Goals per game: Europe's top scoring teams

Real Madrid can add to their pile of European records another significant honour – they are one of only three European heavyweights (sides who have played 100 or more European matches) who have averaged over two goals a game throughout their European history.

However, the ultimate big hitters in terms of goals per game are Borussia Mönchengladbach, whose average is slightly higher than Madrid's (2.16 to 2.11) and the only other team who are in their class, fellow Germans Eintracht Frankfurt.

Reduce the 100-game minimum entry requirement to a more egalitarian 20, and two more names enter the frame. Derby County scored prolifically in four seasons in Europe in the 1970s, their 2.27 per game goal average enhanced considerably by a 12-0 UEFA Cup win against Finn Harps in September 1976 – in which Charlie George struck three and Kevin Hector five.

However, Stade de Reims – finalists in the first European Cup in 1956 – can boast an even more impressive record: across their four European campaigns, all in the European Cup, they averaged 2.62 goals a match.

Queen's Park Rangers, meanwhile, have their own case to argue about being the greatest side in the history of UEFA club competitions. QPR had just two seasons in Europe – the most recent notably ending with one of the biggest second-leg turnarounds in European history – but were incredible value, averaging a goal every 28 minutes in their 12 UEFA games. Fans in London were rewarded even more richly; they won all six home fixtures in the 1976/77 and 1984/85 editions of the UEFA Cup, scoring 25 times – on average, 4.17 goals per match. The best home record in European history?

Berti Vogts with Gladbach in their 1970s pomp©Getty Images

The only sides who have played over 100 UEFA games and averaged over two goals
2.17: Mönchengladbach (354 goals in 163 games)
2.11: Real Madrid (1079 goals in 511 games)
2.03: Eintracht Frankfurt (215 goals in 106 games)

Every side that has played 20 or more UEFA games and averaged over two goals
2.62: Stade de Reims (63 goals in 24 games)
2.27: Derby County (50 goals in 22 games)
2.17: Mönchengladbach (354 goals in 163 games)
2.11: Real Madrid (1079 goals in 511 games)
2.03: Eintracht Frankfurt (215 goals in 106 games)

Simon Stainrod with QPR in their 1984 meeting with Partizan©Getty Images

Every side that has averaged over two goals a game in Europe
3.25: QPR (39 goals in 12 games)
3.00: Santos (15 goals in 5 games)*
3.00: Wuppertaler (6 goals in 2 games)
2.83: B1903 Odense (17 goals in 6 games)
2.62: Stade de Reims (63 goals in 24 games)
2.50: Amsterdam (35 goals in 14 games)
2.50: Rayo Vallecano (30 goals in 12 games)
2.50: Sheffield Wednesday (20 goals in 8 games)
2.50: Hutnik Kraków (15 goals in 6 games)
2.50: Saarbrücken (5 goals in 2 games)
2.50: São Paulo (5 goals in 2 games)*
2.41: Deportivo Alavés (41 goals in 17 games)
2.36: Uerdingen (33 goals in 14 games)
2.27: Derby County (50 goals in 22 games)
2.25: Roeselare (9 goals in 4 games)
2.25: Stal Rzeszów (9 goals in 4 games)
2.25: Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast (9 goals in 4 games)
2.17: Mönchengladbach (354 goals in 163 games)
2.17: Waterschei (26 goals in 12 games)
2.11: Real Madrid (1079 goals in 511 games)
2.11: Dunfermline (38 goals in 18 games)
2.10: Nitra (21 goals in 10 games)
2.10: Chmel Blšany (21 goals in 10 games)
2.08: Borac Banja Luka (25 goals in 12 games)
2.03: Eintracht Frankfurt (215 goals in 106 games)

*Brazilian sides make the list due to appearances in the now-defunct European/South American Cup, which brought together the champions of the two continents

Goal-per-game averages for the 14 sides with the most UEFA appearances
2.11: Real Madrid (1079 goals in 511 games)
1.98: Barcelona (916 goals in 463 games)
1.98: Bayern München (859 goals in 434 games)
1.73: Juventus (698 goals in 403 games)
1.63: Benfica (654 goals in 402 games)
1.62: Anderlecht (goals in 385 games)
1.61: Porto (goals in 355 games)
1.63: AC Milan (601 goals in 369 games)
1.63: Ajax (596 goals in 365 games)
1.49: Internazionale (544 goals in 365 games)
1.51: Dynamo Kyiv (519 in 344 games)
1.70: Liverpool (581 goals in 343 games)
1.50: PSV Eindhoven (509 goals 339 games)
1.77: Man. United (589 goals in 333 games)