In a season full of surprises across the globe in world football, ever wondered which teams have surpassed expectations in terms of overachieving?
The 2022-23 football season all over the globe has seen a handful of teams surpassed expectations, with their respective performances and what they’ve been able to achieve on the pitch.
Here are the teams who have surpassed fans expectations with their performance this season.
RC Lens – (Ligue 1)
The story of RC Lens, a team that got promoted to Ligue 1 in 2020 is that of a team who has been very hard-working and consistent, in their approach to games either against tough or weak opponents.
In 2017, they had their worst start to a campaign in history losing the first seven games in a row in Ligue 2, but in 2019 they finished 5th in Ligue 2 and lost the chance of promoting to Ligue 1 through the playoffs.
Having got promoted to Ligue 1 in 2020, they finished 7th in 2021 but surprisingly in 2023 they start their season like a house on fire and they ended securing a UEFA Champions League ticket for next season having finished second on the table this season.
AC Monza – (Serie A)
Monza may not have secured any European football ticket ahead of next season, but the most important thing is that they would play top-flight football next season having cemented their ninth position in Serie A.
The Italian outfit is a club own by former AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi, a man who is well known to be one of the most controversial characters in world politics.
“It’s amazing for a club like Monza, founded in 1912 to gain promotion after 110-years”, those were the words of Berlusconi when the Biancorossi secured promotion to Serie A from Serie B in 2021-22 season.
With Berlusconi and Galliani known to be a winner, Monza looks like a club that could upset the big boys, perhaps next season for an European ticket with smart investment though.
Remo Stars – (NPFL)
This season in the NPFL, Remo Star’s form has been very impressive in terms of on-field performance with their 8 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses.
Their performance currently places Remo Stars at 4th out of 20 teams in the NPFL table, winning 47% of matches and securing a spot in the super six.
Though Remo Stars may not be as big as Enyimba or Rangers in terms of pedigree on the home-front, but they’ve been able to build a formidable team with the right structure to compete against the big boys in the league.
Bendel Insurance – (NPFL)
Bendel Insurance steeler performance since the club return to the elite division has been a huge surprise, having been away from the top division for a long-time.
They are currently topping the Group A table with 33-point having played 17-games winning 8 and drawing 9 in this season abridged format.
At the start of the campaign no one ever thought Insurance could shone-out steeler performance in the league, but to everyone’s surprise they’ve done well for themselves by picking the super six ticket in their quest to qualify for top-flight football.
Brighton – (English Premier League)
The Seagulls were only promoted to the top-flight in 2017, and as part of their plans of year-on-year steady progression in maintaining their status in the English Premier League they’ve been superb this season.
The club’s story is all down to the plan formulated back in 2009 when Tony Bloom succeeded Dick Knight as the club’s owner.
When Graham Potter left for Chelsea at the beginning of the season, it was a case of how will Seagulls survive or cope without their departing manager, but surprisingly since his departure the team has been waxing stronger.
With De Zerbi at the helm, Brighton had played in the FA Cup semi-finals and they are placed seventh in the Premier League, looking like a team who could upset the odds to pick an European football ticket ahead of next season.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
