LaLiga side leads the way
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A 12-yard free shot at goal. The whole stadium watching in anticipation of just one kick of a football. Not many moments in the game are more nervy and dramatic than a penalty kick. The awarding of them in itself usually carries its own element of chaos, and fans often celebrate receiving a spot-kick like a goal. Research has shown that if a player takes a penalty during normal time, they score on average 85% of the time. However, there have been numerous occasions where fans all across Europe will claim a penalty was given unfairly against their side, and many more circumstances where they will argue their team should have received a penalty but the referee didn’t point to the spot.
So which teams have benefitted the most from penalties this season? As the campaign draws to a close in Europe’s top divisions, here at Transfermarkt, we have calculated which top-five league teams have received the most and fewest penalty kicks this term. Plenty of the continent’s best sides appear on both lists. The results only take into account league games in the Premier League, LaLiga, the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 this season.
Which top-5 league teams have received the most penalties this season?
Leading the way, having received the most penalties in the top-five leagues this season, are none other than Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have received as many as 13 league penalties, but have only converted 10 of them. Kylian Mbappé has taken eight of them (88% score ratio), Vinicius Junior has taken three (67% score ratio), and Jude Bellingham has taken two (50% score ratio). There are then seven teams who have received 10 penalties.
Bayern Munich and Le Havre have converted nine of them. Lyon, Marseille, and Deportivo Alavés have scored eight, whilst Lille and Real Betis have scored seven of their 10 spot-kicks. Liverpool and Osasuna complete the top ten having both scored all of the nine penalties they have been awarded this season. Liverpool have received two more penalties than any other team in the Premier League, with Bournemouth next on the list having been awarded seven.
Which top-5 league teams have received the fewest penalties this season?
At the other end of the scale, there hasn’t been much luck for LaLiga side Rayo Vallecano, who have been awarded just one penalty all season. And even that one, they missed. They are the only side in Europe’s top-five leagues to have only been given one spot-kick all campaign. There are then three teams who have been awarded two penalties but missed both of them – Como, Genoa and Southampton join Vallecano as teams who haven’t scored a single league penalty this term. Augsburg, Stade Reims, and St Pauli have been awarded two penalties and scored just one of them.
Surprisingly, Arsenal have been awarded just two league penalties this season, scoring both. They are the only team in the top 10, who are in the top seven of their league at this moment in time. Everton and Hellas Verona are also included in the top 10, having scored both of the two spot-kicks they have been given this campaign.
