26 Aug 2026
How to calculate goal difference in football
Learn how to calculate goal difference, understand the difference between goals scored and conceded, and see how the criterion is used in league tables. The calculation is simple: subtract goals conceded from goals scored.
What is goal difference?
Goal difference is the difference between the number of goals a team has scored and the number it has conceded in a competition or stage. It helps determine clubs’ positions when two or more teams finish level on points.
Goal-difference formula
The formula is: goal difference = goals scored - goals conceded. If a team scores 18 goals and concedes 10, its goal difference is 18 - 10 = +8. The plus sign indicates a positive goal difference.
Example of a negative goal difference
If a team scores 7 goals and concedes 12, the calculation is 7 - 12 = -5. In this case, the goal difference is negative. When goals scored and conceded are equal, the goal difference is zero.
How to calculate it across several matches
Add up all the team’s goals scored and all the goals conceded before subtracting. For example, in three matches ending 2-0, 1-1 and 0-3, the team scored 3 goals and conceded 4. Its overall goal difference is 3 - 4 = -1.
Goal difference in the table
In many competitions, points come before goal difference in the ranking criteria. If two teams have the same number of points, the club with the higher goal difference ranks higher. A team with a +10 goal difference ranks above one with +6, provided they are level on the preceding criteria.
Goal difference is not aggregate score
Goal difference covers the entire campaign or the stage specified in the regulations. Aggregate score, meanwhile, may be used in two-legged ties and considers only the goals scored in those matches. Rules vary between competitions, so check the regulations to see whether away goals, extra time or a penalty shoot-out applies.
Related pre-match analysis
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Analysis: PK Sport · our methodology
Analysis based on public data and market signals. For analysis only — not betting advice.