approaching at an unprecedented pace due to the winter World Cup in Qatar, so we looked at the teams who have the best form heading into the new campaign.

We’ve ranked the form of the top three teams in the Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 based on their results in their last six games of the 2021-22 season.

Can these teams who finished so well continue their good form? 

 

Premier League

1. Manchester City: WWWWDW

3-2 vs Aston Villa (h)
2-2 vs West Ham (a)
1-5 vs Wolves (a)
5-0 vs Newcastle (h)
0-4 vs Leeds United (a)
5-1 vs Watford (h)

Manchester City finished off a dominant title-winning season in style, with 16 points from a possible 18 in their last six matches. They had to show some real character in their final two fixtures, coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against West Ham and then next was a fantastic 3-2 victory over Aston Villa, scoring three goals in five minutes to come back from 2-0 down to seal their sixth league title in 10 years. 

First game: West Ham (a)

 

2. Liverpool: WWDWWW

3-1 vs Wolves (h)
1-2 vs Southampton (a)
1-2 vs Aston Villa (a)
1-1 vs Spurs (h)
0-1 vs Newcastle (a)
2-0 vs Everton (h)

Liverpool also finished off a tremendous season in good fashion, getting 16 points from a possible 18, taking the Premier League title race down to the wire. Their costly result came against Tottenham in their penultimate home match, drawing 1-1 in a game that could have easily gone either way. It was a worthy end to a fantastic season though and they can take confidence from that into the 2022-23 campaign. 

First game: Fulham (a)

3. Tottenham Hotspur: DWDWWW

0-5 vs Norwich (a)
1-0 vs Burnley (h)
3-0 vs Arsenal (h)
1-1 vs Liverpool (a)
3-1 vs Leicester (h)
0-0 vs Brentford (a)

Antonio Conte has breathed new life into Tottenham since joining the club in November and that was characterised by their conclusion to the season. They needed to ensure they didn’t drop any unnecessary points as they battled with Arsenal for that 4th spot. They did extremely well, getting 14 points from six matches, beating Arsenal in the process in their biggest game of the season to ensure their first Champions League qualification since 2019. 

First game: Southampton (h)

 

La Liga

1. Real Valladolid: WLWWWW

3-0 vs Huesca (h)
1-2 vs UD Ibiza-Eivissa (a)
2-0 vs Ponferradina (h)
0-1 vs Eibar (a)
1-2 vs Real Sociedad B (h)
0-1 vs Mirandes (a)

Real Valladolid returned to the Spanish top-flight at the first opportunity in style, gaining 15 points from their final six games in 2021-22. Every point was absolutely vital too, with their automatic second-placed promotion spot only being confirmed by a win on the last day of the season. In recent years they have been a bit of a yo-yo club, so they will be hoping to take that confidence to La Liga.

First game: Villarreal (h)

 

2. Almeria: WWWWDD
The team that lifted the title in the Spanish Segunda were equally impressive, winning four and drawing two of their last six matches. Like Valladolid, they needed every point as they only secured automatic promotion on the last day of the season with a 1-1 draw with Leganes. This was Almeria’s first major trophy since the club’s reformation in 1989, so their fans must have been very nervous in their final games. 

2-2 vs Leganes (a)
1-1 vs Alcoron (h)
0-2 vs Real Sociedad B (a)
3-0 vs Amorebieta (h)
0-2 vs Burgos (a)
1-0 vs Sporting Gijon (h)
2-2 vs Valladolid (a)

First game: Real Madrid (h)

 

3. Real Madrid: WWLWDD
It’s unsurprising to see the Spanish and European champions in this list as Carlo Ancelotti’s Galacticos reigned triumphant yet again. The only surprise is that they lost once and drew another in their final six fixtures. Atletico Madrid gained temporary bragging rights in early May after beating them 1-0 at the Metropolitano Stadium and Real then dropped four points in their last two league games with the title already secure and the Champions League final around the corner. 

0-0 vs Real Betis (h)
1-1 vs Cadiz (a)
6-0 vs Levante (h)
1-0 vs Atletico Madrid (a)
4-0 vs Espanyol (h)
1-3 vs Osasuna (a)
2-3 vs Sevilla (a)

First game: Almeria (a)

Bundesliga

1. Union Berlin: WWWDWW
Union Berlin came agonisingly close to securing Champions League football for the first time in their history after an incredible last six matches in the Bundesliga, missing out by one point. They were only first promoted to the German topflight in 2019 and have always been in the shadow of their rivals Hertha Berlin… but that is not the case anymore as Hertha in contrast narrowly missed out on relegation. Union also beat Hertha 4-1 away from home to provide the ultimate humiliation. If they can keep that momentum going next season, the future of the club truly is bright. 

