Real Madrid top surprising statistical chart in La Liga

Real Madrid continue to surprise this season with their impressive performance. Despite expectations, the team has an extraordinarily positive expected goal difference (xGD), currently standing at 5.59 goals.

This means that, in La Liga, Real Madrid have scored 41 goals, 5.59 more than they would have based on the quality of the chances they have created.

This remarkable statistic highlights the team’s ability to turn opportunities into goals more effectively than expected.

What exactly is the stat?

Expected goals, or xG, is a statistic used to measure the likelihood that a shot results in a goal. This metric provides insight into the quality of chances a team or player generates, and how well they are at converting these opportunities into actual goals.

The difference between expected goals and actual goals is known as the xGD, which indicates whether a team is outperforming or underperforming based on the chances they create.

Real Madrid currently lead Spain in xGD, with a significant edge over teams like Athletic Club (3.12) and Las Palmas (2.32).

On the other hand, Real Betis have the second-worst xGD in Europe, at -11.76, meaning they have scored 11.76 fewer goals than they should have according to the quality of their chances.

Mbappe and Valverde the protagonists

Across Europe, only four teams have a better xGD than Real Madrid. These teams include Wolves (9.27), Wolfsburg (7.63), and Bayern Munich (5.73).

If not for the recent form of Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid would likely have the best xGD in the continent, although Mbappe has managed to reduce his negative differential in recent games.

One player who epitomizes statistical improvement is Federico Valverde. Known for his powerful and often unpredictable shots, Valverde’s xGD stands at only 0.65.

This means that the five goals he has scored so far this season were far from guaranteed based on the chances he’s had.

His ability to score despite the low expected value of his shots further demonstrates his exceptional finishing skills and the team’s overall impressive efficiency in front of the goal.

Stats taken from SPORT.