Goal difference
Goal difference ranks teams level on points by net goals.
Goal difference, also known as goal differential or points difference, is a tiebreaker used to rank teams that finish with equal points in a league competition. It is calculated as the number of goals scored in all league matches minus the number of goals conceded, and is sometimes referred to simply as plus–minus. Goal difference is zero sum, meaning a gain for one team is exactly balanced by a loss for its opponent, so the sum of goal differences in a league table is always zero if teams have only played each other.
- First sport to use
- Association football
- First major adoption
- 1970 FIFA World Cup
- English league adoption
- 1975
- Replaced
- Goal average (goal ratio)
- Zero sum property
- True
- Alternative name
- Points difference
- Used in
- Ice hockey, association football
Lore & Background
Goal difference replaced the older goal average, which was the number of goals scored divided by the number of goals conceded. Goal average was thought to encourage defensive play, as conceding a goal hurt the ratio more than scoring one helped it, especially for teams with high totals. Goal difference was adopted to encourage more attacking play, rewarding teams for scoring more goals rather than simply avoiding conceding. However, a form of goal average persists in Australian Rules football, where it is called 'percentage' and calculated as points scored divided by points conceded, multiplied by 100. If teams are level on both points and goal difference, goals scored is often used as a further tiebreaker, followed by other criteria.
Reader's Guide
Goal difference has become a standard tiebreaker in many sports, particularly ice hockey and association football. Its adoption was driven by the desire to promote offensive play, as goal average could penalize high-scoring teams disproportionately. For example, a team scoring 70 and conceding 40 has a goal average of 1.750, while a team scoring 69 and conceding 39 has a higher average of 1.769, despite having a worse goal difference. Under goal difference, the team with +30 is clearly superior. The zero-sum nature of goal difference ensures fairness across the league table. Notable title decisions have hinged on goal difference, such as the 2006–07 Eredivisie where PSV Eindhoven won on goal difference over Ajax, and the 2011–12 Premier League where Manchester City edged Manchester United by a superior goal difference. In the 1988–89 English First Division, Arsenal and Liverpool finished level on points and goal difference, with Arsenal winning on goals scored. Goal difference remains a primary tiebreaker in most modern league competitions.
Did You Know?
- Goal average was replaced by goal difference because it encouraged lower-scoring games.
- If a team concedes no goals, goal average cannot be calculated due to division by zero.
- Goal difference is sometimes called plus–minus.
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