5 clubs with the best defense in the world this season

Share

Tweet

Share

Share

Email

Comments

A complete back four is what a team truly needs in order to solve the defensive issues. The likes of Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich have made sure that they are able to stop any kind of attacking options executed by the opposition. Defense is where it starts and where it ends for any of the football teams, and a good defense can make or break the starting 11.

Football clubs in recent times have broken more records, both in the transfer window and on the pitch. The ability to stop the opposition is an extremely important step that the back four needs to be taking, and these 5 teams have been successful in developing an extremely strong back line with some of the best stoppers in the world.

Currently, these teams have conceded the least number of goals in their respective leagues, but have also drawn attention by making some of the most important tackles and interceptions. These teams definitely hold the best defensive lineups in the world.

---

#5 Liverpool

Ever since the arrival of the Dutchman Virgil Van Dijk last season, Liverpool have been extremely powerful in terms of having the most consistent and alert defense in the world. Having conceded only 4 times in the current Premier League season, the Reds have made sure that no attacking options could be executed. With the likes of Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren, Liverpool’s defense is a true example of how defenders should really be lining up.

With Van Dijk being the leader of their defensive line, Gini Wijnaldum is often seen falling back with Lovren or Gomez, forming a 3 man defense, allowing the full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson to make their runs and enabling width into the game. With their extremely tight defense, Liverpool are once again the contenders to win the Premier League title.

#4 Manchester City

Manchester City is known for its defensive prowess, as their options on and off the bench are extremely vivid. With the recent inclusion of Aymeric Laporte, City’s defense is more than a complete package. The veterans Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany often make appearances and have been the most important defenders in the club’s history.

With John Stones and Laporte being the first choice for Guardiola this season, they have been able to stop every single team that stepped in front of them.

Fernandinho adds on to the defensive line and has been a ‘rock’ of a defensive midfielder, stopping plays and being an occasional attacker at the same time. The full-backs, Mendy and Walker provide width to City’s machinery and have had a grand time contributing to the offense and the defense.

#3 Barcelona

They may not have the most consistent defensive lineup in the world, but Barcelona surely remain on top of the League table even with 12 goals conceded. The fact that a strong duo of centre-backs is what truly makes a defense glow, La Blaugrana have adapted all sorts of attacking prowesses and have been successful in stopping them. With Gerard Pique being the leader of the back four, Sergio Busquets is often seen falling behind forming a trio with Pique Umtiti or Clement Lenglet.

Jordi Alba being the aggressor from the left, and Sergi Roberto, who is seen to link up the play for the midfielders, the Barcelona defense has been a wall in front of the opposition. Their recent El Clasico match against Real Madrid was evident of the fact that they can carry this form all the way to the UEFA Champions League title, and can also be aiming for a treble.

#2 Chelsea

Maurizio Sarri’s introduction brought back the good ole’ back four system to the Stamford Bridge, keeping the ‘Park the Bus’ system alive. Both David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger have been able to keep their heads high and have executed some of the most important defensive plays that the Chelsea fans are happy to see. In order to keep their defense tighter, their holding midfielders N’golo Kante and Jorginho have had a great time dismantling the opposition midfield, and have the ability to link up the play with their forwards.

The fact that the Blues have had a dream start to their season, Maurizio Sarri has aligned his defense in a manner that only 7 goals have been conceded so far this season, and this has been their best start since the 2016/17 Premier League season. An important thing to also note here is the fact that they are the contenders to win the Europa League this season.

#1 Atletico Madrid

The ‘unbreachable defense’ is what they are called, as Atletico Madrid have had an extremely tight defensive mechanism since the arrival of Diego Simeone. With their two strong defenders Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin, who conceded the least number of goals in the world cup 2018, have proven to be two of the best defenders in the world. Even when they are standing 4th in the La Liga table, they have conceded only 5 goals this season.

The full-backs, on the other hand, have played an important role in order to stabilize the defense. Lucas Hernandez and Santiago Arias have been able to apply width into the system and can fall back to the defensive line in no time at all, building the natural back four line and forming a ‘wall’ for the opposition to stop their attack.