GlossaryFootball / soccer
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.
GD rewards both scoring a lot and conceding little. Across a season it's a fair proxy for how dominant a team has been. It can be negative: a team that has scored 20 and conceded 28 has a goal difference of −8.
Worked example: Scored 48, conceded 22 → goal difference of +26.
See it in the numbers
Open the spreadsheet and watch this appear in live scores and standings — disguised as work.
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 a clean sheet?
A clean sheet is when a team concedes no goals in a match — a common measure of defensive and goalkeeping quality.
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.