The 2024–25 football season across Europe’s top five leagues—Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1—saw intense competition, tactical brilliance, and an impressive number of successful penalty strikes. Penalty goals can change the course of a match, and the ability of a team to both win and convert penalties is a testament to its attacking intent, technical skill, and composure under pressure. From title contenders like Real Madrid and Barcelona to surprise entries like Alavés and Bournemouth, this season’s list of teams with the most successful penalty conversions is both surprising and insightful.
Penalties often serve as game-defining moments. While some clubs consistently earn and convert them due to their dominant possession and attacking movement, others rely on sharp counters or individual brilliance to win spot-kicks. These successful penalty strikes are not just about scoring; they reveal much about a team’s discipline, composure, and structure. With the influx of VAR technology, the number of penalties awarded has changed, but elite clubs continue to dominate this metric.
Here’s a detailed ranking of the top 10 clubs in Europe for the most successful penalty goals scored in the 2025 season, along with team stats and in-depth analysis of each.
10. Aston Villa
- 6 Successful Penalty Goals
Aston Villa secured 6 successful penalty goals during the 2025 season, placing them tenth on the list. Under consistent performance throughout the season, Villa’s ability to draw fouls in the box was key to maintaining their top-six challenge in the Premier League. The team combined physical presence in the box with fast transitions, often forcing defensive errors. Their penalty takers showed calmness under pressure, converting vital chances to turn draws into wins.
Villa’s penalty success was evenly spread across fixtures, with Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey stepping up frequently from the spot. With 58 goals in total, more than 10% came via successful penalties, showing how crucial those moments were. With a possession rate of 48.4% and decent pass accuracy, they managed to draw fouls in dangerous areas rather than sheer dominance. Their 170 shots on target indicate their overall attacking intent, with the penalty box being a hotspot for action.
Villa’s tactical setup underlined quick counters and overlapping full-backs, both contributing to situations that earned them spot-kicks. The club’s 2025 season reflected a balanced approach, blending discipline with aggression—a strategy that paid off in crucial penalty moments.
9. AC Milan
- 7 Successful Penalty Goals
Milan’s campaign in Serie A saw them score 7 successful penalty goals, helping them stay competitive in a challenging title race. Their attacking style, featuring Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic, was instrumental in winning fouls inside the box. Milan’s penalty takers maintained a high conversion rate, with Olivier Giroud being a dependable figure from 12 yards out.
Their 61 goals scored overall suggest that penalties contributed significantly to their success, especially in narrow victories. With a 54.1% possession average and nearly 88% pass accuracy, Milan controlled games and frequently pinned opponents deep, increasing the chances of defensive errors. Their 196 shots on target were among the highest in the league, showing just how often they tested opposition defences.
The Rossoneri’s composed midfield helped dictate tempo, often unlocking defences through slick one-touch football. Penalties often came from quick build-ups and through balls into box-heavy areas. With 18 wins in 38 games, Milan’s clinical edge from the spot often helped them seal tight matches, making successful penalty strikes a tactical weapon throughout the season.
8. Leganés
- 7 Successful Penalty Goals
Newly promoted Leganés surprised many by finishing the 2025 LaLiga season with 7 successful penalty goals. Their ability to win penalties despite limited possession (42.4%) highlighted a street-smart tactical setup. Instead of relying on long periods of control, Leganés used counters and aggressive pressing to catch defenders off guard.
eganés converted all of their penalties into goals, often changing the momentum of matches. These goals helped them secure crucial draws and avoid relegation. With only 39 goals scored in the entire season, nearly 18% came from the spot—a significant statistic showcasing the value of successful penalties in their campaign.
Their star player Jose Arnaiz played a central role, frequently fouled in advanced areas. The team’s bravery in the final third and resilience in defence allowed them to survive a tough season. Though their pass accuracy was lower than others, their efficiency from the penalty spot earned them critical points.
7. Bournemouth
- 7 Successful Penalty Goals
Bournemouth ended the season with 7 successful penalty goals, ranking them seventh on this list. In a league known for physicality and tight defending, Bournemouth found success by drawing fouls in the box through quick transitions and precise movement. Their penalty takers, consistently composed, turned spot-kicks into reliable scoring opportunities.
Scoring 58 goals overall, Bournemouth benefited significantly from their successful penalty strikes—accounting for over 12% of their total tally. With 202 shots on target, the team showed attacking intent, often forcing defenders to act recklessly inside the area. Bournemouth’s 48.6% possession reflected a flexible approach: they did not dominate games, but used speed and directness to provoke challenges.
igh pressing and work rate allowed Bournemouth to disrupt opponents and win fouls. Their attackers, trained to draw contact, contributed to a high penalty count. The team’s success rate from the spot was excellent, with nearly every opportunity converted. These successful penalty goals often came late in matches, rescuing points in draws and boosting their league position.
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6. Lille
- 8 Successful Penalty Goals
Lille scored 8 successful penalty goals in the 2025 Ligue 1 season, finishing sixth in this ranking. Maintaining strong possession—57.9% on average—Lille created multiple high-quality set-up scenarios. Their structure enabled the forwards to penetrate tightly packed defences, often winning fouls in critical areas inside the box.
With 52 goals scored and a total of 434 shots aimed at goal, Lille’s attacking style placed them in positions to earn spot-kicks frequently. Their pass accuracy stood at 86.8%, facilitating control and progressive build-up. This collective play resulted in multiple penalty-winning situations, and their composed penalty takers converted the majority.
