Michael Lee
The 5 best defences in Europe in 22-23: Barcelona, Juve...
We’re only a few games into the new season, but several top teams from across Europe can boast watertight defences.
The Premier League’s most successful manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, once claimed "attack wins you games, defence wins you titles" - and it's a theory that's generally been proven correct throughout football history.
With the European season cranking into gear, some sides have been incredibly difficult to score against. Wolves have the best defence in the Premier League with just four goals conceded in six matches, but some sides on the continent have let in even fewer.
We've counted down the top 5 teams in Europe’s top five leagues with the least goals conceded so far this season.
=4. Juventus - 2 goals
The most successful team in Italian football history have endured a mediocre couple of seasons and have made a stuttering start to the 2022-23 campaign.
Despite the high-profile arrivals of Paul Pogba, Angel di Maria and Filip Kostic over the summer, Juve have won just two of their five Serie A matches to date.
Draws against Sampdoria, Roma and Fiorentina aren't acceptable in Turin and manager Massimiliano Allegri will be under huge pressure if results don't improve significantly over the coming weeks.
On the positive side, Juve's defence has been rock solid despite the departure of Giorgio Chellini at the end of last season.
=4. Atalanta - 2 goals
The success of Atalanta over recent seasons has been one of European football's biggest fairytale stories and they've started the 2022-23 campaign in hugely impressive form.
After finishing eighth last year, missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time in three seasons, the Bergamo-based side top the embryonic Serie A table after four wins and a draw from their first five matches.
And Atalanta have only conceded two goals - to AC Milan and Torino - so far, making them the joint meanest defence in Italy.
=2. Athletic Bilbao - 1 goal
Known for its policy of only fielding Basque players, Athletic Bilbao continue to thrive in the modern game and have made a solid start to the new La Liga season.
Having just missed out on European qualification last season, Athletic have conceded just one goal in a home defeat to Espanyol last weekend.
But, after starting the campaign with three consecutive clean sheets, not many Spanish sides will relish facing Athletic in 22-23 especially since they've re-signed former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera to protect their backline.
=2. Barcelona - 1 goal
Barcelona made headlines across Europe for their jaw-dropping transfer dealings this summer but, whilst Robert Lewandowski bangs in the goals at the other end, Barca's defence has been almost watertight in their opening La Liga matches.
Xavi's side have conceded just one so far - in their 4-1 win at Real Sociedad in August - with new signings Jules Kounde and Andres Christensen otherwise repelling opposing strikers with ease.
Speaking about his move to Camp Nou, Kounde said: "Barca is still a club able to attract anyone, and the manager was very important too. He gave me a lot of confidence and I liked his way of approaching football.
"It was an easy choice for me because he gave me all that I was looking for."
And Barca fans will be hoping for more expert defending as they look to wrestle the La Liga crown away from Real Madrid.
1. Villarreal - 0 goals
But Barcelona don't have the most impressive defensive record in Europe's big five leagues; step forward Unai Emery's Villarreal, who are yet to concede this season.
Last season's Champions League semi-finalists have already kept clean sheets against Valladolid, Atletico Madrid, Getafe and Elche and few would back against Emery's side retaining their defensive tightness throughout the entire year - even if it's inevitable they'll eventually concede a goal or two.
After finishing seventh in the last two seasons, watch out for Villarreal as they look to challenge the Big Two in La Liga.
