Title races: The Greatest League in European Football History

Introduction

Winning 90+ points usually guarantees a league title. Sometimes, it doesn't.

Throughout European football history, a handful of extraordinary teams have produced title-winning form only to finish runners-up because another side was just that little bit better. These are the closest, most remarkable league title races where the margin between glory and heartbreak was razor-thin.

1Premier League 2011–12

Agüero's Moment That Changed Everything

The Story

For decades, Manchester United had dominated English football under Sir Alex Ferguson. Across town, Manchester City had recently been transformed by Abu Dhabi's takeover, spending heavily to challenge their local rivals.

The title race went down to the final day with City needing a win against Queens Park Rangers while United travelled to Sunderland. United did their job, winning 1–0 and seemingly securing another league title.

But at the Etihad Stadium, City trailed 2–1 entering stoppage time. Edin Džeko equalised in the 92nd minute before Sergio Agüero scored one of the most famous goals in football history in the 94th minute. The dramatic comeback handed City their first English league title in 44 years, with both clubs finishing level on 89 points and separated only by goal difference.

It remains arguably the greatest final day in Premier League history.

2Eredivisie 2009–10

Ajax Score for Fun... and Still Lose

The Story

Steve McClaren's appointment at Twente raised eyebrows after his disappointing spell as England manager. Instead, he produced one of the biggest surprises in Dutch football history.

Ajax, managed by Martin Jol, were an attacking machine. Led by Luis Suárez, who scored 35 league goals, Ajax reached an astonishing 106 goals and finished with a goal difference of +86.

Despite those incredible numbers, a single extra draw meant Twente edged the title by one point, becoming Dutch champions for the first time in their history.

It remains one of football's greatest examples that goals alone do not win championships.

3Primeira Liga 2015–16

Benfica Hold Off Sporting

The Story

The Lisbon rivalry reached another chapter as Benfica and Sporting traded the top spot throughout the season.

Sporting lost only two league matches all year and conceded just 21 goals, yet Benfica's remarkable run of 17 consecutive league victories during the second half of the campaign ultimately proved decisive.

Despite producing one of the best seasons in Sporting's history, Jorge Jesus' side narrowly missed out on the championship by just two points.

4Serie A 2017–18

Napoli Push Juventus to the Limit

The Story

Maurizio Sarri built one of the most admired teams in Europe. Napoli's fluid passing, quick combinations and fearless attacking football earned praise across the continent.

A dramatic late winner by Kalidou Koulibaly in Turin with four games remaining cut Juventus' lead to just one point and sparked dreams of Napoli's first Scudetto since Diego Maradona.

However, a shocking home defeat to Fiorentina one week later allowed Juventus to regain control before comfortably sealing a seventh consecutive Serie A title.

Despite finishing second, Napoli's 91-point campaign remains the club's highest-ever Serie A points total.

5La Liga 2010–11

Mourinho's 92 Points Weren't Enough

The Story

José Mourinho arrived in Madrid after winning the Champions League with Inter Milan, tasked with ending Barcelona's dominance under Pep Guardiola.

Real Madrid responded with 92 points and over 100 goals, numbers that would normally win almost any league.

Unfortunately for Madrid, Guardiola's Barcelona were still operating at perhaps the highest level any club side has ever reached. Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to another league title with 96 points, leaving Real with one of the greatest runner-up seasons in football history.

6La Liga 2009–10

96 Points... Still Second

The Story

Florentino Pérez returned to Real Madrid and launched one of football's most famous transfer windows, signing Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso.

Despite Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuaín combining for 56 league goals, Manuel Pellegrini's side still couldn't match Guardiola's relentless Barcelona.

Barcelona lost just once all season and finished with 99 points, while Real's remarkable 96-point campaign became one of the highest runner-up totals in European football history.

7Scottish Premier League 2002–03

Separated by a Single Goal

The Story

The Old Firm rivalry has produced countless memorable title races, but none quite like 2002–03.

Rangers and Celtic mirrored each other almost perfectly throughout the season, finishing level on wins, draws, defeats and points.

The championship came down to goal difference, with Rangers finishing just one goal better than Celtic. Had Celtic scored once more—or Rangers once fewer—the trophy would have changed hands.

It remains one of the closest league finishes ever recorded in European football.

8Premier League 2021–22

Liverpool Miss Out by One Point... Again

The Story

Three years after their heartbreaking 97-point runner-up finish, Liverpool found themselves locked in another season-long duel with Manchester City.

Jürgen Klopp's side mounted an extraordinary comeback after trailing City by 14 points in January, gradually erasing the deficit with an 18-match unbeaten run.

The race went to the final day once again. Liverpool beat Wolves at Anfield, but City produced another dramatic comeback, recovering from 2–0 down against Aston Villa to win 3–2 thanks to three goals in five unforgettable minutes.

City retained the Premier League by a single point, while Liverpool finished on 92 points—the fourth-highest runner-up tally in the history of Europe's major leagues.

Conclusion

League titles are remembered by the champions, but history often remembers the races that made them earn it. From Sergio Agüero's iconic stoppage-time winner to Ajax's 106-goal heartbreak and Liverpool twice producing title-winning numbers only to fall short, these seasons prove that greatness is not always measured by trophies. Many of these runners-up lost only a handful of matches, amassed 90-plus points, or set club records—achievements that would have won the league in almost any other year.

What makes these campaigns unforgettable is the level of excellence demanded by their rivals. Whether it was Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain, Juventus and Napoli in Italy, Benfica and Sporting in Portugal, or Manchester City and Liverpool in England, these teams pushed one another to extraordinary heights. Their battles remind us that football's greatest stories are not always about lifting the trophy—sometimes, finishing second after an exceptional campaign creates a legacy just as enduring as becoming champions.