Players like Jonathan David and Yusuf Yazıcı led attacks into areas where contact was likely, often triggering VAR decisions or referee calls. Lille’s successful penalty strategy blended technical finesse with clinical execution. While they didn’t top scoring charts, their spot-kick proficiency was instrumental in securing key wins and boosting goal-difference.
5. Barcelona
- 8 Successful Penalty Goals
Barcelona also recorded 8 successful penalty goals in the 2025 LaLiga season, placing them fifth in Europe’s top five leagues. Barcelona’s dominance in possession (69.1%) and fluid attacking play generated regular scoring opportunities—including the all-important successful penalty strikes. Their style forced defensive errors inside the box, which led to spot-kicks.
Their massive goal tally of 102 meant a smaller overall share came from penalties, but each was pivotal—particularly in tight encounters against clubs like Real Sociedad or Atletico. With 252 shots on target, Barcelona’s attacking method induced constant pressure inside the final third, where fouls and set-piece situations followed. Their pass success rate was nearly 89%, reflecting the ease with which they created box access.
Barcelona’s penalty takers, often veterans like Lewandowski or Pedri stepping up, converted with high efficiency. These moments contributed to tight wins and helped maintain a comfortable lead in the title race. Their successful penalty strikes served as fail-safes when open-play goals didn’t materialize, reinforcing consistency in their dominant season.
4. Alavés
- 8 Successful Penalty Goals
Alavés scored 8 successful penalty goals in the 2025 LaLiga, earning them fourth place in this ranking. Despite finishing with just 10 wins in 38 games, Alavés relied heavily on their spot-kick opportunities to gain crucial points. With only 38 goals scored, 21% came from penalties—a significant reliance demonstrating their tactical adjustment toward drawing fouls inside the box.
Their possession average was only 45.2%, but Alavés focused on half-space runs and direct attacking patterns that provoked mistakes. Their lower pass accuracy of 74.5% hints at a more direct style of play, yet this approach yielded dividends—earning penalties when opponents committed risky tackles inside the area.
Penalties were often taken by experienced players who displayed composure in critical moments. Despite a struggling campaign, successful penalty strikes kept Alavés competitive in several matches. Each penalty goal served as a pivot—turning losses into draws or draws into narrow wins, helping them gather points to avoid relegation battle late in the season.
3. Real Betis
- 9 Successful Penalty Goals
Real Betis scored nine successful penalty goals during the 2025 LaLiga season, placing them third in Europe’s top leagues. Betis’ blend of possession (52.5%) and incisive attacking flair allowed them to win penalties through dynamic wing play and physical runs into the box. With 57 goals scored in total, penalties formed a noticeable portion—almost 16%.
Their pass accuracy of 84.1% and 188 shots on target indicate a polished side capable of creating chances inside the final third. Betis’ penalty takers converted nearly all opportunities, reflecting high reliability from the spot. Goals often came in pivotal matches where margins were tight, substantiating the importance of successful penalty execution in their push up the table.
2. Osasuna
- 9 Successful Penalty Goals
Osasuna also notched nine successful penalty goals in the 2025 LaLiga campaign, tying with Betis for second place. With only 46% possession, Osasuna adopted a counter-attacking and physical style, allowing them to win penalties through high pressing and late runs into the box. Their tactical discipline created frequent opportunities from fouls inside the area.
Their 48 goals scored included a meaningful share from successful penalty strikes—critical in matches against more dominant sides. Osasuna had 132 shots on target and 79.3% pass accuracy, showing efficient transitions rather than dominance.Osasuna’s penalty conversions came at vital times—often to salvage draws or catch teams off guard. The team’s resilience and mental toughness during penalties turned disputed set-piece calls into tangible points. Their success from the spot provided a competitive edge that tilt close games in their favour.
1. Real Madrid
- 11 Successful Penalty Goals
Real Madrid topped the list with 11 successful penalty goals in the 2024–25 LaLiga season. Their dominance in possession (60.6%) and relentless pressure inside the opponent’s box created numerous penalty opportunities. This enviable tally underscores Real Madrid’s attacking intent and ability to capitalise under pressure.
With 78 goals scored overall and 249 shots on target, the team generated multiple high-probability penalty scenarios. The club’s pass accuracy (89.9%) facilitated quick vertical transitions and edge-of-box incursions that often forced defenders into fouls.
Real Madrid’s penalty takers were clinical, converting nearly every opportunity. Their head coaching staff emphasized practice routines under pressure, ensuring elite composure during spot-kicks. These successful penalty goals contributed to key wins in tight fixtures, often deciding matches that would otherwise have ended level.
FAQs
Q1: What counts as a “successful penalty”?
A successful penalty refers to any penalty kick awarded during the match that is converted into a goal.
Q2: Why do some teams score so many penalties?
Teams that dominate possession, attack with width, or use incisive movement inside the box often win spot-kicks when opponents commit fouls.
Q3: Can penalty goals significantly affect league standings?
Absolutely—successful penalty goals can turn draws into wins or losses into draws, shifting several points over a season’s course.
Q4: Is there a link between possession and winning penalties?
Generally, higher possession can lead to more attacks in the box and therefore more fouls—and higher successful penalty numbers.
Q5: Did any of these clubs rely heavily on penalties for survival?
Yes—clubs like Alavés and Leganés turned penalty strikes into vital points that helped them remain competitive or avoid relegation.