The best defence in Europe is hidden in LaLiga 2

Burgos CF is the only team among the best 40 leagues in Europe that has conceded just one goal after playing 11 games this season

Burgos, a city located in Castilla y Leon -the north of Spain-, is known for the tomb of El Cid, medieval architecture and its black pudding. However, since the start of the 2022/2023 season, all eyes have been on the local football club for its incredible performance in the Spanish second division.

In 2021, they managed to reach LaLiga 2 after 20 years competing in non professional leagues, suffering insolvency and an administrative relegation.

This past season, Burgos CF showed a great character on the grass to remain in the league, led by their manager Julián Calero and Michu -former Swansea FC striker and Erling Haaland’s idol– as the sporting director. This campaign, the team it’s not only doing well in the league but also raising eyebrows with a record breaking defence performance that has pushed them toward the top of the table.

After their away win over FC Andorra (0-1), Burgos CF reached 12 consecutive clean sheets (10 this season and two in the last two games of 2021/2022), a record in the 93-year history of LaLiga 2. Additionally, their keeper José Antonio Caro has the best streak without conceding a goal in the entire history of the Spanish professional leagues. The record was held by Claudio Bravo, as the Chilean keeper went 755 minutes without conceding a goal while playing for FC Barcelona. Caro went 928 minutes unbeaten, as he was sent off in the 28th minute of LaLiga 2 eleventh match against CD Mirandés after touching the ball outside the box with their hands to avoid a dangerous attack. However, the team managed to win 2-1 in the 102nd minute after playing 72 minutes with one man less to continue at the top of the league.

Although Burgos CF has outstanding defensive numbers and are now third in the table, their performance in attack has not been as impressive with just eight goals in 11 games. They are the sixth lowest scorer team that is ranked sixth or higher in any of the best 30 european football leagues. Only PAOK (Greece), Kolos Kovalivka (Ukraine), Oleksandria (Ukraine), Apollon (Cyprus) and Nea Salamis (Cyprus) have scored less goals.

How to explain their performance?

Players have perfectly adapted to Julian Calero’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. The team defends in a low block, waiting in their half for the opposition to come at them.  They’re comfortable without the ball  – in only two of their 10 games this season have Burgos CF had more possession than their opponents, both matches being  at home in El Plantío. 

However, they’re not only capable of breaking down attacks near their own goal, but also have a strong pressing game. When the team wants to recover the ball, the system transforms into a 4-1-3-2 with attacking players closing defenders to force them to play long balls. In that situation, Burgos CF have shown an excellent ability to win headers, and most of the time they have the numerical advantage to fight and win the second balls.

They concede an average of 3,36 shots on target per game, which is a good record as there are only 6 teams in LaLiga 2 that have let their opponents take fewer shots.

Yet, is when looking into their attack that the strangest quirks are found. Burgos CF have registered the second fewest number of shots on target in the league, with an average of 2.45 per game. The only team that shoots less is UD Ibiza, with 2. That means that one out of four shots on target for Burgos CF ends in a goal. Moreover, they are the fourth lowest scoring team in LaLiga 2, only behind Zaragoza (7), Racing Santander (5) and Real Oviedo (5).

They are a team that base their attacks on quick transitions to reach the final third. That’s why every goal they have scored comes from shots taken inside the box. Just six different players have had the honour to score for Burgos FC this season: Alex Bermejo and Gaspar Campos are the top scorers with two goals, followed by Juan Artola, Mourad, Miguel Muñoz and Curro, who have all hit the net once.

That blanquinegros feeling

Burgos CF fans have always been really passionate about their team. A very clear example was Esteban González ‘Piné’, one of the most loyal fans in the club’s history who sadly passed away last August. He used to travel all across Spain to watch Burgos CF in every stadium the team was playing, always wearing a prisoner’s cap to identify himself. He would undoubtedly be incredibly proud of the team’s performance this season.

His legacy has inspired many blanquinegros to display their enthusiasm for the team in the recent years, as Burgos CF underwent a major transformation starting when Antonio Caselli, an Argentinian businessman, bought it. Nowadays, the club is under the management of Grupo Yucón, which has solved its financial problems.

The team’s incredible run this season is seen as a miracle for the fans, who have explained what is mean to Sports Gazette (Quotes made before the team conceded for the first time during this weekend’s game against CD Mirandés):

Jorge Gadea, Burgos CF fan and ‘La Lateral’ podcast creator with Álvar Arranz, says the following: 

“We are not used to this. Everybody is talking about our club and goalkeeper. I wouldn’t care if we concede a goal in the next game but we end up winning.”

“Watching a game in El Plantío is way better than watching a Champions League match on TV”

Javier Alonso, a Burgos CF season ticket-holder for the eight past years, comments: 

“Finally the media is looking at us for a good reason! In the last 20 years, we had only bad news: liquidation, relegations, non-payments… I am really proud because my team is now internationally recognised”

“We don’t care about drawing 0-0 a lot of games. Every point is well received and we hope to maintain this streak and continue being one of the most famous teams nowadays!”

“We are going to react well when conceding for the first time. I think it would be good for the players because then the media won’t be looking at them every game with the pressure that brings!”

Julián Cuyami,  proud member of the Hinchada del Arlanzón:

“Now everybody is talking about our club, but some years ago we used to follow the team in stadiums without stands. Even in the city people didn’t care about Burgos CF”

“When we draw 0-0 I feel a little disappointed. We love celebrating the goals in the Fondo Sur. The energy we feel in those moments allows us to go to work or study during the week”

“It’s not the season that I am enjoying the most. During other campaigns while playing in lower divisions, we were allowed to drink alcohol in the stadium, those were good days…”

Burgos CF went 12 games without conceding a single goal, as this weekend CD Mirandés became the first team to score against them in the 94th minute. If they had held on without conceding, they would have equalled the record for most consecutive clean sheets in the history of Spanish professional football leagues. It was held by Atlético de Madrid, who went 13 games without conceding. Curiously, the player who scored the goal was Marcos Paulo, who plays for CD Mirandés on loan from Cholo Simeone’s team.