Top 10: Europe's most threatening teams

Barcelona succumbed to their first defeat of the league season last weekend, as Real Sociedad secured a surprise win over the Catalan giants with a 3-2 victory at the Anoeta.

Despite defeat, however, Barcelona are eight points ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid in La Liga, while Tito Vilanova's side are 15 points clear of last season's champions Real Madrid.

With just one loss in their 20 league matches, no team in Europe's five most prominent leagues has a better record than Barcelona this term, while the Camp Nou club can boast to have had a greater share of the ball than any side on the continent.

However, despite having the goalscoring prowess of the likes of Lionel Messi and David Villa at their disposal, Barcelona on average threaten the goal far less than the majority of Europe's top sides.

In fact, Barcelona are placed 35th when it comes to average shots per game in Europe's top five leagues, while the team to have bothered the goal more than any other are Italian champions, and league leaders, Juventus.

Manchester United, who are more potent than ever with Robin van Persie now at Old Trafford, are another surprise omission from the top ten, while great rivals Liverpool - with a lack of options up front all season - are placed second.

Liverpool are one of four Premier League teams to feature in the top ten, along with Tottenham, Manchester City and Everton, while there is also a quartet of clubs from Italy.

Shots per game does not always, of course, guarantee success as Tottenham proved against Manchester United last Sunday, when Clint Dempsey scored with their 25th and final effort of the encounter, to seal a late 1-1 draw.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid, with sharp-shooting Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line, are the only Spanish club to make the list - in second place - while Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich represent Germany.

Europe's most threatening attacking teams, based on average shots per game:

1. Juventus

Average shots per game: 19.7

2. Liverpool

Average shots per game: 19.3

3. Real Madrid

Average shots per game: 19.1

4. Tottenham

Average shots per game: 18.4

5. Manchester City

Average shots per game: 18.2

6. Bayern Munich

Average shots per game: 18.2

7. Roma

Average shots per game: 17.9

8. Everton

Average shots per game: 17.1

9. AC Milan

Average shots per game: 16.5

10. Fiorentina

Average shots per game: 16.3

Selected others:

12. Chelsea

Average shots per game: 15.8

13. Manchester United

Average shots per game: 15.3

15. Arsenal

Average shots per game: 14.7

35. Barcelona

Average shots per game: 13.5

All stats from WhoScored.