Football, at professional and amateur level, is almost always about efficiency, and a dominated team can achieve very good results by simply being realistic in front of goal. This parameter often explains outperformance or underperformance over an entire season. And for the 2024-2025 edition of Ligue 2we clearly see a trend emerging for a few clubs which stand out, for bad or for good, after 17 days.
Also read >> LIVE – The live Ligue 2 and Ligue 1 transfer window from January 6, 2024
Also read >> LFP notes: the typical team for the 17th day of Ligue 2
In fact, the Rodez Aveyron Football is officially the team which finishes its chances best on the average of the first phase with 6.7 goals more than what was expected by the quality of its shots (29 goals scored, 22.3 xG). Behind the RAF are the clubs of Laval (+6.1 goals) and Guingamp (+5.4), who are in good shape and competing for a Play-off place at the end of the season. They could achieve this by remaining as effective, while several clubs will be keen to improve their statistics in front of goal.
Like AC Ajaccio for example, with a deficit of 3.5 goals which sees the Corsican club dragging itself to 17th place in Ligue 2 because it was too uninspired in the opposing area. A contender for retention and a candidate for advancement are tied among the worst teams in terms of efficiency: the Clermont Football and FC Metzboth in a poor position with 6.5 goals behind expectations! If we were still wondering what to find for these two clubs in the winter transfer window, the solution is obvious: a “killer” in the box.
The ranking of the goals scored/expected goals differential (xG-goals) in Ligue 2 at D17
1st – Rodez: +6.7
2e – Laval: +6,1
3e – Guingamp : +5.4
4e – Annecy : +3
5e – Paris FC : +1,9
6e – Grenoble : +1.6
7e – Red Star : +0,8
8th – Dunkirk: +0.4
9th – Amiens: +0.3
10th – Pau: -1
11th – Caen: -1.1
12th – Martigues: -2.2
13th – Bastia: -2.5
14th – Lorient: -2.6
15e – Troyes : -2,8
16e – Ajaccio : -3,5
17th – Metz: -6.5
18e – Clermont : -6,5
Photo Dave Winter/FEP/Icon Sport
