Stats Analysis: The Entertainers - Goals per Game

Having recently entered the second half of the season we feel it is a good time to ascertain Europe's top entertainers from each of the top 5 leagues and the best grounds to visit for guaranteed goalmouth action. We have taken into account the sides that not only score the most goals, but also concede often and combined these figures accordingly.

The outcome sees some surprising results when it comes to most goals per game (both scored and conceded) for each team in their respective top-flights. We will look at the sides that top the league in this regard but also pay attention to the teams in the top 5 with the smallest goal difference to prove where to go if you're a neutral looking for action at both ends of the field.

Premier League

The fact that league leaders Manchester City are joint top for the average number of goals in their games this season comes as no surprise having netted 60 times thus far. However, it would take a more observant fan to guess that they would share the top spot here with Blackburn Rovers.

The Premier League strugglers appearance will no doubt draw assumptions that they feature merely due to the number of goals that they have conceded (45), but Kean's side haven't found it hard to hit the net this season, with only Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, United and City scoring more than their 33. On average games involving Blackburn or Manchester City see 3.55 goals scored per game.

Perhaps another surprise inclusion is that of newly promoted Norwich, whose games have been extremely tight in the most part up to now, no matter who the opposition may be, which is great credit to the work of Paul Lambert. His side has hit the ground running in terms of goals with 32 in the league, of which 15 have been scored by the strike partnership of Holt and Morison. The Scot will be keen to tighten up the 6th worst defensive record in the league (36 conceded), however, but if you're looking for goals, get down to Carrow Road!

Serie A

It isn't a shock to see Serie A leaders Juventus miss out here, building their success on an up-to-now excellent defensive record, but the fact that AC Milan don't top the pile may surprise many. It is in fact Genoa whose games this season have seen the most goals scored (64) with 4 more than joint-second placed Milan and Napoli overall.

Their games have tended to be fairly even thus far, scoring 28 and conceding 36, so a trip to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris should ensure entertainment. In addition, the return to fitness of star man Rodrigo Palacio should certainly prevent any downturn in this regard with the Argentine netting his 10th and 11th goals of the season against Napoli last time out. Remarkably there has been 31 goals scored in Genoa's last 6 matches in the league (5.17 per game), and the Rossoblu fans are definitely getting their money's worth!

In terms of the top 5 in the Serie A for goals per game Parma's goal difference of -8 is identical to Genoa's, proving that strikes in their games often come at both ends too. The Crociati, led by top goalscorer Sebastian Giovinco, have netted 25 goals this season but leaked 33 at the back (the 4th most in the league) as they struggle to break out of mid-table mediocrity.

La Liga

Spain's La Liga certainly produces the least surprising top 5 in this regard, with Madrid leading Barca by a considerable distance - much like the gap building up in the title race. Mourinho's side have scored a whopping 70 goals already this season and, other than in games against their fierce rivals, it is a good time to be a Real Madrid fan. They have seen a European high average of 4.45 goals per game netted between the sides in league matches this season.

Madrid have also conceded 7 more goals than Barcelona this season (19), so if you're looking for an over 2.5 goal bet then look no further than the La Liga leaders. When it comes to goals at either end, Atletico Madrid have been traditionally potent in front of goal at times but somewhat weak at the back, away from home in particular, conceding 27 goals to leave a goal difference of +4, with 2.9 goals scored per game in their outings.

Bundesliga

The goals have flown in in the Bundesliga this season, with Bayern Munich setting the early pace only to drop points and allow a 4-way title race to take shape. The 3rd placed side in that battle, Schalke, are in great form having won their last 5 games and have been involved in some crackers this season, scoring just 1 less than the league leaders thus far (45).

They have top scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to thank for this, with 16 goals in his 18 starts, though veteran Raul has also shipped in with 10 from a deeper role to ensure a deadly front line. In conceding 24 goals Schalke's matches have seen 69 goals scored in comparison to Bayern's 59 and having played just 19 times the average of 3.63 goals scored in their games is the second highest in Europe behind Real Madrid.

While Solbakken's Cologne have played in some memorable games this season, in terms of even action in either goal-mouth Werder Bremen are one of the league's most unpredictable sides. The fans have seen their side score 31 goals this season and reach 5th place in the process, but despite their decent position they have a negative goal difference having let in 32 goals, indicating that the top 4 will take some catching.

Ligue 1

There is no doubt as to whom the surprise package has been in Ligue 1 this season, with Montpellier's entertaining style attracting plenty of admiring glances thus far. La Paillade are the top scorers in France this season with 41 goals, with star striker Olivier Giroud netting 38% of those (15) to lead the league's scoring charts by a clear 6 goals.

The second placed outfit have a decent but beatable defence having conceded 23 goals this season, meaning their games average 3.05 per match between both sides. Newly-promoted Evian Thonon Gaillar have also shocked many with the comfortable manner in which they have adapted to the top-flight, sitting 12th. They haven't struggled in front of goal (28) but have conceded 32 goals, with plenty of their games settled by the odd effort.

So, Blackburn fans may be bitter about their current standing but cannot doubt the entertainment value given by their side, while the likes of Schalke and Montpellier are finding form at the right end to ensure unlikely bids for the title despite playing open and free-flowing football.