What is a clean sheet?

A clean sheet is when a team concedes no goals in a match — a common measure of defensive and goalkeeping quality.

Keeping a clean sheet means finishing a game having let in zero goals, whatever the result at the other end. Goalkeepers and defenders are often judged on how many they keep across a season; it also guarantees at least a point, since a 0–0 can't be lost.

See it in the numbers

Open the spreadsheet and watch this appear in live scores and standings — disguised as work.

Open the spreadsheet →All terms

Related terms

What is xG (expected goals)?

Expected goals (xG) rates the quality of each scoring chance from 0 to 1 — the probability an average player would score it — and a team's xG is the sum of those chances.

What is goal difference (GD)?

Goal difference is goals scored minus goals conceded, and it's the most common tie-breaker when teams are level on points — a bigger goal difference ranks higher.

What is an assist?

An assist is credited to the player who makes the final pass or touch before a team-mate scores a goal.

Aggregate score (two legs)

In a two-legged knockout tie, the aggregate score adds both matches together, and the team with the higher combined total goes through.