Tracking the goalscoring exploits of substitutes in Europe’s big five leagues

As the years have gone by and more and more money has flooded into the beautiful game, squad sizes have grown ever larger. This, in turn, has led to an increase in the number of substitutions permitted, thus providing even more players with a chance to make an impact from the bench.

Nowadays, it is not unusual to hear managers and coaches referring to ‘starters’ and ‘finishers’, with the desire to have two quality options for every position on the pitch meaning that those who come on are often at a similar level to the individuals who make way.

With the 2026/27 season now paused for an extended international break, we thought it might be a good time to look back at the impact made by substitutes across Europe’s top five leagues this term, concentrating our focus on the number of goals that they have scored.

PREMIER LEAGUE

Substitutes have accounted for a paltry 17 goals across the 50 English top-flight matches played during the current campaign, which equates to just 12.06% of the overall total.

What’s more, from a Premier League predictions standpoint, it is worth noting that members of the starting XI have been responsible for every goal scored by Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Coventry City, Fulham, Leeds United, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Elsewhere, Hull City, Ipswich Town and Newcastle United are the only clubs to have benefited from goals off the bench on more than one occasion:

SERIE A

This season, substitutes have been responsible for 38 of the 145 goals scored in Serie A, which represents more than one in four (26.21%) of the successful strikes.

Somewhat incredibly, both AC Milan and Juventus have benefited from more goals off the bench than they have from their starters, with the Rossoneri’s tally of six being the highest figure across any of the top five European leagues:

Diego Moreira, a €50m summer signing from Strasbourg, has accounted for half of these efforts, so, when it comes to football in-play betting, he is definitely worth considering in the next goalscorer market each time he exits the dugout.

LA LIGA

A total of 69 games have already taken place in what has been a busy start to the top-flight programme in Spain, with 36 of its 210 goals (17.14%) being netted by substitutes.

Although Barcelona have scored at a staggering rate, finding the net 31 times in just seven matches, Hansi Flick’s replacements have only made a couple of direct contributions to the scoresheet.

In fact, it is Villarreal who have celebrated the most goals from players starting on the bench (5), so this is something to bear in mind when it comes to La Liga betting:

BUNDESLIGA

Of the big five European leagues, the Bundesliga ranks second when it comes to the percentage of goals scored by substitutes, coming in at 21.17%.

Koln lead the way with four goals off the bench, which is even more impressive when you consider that they have only found the net six times in total:

If you want to beat the bookies and find some decent anytime goalscorer odds, then may we point you in the direction of Elversberg’s Maurice Krattenmacher? The 21-year-old is yet to start a league game after arriving at the club this summer, yet he already has three goals to his name, including one against mighty Bayern Munich.

LIGUE 1

Substitutes have been far from prolific in Ligue 1 this season, managing just 20 goals between them across the 45 matches that have taken place.

What’s more, 14 of the division’s 18 clubs have managed fewer than two goals off the bench, whilst Lille, Paris Saint-Germain and Strasbourg lead the way with just three apiece:

Given the wealth of attacking talent at Luis Enrique’s disposal, it comes as little surprise to see that three of Ferran Torres’ four top-flight goals for PSG have come as a substitute, so this is something to consider when it comes to making football predictions.

SUMMARY

When we compare the big five European leagues directly, it becomes quite apparent just how different the goalscoring exploits of substitutes have been so far in 2026/27:

In percentage terms, for example, the contribution off the bench in Serie A has been more than twice that of the Premier League, which is somewhat surprising given the money that English clubs spend on strengthening their squads.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Divock Origi have proven in the past just what a significant contribution players can make off the bench, so it will be fascinating to see whether or not the prevalence of rotation puts an end to the moniker of supersub in the future.