Beat that: Europe's meanest defences

AS Monaco FC have not conceded in their last eight league games, but their defensive record is positively poor compared with that of Videoton FC, the Hungarian First League leaders boasting the meanest rearguard in Europe's top divisions at the moment.

Since arriving in June 2014, Spanish coach Joan Carrillo has turned the Szekesfehervar side into daunting opponents; their tally of 40 goals in 17 league fixtures so far is an autumn record for the club, while they have conceded just six times all season – at an average rate of a goal every 2.83 games. With Videoton having kept 13 clean sheets, it is little wonder they are eight points clear of MTK Budapest at the head of the table.

"The key thing is to understand your players and adapt your defensive game to their abilities," said Carrillo. "When you find the best system for your players, you have to show them that that's the most effective way to defend. After that you have to drill it, again and again, so they have confidence in the tactics and in themselves. That is crucial. If they have confidence in those things, they will have the belief and the discipline to make the defensive game work."

Videoton's defence is founded on the consistency of former Málaga CF and RCD Mallorca goalkeeper Juan Calatayud and 85-cap Hungary defender Roland Juhász, who is undergoing a renaissance following his move home from RSC Anderlecht in 2013. In the hunt for just their second national title, Videoton kick off their spring campaign with a trip to Győri ETO FC – the 2013 champions.

Bayern have plummeted down the rankings©Getty Images

FC Bayern München's 4-1 defeat at VfL Wolfsburg last week sent them plummeting down the best-defences rankings from first to tenth. Ahead of Friday's Bundesliga match, they had shipped only four all term – at an average rate of a goal every 4.25 games.

Europe's meanest defences (league games played/goals conceded)

1: Videoton FC (HUN) 17/6 – a goal conceded every 2.83 games
2= FK Partizani (ALB) 20/8 – a goal conceded every 2.5 games
2= HŠK Zrinjski (BIH) 15/6 – a goal conceded every 2.5 games
2= FK Crvena zvezda (SRB) 15/6 – a goal conceded every 2.5 games
5: İnter Bakı PİK (AZE) 17/7 – a goal conceded every 2.43 games
6: SL Benfica (POR) 19/8 – a goal conceded every 2.375 games
7= FC Dacia Chisinau (MDA) 14/6 – a goal conceded every 2.33 games
7= Juventus (ITA) 21/9 – a goal conceded every 2.33 games
9: AC Sparta Praha (CZE) 16/7 – a goal conceded every 2.29 games
10: FC Bayern München (GER) 18/8 – a goal conceded every 2.25 games
11: NK Celje (SVN) 20/9 – a goal conceded every 2.22 games
12: College Europa FC (GIB) 11/5 – a goal conceded every 2.2 games
13: FC Milsami Orhei (MDA) 13/6 – a goal conceded every 2.17 games
14= FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU) 17/8 – a goal conceded every 2.125 games
14= FK Rudar Pljevlja (MNE) 17/8 – a goal conceded every 2.125 games
16: VMFD Žalgiris (LTU) 36/17 * – a goal conceded every 2.12 games
17: FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 14/7 – a goal conceded every 2 games

* season completed