RADIO
What is the one event in a football match that pumps adrenaline more than anything else? What is that one word that sets hearts racing and drives the supporters crazy? GOALS. Ask Wayne Rooney how he feels in the midst of a barren patch of goals and you will understand why goals are so vital.
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That should explain why teams crave for top notch goal scorers. Expert defending will help you get one point but goals can convert one point into three. Given that emotional segue-way, we take a look some of the more prolific scorers that are plying their trade in European leagues at the moment.
Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich
It’s only apt that we start with this goal machine. The stylish Polish striker is one of the most potent ‘number nines’ not only in Europe, but globally, at the moment. His five goals in nine minutes against Wolfsburg not only demolished them but sent waves of fear across every defense on the continent.
Lewandowski has been in top form for his national team too helping them qualify for Euro 2016. Obviously, the moniker Lewangoalski suits him perfectly. No wonder that his exploits see him top the Golden Shoe ratings at the moment.
Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng – Borussia Dortmund
Whatever you can do, I can do better seems to be the message from Aubamayeng to Lewandowski. The Gabon striker is the focal point of Dortmund’s renaissance that has seen him rack up 13 goals in the Bundesliga so far this season, joint top with Lewandowski.
He even scored consecutive hat-tricks for Dortmund and looks good to score many more goals this season. Don’t be surprised if he continues his blistering record and picks up goals by the dozen for the rest of the season.
The Usual Suspects – Ronaldo & Neymar
It would be a non-bailable offence if we leave out Ronaldo. The Portuguese goal machine may not be in top form but scores one third of Real Madrid's goals. The return of old rival Lionel Messi from injury could help further motivate Ronaldo and his penchant to score multiple goals continues to make him a prolific goal scorer having notched up 7 goals already this season.
In the absence of Messi, it is the turn of Neymar to ping the net for Barcelona. On current evidence, the Brazilian is doing a fair job as he tops the La Liga goal charts with 8 goals. His increasing desire to be more involved combined with his quick burst of pace makes him a lethal weapon for any team.
The Rest
Then of course there are some wild card entrants too. Celta Vigo is the surprise package in La Liga so far and most of the credit for that must go to their poacher Nolito. The former Barcelona striker has set tongues wagging with his seven goals and is already linked with a move back to Camp Nou in January.
Has anyone seen the goal charts of the English Premier League? It is currently headed by the unheralded Jamie Vardy of Leicester City. He scores half of his team’s goals in the EPL and never gets tired of finding the back of the net. And yeah, some rumours already link him with a move to Real Madrid!!!
Napoli is back in the top half in Serie A and the focal point of their resurgence is the prolific form of Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentine has always been a deadly poacher in front of goal and this season is no different.
Honorable other mentions must include Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thomas Muller and Luis Suarez, all of whom are brand ambassadors of ‘natural goal scorers’. It is hard not to see the common thing that runs through all these players – an insatiable hunger to score goals. As long as they maintain that, we are in for a sumptuous treat as the season continues to evolve.
