| Updated: November 6, 2025As Europe’s top seven leagues edge past the first quarter of the 2025/26 campaign, defensive records are coming into sharp focus. With 9 to 11 rounds now completed across the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Liga Portugal, and Eredivisie, patterns are beginning to crystallise – revealing which sides are setting the standard for resilience and control. Sportingpedia’s latest analysis drills into the clean-sheet leaders, the stingiest backlines, and the clubs best at limiting damage on off-days, painting a nuanced portrait of Europe’s elite defences as autumn gives way to winter.
One of the report’s most striking revelations: Portuguese clubs have established a new defensive benchmark, with five of the top ten clean-sheet rates belonging to Liga Portugal sides. Gil Vicente, in particular, have set an extraordinary early-season standard – blanking opponents in 80% of their matches, a ratio that eclipses even Europe’s heavyweights. Elsewhere, Arsenal and Porto stand out as the continent’s hardest teams to break down, each conceding just 0.3 goals per game – a level of consistency that has underpinned their strong starts and keeps their title hopes alive.
Teams with the highest clean sheet percentage in Europe’s top 7 leagues for the 2025/26 season
Data Source: soccerstats.com
Clean Sheets: The Gold Standard for Defence
In the race for defensive supremacy, Gil Vicente have set a new benchmark, shutting out opponents in 8 of their first 10 league matches – a remarkable 80% clean-sheet rate that stands alone across Europe’s major leagues. Not far behind, a trio on 70% – Arsenal, Porto, and Famalicao, each with 7 clean sheets in 10 matches – demonstrate a level of defensive discipline more commonly associated with title-winning campaigns. The Bundesliga adds a German flavour to the leaderboard, as both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich boast 6 shutouts from 9 games (67%), underlining consistency despite the lower number of matches. Liga Portugal’s dominance is further underlined by Sporting Lisbon and Benfica (6 in 10, 60%), while Lazio match their tally in Serie A. Lyon’s 6 clean sheets from 11 Ligue 1 matches (55%) may appear less spectacular, but over the largest sample among leaders, it signals a defensive unit capable of grinding out results week after week.
Portuguese clubs account for half of the top ten, an emphatic signal that defensive efficiency is clustered around the Liga Portugal this season. The Bundesliga duo, meanwhile, prove their mettle by nearly matching the Portuguese output despite playing fewer games, hinting at high defensive ceilings and little room for error.
Teams in Europe’s Top 7 Leagues with the Lowest Average Goals Conceded per Match
Data Source: soccerstats.com
Fewest Goals Conceded Per Game: The Defensive Lockdown
Clean sheets tell one story, but sustained resistance is measured by goals allowed per match. Here, Arsenal and Porto share the continental benchmark, both conceding just 0.30 goals per game – a platform that gives their attacking units the breathing space to win tight contests. Gil Vicente, Famalicao, and Benfica are clustered just behind at 0.40, while Bayern Munich’s 0.44 keeps the Bundesliga in close company. Sporting Lisbon and Roma, at 0.50, Como at 0.60, and Borussia Dortmund at 0.67 round out the elite group.
Again, Portugal dominates the upper tier: four of the five best per-game records belong to clubs originating from there, underlining a collective commitment to disciplined structure and compact blocks. The margin at the top is razor-thin, meaning a single late concession or deflected goal can alter the rankings dramatically, magnifying the importance of those extra clean sheets.
Average Goals Conceded Per Match
(excluding games with a clean sheet)
Data Source: soccerstats.com
When Clean Sheets Slip: Damage Control
Elite defences do not just shine on their best days – they minimise risk when breached. Excluding matches with clean sheets, six clubs have mastered the art of limiting the damage, conceding exactly 1.00 goals per non-shutout game: Arsenal, Porto, Benfica, Roma, Como, and Atalanta. This ‘damage control’ profile is the hallmark of well-drilled units – rarely collapsing, even on off-days. Alaves (1.11) and Inter (1.17) keep games within reach, while Sporting Lisbon and Lens (1.25) round out the leaders. Serie A is particularly well represented, providing four clubs to this list, reflecting the Italian tradition of defensive control. Portugal’s leading trio again show that, even when clean sheets are lost, defensive standards rarely dip into chaos.
Arsenal and Porto double presence – conceding just 0.30 per game overall and only once when breached – illustrates the defensive balance of the teams as adept at managing setbacks as shutting out opponents. Inter’s inclusion here, despite missing the overall per-game leaders, hints at a squad capable of stemming the tide after the initial setback. Meanwhile, the likes of Alaves and Lens prove that disciplined defensive responses are not the sole preserve of title favourites, but can underpin survival or mid-table campaigns as well.