20 Hardest Places to Win in Europe's Top Leagues This Season
20 Hardest Places to Win in Europe's Top Leagues This Season
There's a lot talked about home advantage in football. Be it the familiarity of the setting, the condition of the playing surface or the influence of a partisan crowd, there's no disputing teams do better in their home stadiums than on the road.
According to one study, 64 percent of all points won in the English professional leagues are earned by the home side.
In this article I'm going to take a look at statistics across Europe's top leagues this season (Spain, France, Germany, Italy and England) to see which stadiums are the hardest to play in for visiting teams.
My primary criteria will be the percentage of points gained from home league fixtures this season. To separate those with the same score, I'll then look at teams' aggregate scores from their home league games this season.
20. Allianz Arena
Bayern Munich have enjoyed some emphatic home victories this season, including a 7-0 hammering of Freiburg, a 5-0 demolition of Hamburg and 4-0 wins against Nurnberg and Hertha Berlin. But they've also been beaten by both Borrusia clubs at the Allianz Arena. Bayern's aggregate score in home league games this season is still an impressive 32-5 in their favor, however.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 71 percent
19. Parc Des Princes
Big-spending PSG have won six of eight at home in Ligue 1 this season, collecting 18 from a possible 24 points on offer at the Parc des Princes. Their aggregate home score in the league is 13-6.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 75 percent
18. Stade De Gerland
Lyon have taken 16 points from a possible 21 at home in Ligue 1 this season, with their only defeat at Stade de Gerland coming in the recent 2-1 reverse to Stade Rennes. Their aggregate score at home in the league is 14-6.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 76 percent
17. Sports Direct Arena
Newcastle United have won 14 of a possible 18 points available at home this season, and remain unbeaten at the Sports Direct Arena in the Premier League. Their aggregate home score is 10-5 in favor of the Toon Army.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 78 percent
16. Juventus Stadium
Juventus are unbeaten in six Serie A home games this season, having won four and drawn twice. It seems their new stadium is proving a hard place to come and win at, much like their old one. Juve's aggregate home score is 14-5.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 78 percent
15. San Siro (AC Milan)
AC Milan have won four straight Serie A home games at the San Siro, having started the new campaign with two draws in the iconic stadium they share with Inter. Milan's aggregate score at home is 15-4 in the league this season. Interestingly, Inter's in a 6-4 reverse, which explains why they're languishing in 16th right now.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 78 percent
14. La Rosaleda
Malaga are a club boosted by new investment and with serious ambitions of breaking the El Clasico stranglehold in La Liga. They've made a good start at home this season, winning four from five, with their only defeat at La Rosaleda coming against Madrid. Their aggregate home score in the league is 10-7.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 80 percent
13. Ciutat De Valencia
Levante have won four from five at home in La Liga this season, including a shocking 1-0 defeat of Real Madrid. Their aggregate score at the Ciutat De Valencia is 10-5.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 80 percent
12. White Hart Lane
Tottenham have beaten Liverpool, Arsenal, QPR and Aston Villa in their last four Premier League home games. That said, they did lose the first of the season 5-1 to Manchester City. Overall, their aggregate score at home in the league is a 12-7 win.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 80 percent
11. Weserstadion
Werder Bremen have won four from five at home in the Bundesliga this season, with their only defeat coming against a strong Borussia Dortmund team. Their aggregate score at the Weserstadion is 14-8.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 80 percent
10. Borussia-Park
Borussia Mönchengladbach battered Werder Bremen 5-1 last time out at their home, Borussia-Park. They've won five and drawn two of their seven home games in the Bundesliga this season, giving them an aggregate score of 16-5.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 81 percent
9. The Emirates
Since losing their home opener 2-0 to Liverpool, Arsenal have won five Premier League games in a row at The Emirates, beating Swansea, Bolton, Sunderland, Stoke and West Brom to take their aggregate home score to 12-4 for the season.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 83 percent
8. Old Trafford
Manchester United have seen off Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Norwich and Sunderland at Old Trafford this season, but the most memorable result was of course their 6-1 home loss to Manchester City. Despite that, their aggregate home score in the league is still 18-9 in their favor.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 83 percent
7. Westfalenstadion
Borussia Dortmund have won their last three home Bundesliga games 4-0, 5-0 and 5-1. The only mark on their card at the Westfalenstadion this season is a 2-1 defeat to Hertha Berlin. Dortmund's aggregate home score is 20-4.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 83 percent
6. Stade De La Mosson
Montpellier have taken 18 points from a possible 21 at home in Ligue 1 this season, with their only defeat at the Stade De La Mosson coming against the mightly PSG. Their aggregate home score is 16-7 in their favor.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 86 percent
5. Camp Nou
Barcelona's aggregate score at home in La Liga this season is a ridiculous 30-0 victory. That said, a scoreless home draw against Sevilla has cost them in this list.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 90 percent
4. Stadio Renzo Barbera
Palermo have beaten Inter Milan, Cagliari, Siena, Lecce and Bologna at home this season in Serie A, and they've yet to drop a point at the Stadio Renzo Barbera. Their aggregate home score is 14-6.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 100 percent
3. Stadio Friuli
Udinese have beaten Fiorentina, Bologna, Novaro, Palermo and Siena at home this season in Serie A. They've yet to drop a point at Stadio Friuli and have only conceded once in five games. Their aggregate score at home in the league is a dominant 10-1.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 100 percent
2. Etihad Stadium
Manchester City have entertained Swansea, Wigan, Everton, Aston Villa, Wolves and Newcastle in Premier League games at the Etihad this season. They've won every game, with an aggregate score of 19-3 in their favor.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 100 percent
1. The Bernabeu
Jose Mourinho is the master of home dominance, so it's no surprise to find his Real Madrid team with a 100 percent record at the Bernabeu in La Liga this season. Madrid have scored a remarkable 24 goals in five games at home, with an aggregate score of 24-6 in their favor.
Percentage of points won from home league matches: 100 percent