Best defensive record in Europe's top five leagues

Xavi Hernández's team go into the break for the World Cup in top spot in La Liga thanks in no small part to their defensive abilities this season. The blaugranes have conceded just five goals in their 14 games in the league so far, the best record of any side from Europe's top five leagues: Ligue 1, the Bundesliga, Serie A, the Premier League and, of course, La Liga. 

Comparison with the rest of Europe 

Barça's closest rivals in terms of goals conceded in Europe are Juventus. The Serie A club are in third place in the table in Italy after conceding just seven goals in 14 matches. 

In France, PSG have conceded nine goals in 15 league games, a record that has helped the Parisians to top spot in Ligue 1. 

La Liga club Villarreal have the second best defensive record in Spain having let in just 10 goals so far, twice as many as the blaugranes. As for the Premier League, the two clubs with the best defensive record are leaders Arsenal and third placed Newcastle United, both having conceded 11 goals so far this season. 

Finally, in the Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich have the best record with 13 goals in the against column. 

Clean sheets

In total in the league, goalkeeper Marc ter Stegen has kept an impressive 11 clean sheets in 14 matches with only Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Osasuna proving themselves capable of beating the German so far this season. 

Juventus are one game behind with goalkeepers Mattia Pern and Wojciech Szczesny keeping 10 clean sheets between them whilst in Spain Villarreal are the next best placed after Barça with seven clean sheets to their name.