Tiebreaker Format Across Europe’s Top Five Leagues

Ever wondered why some clubs are ranked weirdly on the log? Ever wondered why a club is placed above another despite having an inferior goal difference? This is called a tiebreaker and this article aims to shed light on that. 

All over Europe, different leagues have their different ways of ranking teams who are tied on the log. This is called a tiebreaker. In this article, we discuss which league uses what as their tiebreaker.

Serie a

There are a total of 20 clubs that participate in the league every season and each club faces the other twice. This system is known as the Double round-robin system where one of the games is played at a home stadium and the other in the opponent’s stadium.

Rankings in this league is based on points. the club with the most points is crowned the champion at the end of the season.

In a situation whereby two or more clubs have an equal number of points, the use of a tiebreaker becomes necessary.

The following are the tiebreakers used:

• Head-to-head records (results and points)

The head-to-head record is a criterion used to differentiate between two or more teams level on points by using the result of their two previous meetings during the course of the season. The club with superior head-to-head points will be crowned the winner.

• Head-to-head goal difference

If head-to-head results cannot be used to separate the teams, the next criterion used is the goal difference in these head-to-head games. Whichever team scored the most goals, wins.

• Overall goal difference

If the teams still can’t be separated using the previously mentioned methods, a third tiebreaker would be employed; the overall goal difference. This is determined by the difference between the goals scored and goals conceded by the team during the entire season. The team with a higher goal difference wins.

Points Needed To Clinch The Title Across Europe’s Top Five Leagues

Premier League

The Premier League also has a total of 20 participating clubs every season. The club with the most points at the end of the season is crowned champion.

In the case whereby more than one club finishes with the same number of points, their spot on the Premier League standings is determined by goal difference.

The club with the higher goal difference wins and is crowned champion.

If the teams can still not be separated after the use of goal difference, then the number of goals scored is used. This means the club which has scored the most goals will be declared the winner.

If all is still tied at the end, a playoff at a neutral venue is carried out.

Click here to find out how many points clubs across Europe need to secure the title.

La Liga

The Spanish League also has a total of 20 clubs every season. The club with the most points at the end of the season wins.

In the advent of two or more tied teams, the following is the order in which the tiebreaker is used: 

• Head-to-head records (results and points)
• Head-to-head goal difference
• Overall goal difference

Bundesliga

In the German league, the deciding tiebreakers are as follows:

• Goal difference
• Total goals scored
• Head-to-head records (total points)
• Head-to-head goals scored
• Head-to-head away goals scored
• Total away goals scored
• Play-off at a neutral venue

Ligue 1

In the French league, the tiebreaker follows thus:

• Goal difference
• Number of goals scored
• Play-off at a neutral venue

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