What is the “goal difference” (GD) and what does it do?

Goal difference (GD), or score difference, is a criterion used in some tournaments to evaluate the performance of players or teams by taking into account the difference between points scored and points conceded in each game. It’s a method often used in sports, competitive video games or card games to decide between participants when victory points are identical.

1. What is goal difference (GD)?

GD is calculated as follows

GD = Total points scored - Total points conceded
  • Points scored: Number of points obtained by a player or team in the various games.
  • Points conceded: Number of points conceded to the opponent during a game.

A positive GD indicates that the player or team has scored more points than it has conceded, while a negative GD shows the opposite.

2. Example of GD calculation

Suppose a player takes part in three games with the following results:

  • Game 1: Scored 10 points, conceded 8 points.
  • Game 2: Scored 12 points, conceded 15 points.
  • Game 3: Scored 8 points, conceded 6 points.

GD calculation :

GD = (10-8) + (12-15) + (8-6) = +1

The player’s total GD is +1, reflecting a slight overall advantage over his opponents.

3. Role of the goal difference in a tournament

GD is mainly used as a tie-breaking criterion or additional evaluation in tournaments. When two or more players have the same number of victory points, GD is used to determine which of them has performed better overall, taking into account their margins of victory or defeat.

  • Example:
    • Player A and Player B both have 3 victory points.
    • Player A has a GD of +5.
    • Player B has a GD of -2.
      Player A will be ranked ahead of Player B.

The goal difference is an invaluable tool for separating and evaluating participants in a tournament. It reflects not only the ability to win, but also the magnitude of victories and resilience in the face of defeat. While it doesn’t replace victory points, it does offer a complementary measure for establishing a more detailed and equitable ranking.

Goal difference is a ranking criterion that you can activate in your tournament settings. The criterion is called “Score Difference”, and once added, you can rename it to anything you like, such as “GD”.

See also