Data has thrown Real Madrid and Barcelona’s names up top as the two most successful clubs in Europe over the last seven decades. But, there are plenty of surprising names in the top ten, including SL Benfica and Dynamo Kyiv.
Real Madrid are the pride of Spain – when it comes to points scored for the UEFA country ranking, according to data released by Twitter user Swiss Football Data. While their fourteen UEFA Champions League titles haven’t gone amiss, their total of 180.505 points accrued over the last 67 years means that they have contributed the most to their country’s UEFA ranking tally. Los Blancos have only missed out on the Champions League once in the last 67 years, a competition record that further boosts their stature as the best side to grace it.
Following them closely are bitter rivals Barcelona. While the Blaugrana have not been as successful as their counterparts in Europe, their presence in the continent’s top-tier competition season-after-season has seen them collect 173.566 points – which puts them second on the list, and Spain high up in the coefficient table. Barcelona have been present in 65 of the 67 seasons played since 1955/56.
Surprisingly, Portuguese giants SL Benfica take the third spot, having missed only five of the 67 campaigns since the 55/56 season. Benfica have also won the European cup twice – in 1961 and 1962 – and have gathered 140.519 points for their country’s coefficient. Rounding out the top five are Germany’s Bayern Munich (134.694 points) and Italy’s Juventus (133.934) points.
Manchester United are the only representative from the Premier League in the top ten; the Red Devils are seventh, one spot behind AFC Ajax of the Netherlands (126.650), with a points total of 119.195. FC Porto follow closely with 118.619 points in eighth, with Ukraine’s Dynamo Kyiv (114.167) and Scotland’s Rangers (109.167) in the ninth and the tenth spot, respectively.
Other notable teams include AC Milan and Internazionale, in eleventh and thirteenth place, respectively. Six-time Champions League winners Liverpool are sixteenth, while Arsenal lead London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham from the twenty-second spot on the list.
