Almeria currently sit rock bottom of the La Liga table with a measly seven points after 24 games played. This poor record has left them with just 14 games left to avoid becoming one of the worst ever sides to have participated in the top five European leagues, but still without a win in the league, it’s hard to see where they pick up any points in their remaining games.
This awful season for Almeria so far has brought up the topic of who the worst sides to have taken part in Europe’s top five leagues are, and in this article we’re going to delve into the top five worst performing teams in the history of these leagues (since three points for a win was introduced).
5. Pescara – Serie A 2016/17 (18)
Starting off we have the Serie A who actually have two big contenders for this spot. While Pescara are listed here as the team to have finished with the lowest points tally after 38 games with just 18 points, the official lowest is Chievo Verona who actually finished the 2018/19 season with one less in 17. However, Chievo’s point tally was decreased through the season when they were deducted three points for false accounting, but we’ve decided to keep Pescara here as the team who finished with the least points without the help of deductions.
Pescara recorded an equal number of points through wins and draws during the season as they managed three wins and nine draws, leaving them with 26 losses. While they did score 37 goals in their 38 games, the most of any of these worst five sides, they also conceded a huge 81 goals that left them with a massive -44 goal difference.
4. RC Lens – Ligue 1 1988/89 (17)
Taking fourth spot by just a one point difference is RC Lens’ 1988/89 season in which they recorded 17 points, 18 less than Stade Lavallois who finished in 19th with 35 points.
Lens also recorded just three wins throughout the season, but just eight draws compared to Pescara’s nine leaves them with one less point overall. 32 goals scored and 73 goals conceded left them with a slightly superior goal difference than fifth place though, as they finished with a -41 goal difference come the end of their season.
While Pescara haven’t been able to bounce back since their record breaking season, RC Lens have managed to shoot back up the leagues with them now in the top half of the Ligue 1 table, although they have had significantly longer since their own record season.
3. Schalke 04 – Bundesliga 2020/21 (16)
With one point less once again Schalke 04 take third spot and come into the top five as the most recent of any side to have recorded their awful season.
In a season largely played behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the side who finished runners-up just three seasons earlier were relegated to the second division for the first time in three decades, sparking riots from the supporters. Their 16 points was made up of three wins and seven draws, while they scored the second lowest of these top five worst teams with 25 and conceded the second highest with 86.
Schalke have since been promoted back to the Bundesliga at the first time of trying, before being relegated straight back down to the 2. Bundesliga. This season has seen them fall even further down the league system as they find themselves fighting to even stay in the second division, a huge fall from a once hugely successful club.
2. Sporting Gijon – La Liga 1997/98 (13)
The side who are hoping Almeria can take their record for the lowest points tally in the top flight of Spanish football is Sporting Gijon, who recorded the current lowest tally of just 13 in the 1997/98 season.
Sporting Gijon picked up just two wins and seven draws across their 38 game season, leaving them a massive 26 points below the next lowest team of CP Merida in 19th. A huge 80 goals conceded and just 31 goals scored left them with a -49 goal difference, but with the way Almeria are playing this season they’ll be hoping this record can be taken from them.
1. Derby County – English Premier League 2007/08 (11)
Finally, the worst of the lot currently remains as Derby County’s abysmal 2007/08 Premier League season. 11 points from an entire 38 game season seems almost impossible to pull off, but Derby did exactly that as they finished with eight draws and just one win all season.
The Rams boast the worst offensive and defensive record of any side in this top five list with them scoring 20 goals and conceding a massive 89 goals, averaging just over two goals conceded per game. This left them with an incredible -69 goal difference, one that even this Almeria side who may well score lower points will struggle to beat out as they sit with -29 goal difference 24 games into their season.
2 Comments
by Ben
How about Elche
by chibueze
how about arsenal last season