Top 15 Ranked Clubs
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The significance of maintaining a large, high-caliber squad is paramount, especially in today’s game. With most elite leagues permitting five substitutions per match, managers are reminded of the crucial impact that bench players can have on the outcome of matches. While star players in the starting lineup attract the most attention, the depth of a team can often be the deciding factor in winning league titles. So, which clubs are leveraging their substitutes the most effectively this season? Let’s delve into the details.
In the top five leagues, LaLiga’s Rayo Vallecano and Brighton stand out, having both scored the most goals (11) from players who started on the bench. Interestingly, while Rayo has netted a total of 30 goals, Brighton is slightly behind with 29, meaning a larger percentage of the Seagulls’ goals have come from substitutes. Notably, Álvaro Garcia has made a significant impact for Rayo with five goals from the bench this season. Meanwhile, Brighton’s veteran Danny Welbeck and rising star Stefanos Tzimas have both excelled, each scoring twice after coming on as substitutes.
Arsenal’s Quest for the Top
Atlético Madrid is just shy of a podium finish in the goals scored by substitutes category, closely trailing Monaco, which holds third place with ten goals to Atlético’s nine. Four of those nine goals for the Rojiblancos have come from Antoine Griezmann. Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain also shares the same tally as Atlético, but they’ve achieved theirs from a higher total of 40 goals, compared to Diego Simeone’s 34.
Hot on the heels of these leading clubs are Arsenal, who currently boast seven goals from the bench across all competitions. However, Mikel Arteta’s team has faced challenges in maximizing their bench’s potential in the Premier League, managing just two goals from substitutes: Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli, each contributing one goal. There’s certainly room for improvement if the North London side aims to compete for the league title this season.
