At the start of Season 8, I published seasonal history stats showing how many points teams could expect to need to avoid the sack, avoid relegation, get into the playoffs (or the top ten in D1), win automatic promotion (top four in D1) or the title.
Now the season is over, here’s my round-up of how that worked out…
Top Four
D1 – 70 points
In their worst season since Season 1, Barcelona finished 4th with a record 74 points for that position. A points tally that would have won them the title, in fact, in Season 1!
Like last season, Juventus finished third with their best ever points tally and goal difference. Could Season 9 be theirs?
Chelsea must have thought this was their season after leading for much of it, only to slip up towards the end. Their best ever season, nevertheless, and long with Juve will be looking to continue steady improvement and claim a first ever title in Season 9.
Automatic Promotion
D2 – 66 points
Genoa’s 68 points was enough to finally earn promotion and, of course, their best ever season. Another team with clear season on season improvement (aside from a very minor blip in Season 7).
78 points would usually be enough to win the D2 title (and it was, for Ajax), but goal difference meant Atletico Madrid had to settle for second.
D3 – 66 points
Anderlecht’s terrible end of season run meant they settled for third place in D3 with 63 points, still their best ever season for the third season running under Gursimran Brar’s stewardship.
Hellas Verona also had their best ever season and put aside the disappointment of a cup final defeat to finish second with the second highest ever points total for that position in D3.
D4 – 64 points
Levante and Monaco amassed 69 points each to secure automatic promotion from D4. A record-breaking total for third place fro Levante, and their best ever season, to boot.
D5 – 69 points
Just 64 points turned out to be enough for promotion from D5 in season 8, in what was a very competitive top eight or so teams.
Second placed Santos’s haul of 65 points was the lowest ever for this position in D5.
Top 100 