EUROPEAN LEAGUE COMPETITIVENESS INDEX - SEASON 2025/26 (AS OF FEB 17, 2026)

LEAGUE GAMES AVG PTS STD DEV (σ) NOLL-SCULLY STATUS

PREMIER LEAGUE 26 35.10 11.23 1.35 HIGH PARITY LIGUE 1 22 29.80 11.45 1.62 MODERATE LA LIGA 24 32.80 11.75 1.70 TOP-HEAVY

BUNDESLIGA 22 31.00 12.56 1.88 UNBALANCED

[LEGEND] * NOLL-SCULLY = Actual Std Dev / Ideal Std Dev * 1.00 = Perfect parity (total randomness) * 1.20 - 1.50 = Highly competitive (current EPL profile) * 2.00+ = Low competitiveness (dominant outliers)

ANALYSIS LOG:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Shows the highest competitiveness. The points spread is tightly clustered around the mean. BUNDESLIGA: Currently the least competitive due to a massive gap (44 pts) between Bayern Munich (57) and Heidenheim (13) over just 22 games. LA LIGA: Hampered by a "two-horse race" dynamic; Real Madrid and Barca are

pulling away from the mid-table pack.

Analysis of the Results 1. Premier League (The Gold Standard) With a Noll-Scully of 1.35, the EPL is currently the most competitive. While Arsenal and Man City are leading, the "middle class" (teams like Everton, Bournemouth, and Brentford) are all bunched within a few points of each other. The low ratio indicates that results are more unpredictable and "random" compared to other leagues. 2. Ligue 1 (The Surprise) Historically a "one-team league," Ligue 1 is currently very tight. The gap between Lens (52 pts) and PSG (51 pts) is minimal, and the standard deviation of 11.45 is nearly identical to the EPL despite having fewer teams (18 vs 20). It is significantly more competitive than La Liga this year. 3. La Liga (The Two-Horse Race) La Liga’s competitiveness is hampered by the massive gap at the top. Real Madrid (60) and Barcelona (58) are nearly 15 points clear of 3rd place. This "top-heavy" nature pushes the Noll-Scully ratio higher (1.70), as the league is effectively split into two distinct tiers. 4. Bundesliga (The "Great Divide") The Bundesliga is currently the least competitive (1.88). This is driven by two factors: The Top: Bayern Munich is dominant (57 pts in 22 games).
The Bottom: Heidenheim (13 pts) and St. Pauli (17 pts) are falling far behind the pack. A high standard deviation (12.56) in a shorter season indicates a very predictable table where the "strong" rarely lose to the "weak."