3-2 vs Vfl Bochum (h)
1-4 vs SC Freiburg (a)
1-1 vs Furth (h)
1-2 vs RB Leipzig (a)
2-0 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (h)
1-4 vs Hertha Berlin (a)

First game: Hertha Berlin (h)

 

2. Schalke: WWLWWW
Despite being one of the most successful German clubs of all time, the world was shocked to see FC Schalke relegated from the Bundesliga in 2021 after several years of financial worries. But they returned with a bang after getting 15 points from their final six games of the Bundesliga 2 season, which was vital in helping them lift the division title. Schalke fans will hope they are back to stay. 

1-2 vs Nurnberg (a)
3-2 vs FC St. Pauli (h)
1-2 vs SV Sandhausen
1-4 vs Werder Bremen (a)
2-5 vs Darmstadt (a)
2-0 vs Heidenheim (h)

First game: FC Koln (a)

 

3. Bayer Leverkusen: DLWWWW
Bayer Leverkusen are another huge German football club, and they had an emphatic end to the season in the Bundesliga, picking up 13 points from a possible 18. The run helped them grab a spot in the Champions League in 2022-23, with it secured before they dropped five points in the last two games. 

2-1 vs SC Freiburg (h)
2-4 vs Hoffenheim (a)
2-0 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (h)
1-4 vs Greuther Furth (a)
0-1 vs RB Leipzig (h)
0-0 vs VfL Bochum (a)

First game: Borussia Dortmund (a)

Serie A

1. AC Milan: WWWWWW
AC Milan won the scudetto in incredible style after winning six out of their last six games in the Serie A, the only club from Europe’s ‘big five’ to do so in 2021-22. It was their first league title in 11 years and they needed every single one of their points as they had Inter breathing down their necks who finished just two points behind them. It must have been an incredible time to be a football fan in Milan. Will both clubs be dominant again next season? 

0-3 vs Sassuolo (a)
2-0 vs Atalanta (h)
1-3 vs Verona (a)
1-0 vs Fiorentina (h)
1-2 vs Lazio (a)
2-0 vs Genoa (h)

First game: Udinese (h)

 

2. Inter Milan: WLWWWW
As mentioned, Inter missed out on the league title by just two points due to AC Milan’s insane six consecutive wins at the end of the season. But, Inter weren’t far off doing the same and only lost one game, but it was incredibly costly. They lost 2-1 in an away fixture against Bologna who at the time had nothing to play for. I’m sure that game still keeps the Inter players awake at night, but they can take confidence from their good end to the season overall. 

3-0 vs Sampdoria (h)
1-3 vs Cagliari (a)
4-2 vs Empoli (h)
1-2 vs Udinese (a)
2-1 vs Bologna (a) – cost them the title!
3-1 vs Roma (h)

First game: Lecce (a)

 

3. Napoli: DLWWWW
Napoli finished third in a Serie A season where they never looked likely to challenge AC Milan or Inter, but they can certainly be proud of how they finished; winning all of their last four games to ensure Champions League qualification. If they can carry their excellent performances from their last four games then that will stand Luciano Spalletti’s side in good stead.

0-3 vs Spezia (a)
3-0 vs Genoa (h)
0-1 vs Torino (a)
6-1 vs Sassuolo (h)
3-2 vs Empoli (a)
1-1 vs Roma (h)

First game: Verona (a)

 

Ligue 1

1. Monaco: WWWWWD
Monaco haven’t won Ligue 1 since 2017 but their finish to the 2021-22 season was a reminder that they could still threaten PSG in the future. They got 16 points from their last six matches with some great victories over the likes of Lille and Nice in the process. They will have to keep that form up next season though if they have title-winning ambitions. 

2-2 vs Lens (a)
4-2 vs Brest (h)
1-2 vs Lille (a)
2-0 vs Angers (h)
1-4 vs Saint Etienne (a)
1-0 vs Nice (h)

First game: Strasbourg (a)

 

2. Auxerre: WWDWWW (excluding playoffs)
Auxerre clinched promotion to Ligue 1 after winning the playoff final against Saint Etienne on penalties following a barnstorming end to the season. They won five and drew once to secure third place and their first season back in the French top-flight since 2012, a fantastic achievement for them and their supporters. 

2-1  vs Amiens SC (h)
1-2 vs Le Havre (a)
1-0 vs Dunkerque (h)
1-1 vs Caen (a)
1-4 vs Pau FC (a)
1-0 vs Valenciennes (h)

First game: Lille (a)

 

3. AC Ajaccio: WWDWDW

1-0 vs Toulouse (h)
1-1 vs Grenoble Foot 38 (a)
2-1 vs Le Havre (h)
0-0 vs Valenciennes (a)
2-1 vs Dunkerque (h)
0-3 vs Dijon (a)

AC Ajaccio on the other hand did not have to go through the stress of the playoffs, after securing automatic promotion by finishing in second place after going undefeated in their last six matches, winning four and drawing two. They also needed all the points they could get, as they only finished above Auxerre by one point. Next season will be their first in Ligue 1 since 2014, so they will need to take all the confidence they can from their good form into the 2022-23 campaign as they try to survive. 
First game: Olympique Lyonnais (a)