Tag: AC Milan

La Liga Table: Gameweek 26 Results and Updated Table

Post By Sports , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gameweek 26: There are several top games set to take place as part of GW 26, with Lazio already having beaten

Here is everything you need to know about Gameweek 26 in the Serie A 23/24 season:

Thursday 22nd February

Lazio vs Torino

In a pivotal Serie A clash that could significantly impact the race for European qualification, Lazio emerged victorious with a clinical 2-0 win over Torino at the Olympic Grande Torino Stadium. This match, a rescheduled Week 21 fixture originally postponed to accommodate Lazio‘s participation in the Supercoppa Italiana, was crucial for both teams, who were separated by just one point in their pursuit of seventh place prior to kickoff.

Despite several key absences on both sides, the game was a tale of missed opportunities for Torino and ruthless efficiency from Lazio. The home team squandered numerous chances, with Antonio Sanabria and Duvan Zapata notably failing to convert. Lazio, on the other hand, capitalized on their moments, with Matteo Guendouzi opening the scoring in the 51st minute, followed by Danilo Cataldi doubling the lead five minutes later. Both goals were a testament to Lazio‘s sharp counter-attacking play and clinical finishing.

The match also saw Lazio reduced to 10 men after Mario Gila received his second yellow card. However, Torino could not capitalize on their numerical advantage, continuing their trend of missed opportunities throughout the match.

This victory for Lazio not only boosts their European qualification hopes but also serves as a statement of intent from the Biancocelesti in their quest for a strong finish in Serie A.

As the Serie A season progresses, the intensity on the pitch heats up with every match. Gameweek 26 was no exception, offering its share of drama, excitement, and shifts within the league table. Let’s delve into the key outcomes and how they’ve influenced the current standings.

Saturday 24th February

One of the standout fixtures of the weekend was Empoli‘s thrilling 3-2 victory over Sassuolo in a battle that had significant implications at the bottom of the table. Empoli, under the guidance of Davide Nicola, have shown remarkable resilience, continuing their unbeaten run and moving up to 13th place, now five points clear of the relegation zone. This match was a testament to their fighting spirit, with Simone Bastoni heading in the decisive goal in the dying moments of the game.

Sassuolo, on the other hand, find themselves in a precarious position. The loss to Empoli marks their fifth defeat in the last six matches, leaving them teetering on the edge of the relegation zone, level on points with 18th-placed Hellas Verona.

The pressure is mounting, and the team will need to find a way to halt their freefall if they are to secure their Serie A status for another season.

Elsewhere in Serie A on Saturday

Genoa also defeated Udinese 2-0, with the away side seeing a player sent off in the 48th minute after Genoa had already gone ahead in the first half.

Sunday 25th February

Inter Milan Continues Unbeaten Run

Internazionale has solidified their position at the top with a commanding 4-0 victory over Lecce.

Lautaro Martínez was the star of the show, netting twice, with Davide Frattesi and Stefan de Vrij also getting on the scoresheet.

This win extends Inter‘s unbeaten streak to 10 games across all competitions, keeping them nine points clear of their closest rivals, Juventus.

Juventus‘ Late Drama

Juventus secured a thrilling 3-2 win against Frosinone, thanks to a late stoppage-time goal from Daniele Rugani.

The Bianconeri had initially taken the lead through a Dusan Vlahovic double, only for Frosinone to fight back.

Rugani’s late heroics ensured that Juventus remained in contention for the title, albeit nine points behind the leaders.

Napoli Stumbles

Napoli, the reigning Serie A champions, were held to a 1-1 draw by Cagliari. Victor Osimhen’s second-half goal was cancelled out by Zito Luvumbo’s late equaliser, costing Napoli valuable points in their quest to defend the title.

The Battle for the Top Four

The race for the top four spots, guaranteeing Champions League football next season, remains fiercely competitive.

Atalanta managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Milan, thanks to a penalty from Teun Koopmeiners, which cancelled out Rafael Leao’s opener. This result keeps Atalanta in the hunt for a top-four finish.

Monday 26th February

Roma‘s European Ambitions Strengthened

Paulo Dybala’s remarkable hat-trick propelled Roma to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Torino at the Stadio Olimpico. The win is a significant boost for Roma‘s aspirations of playing European football next season.

Dybala’s penalty kick opened the scoring, and despite a quick equaliser from Torino, the Argentine’s brilliance ensured Roma reclaimed the lead twice more.

This victory places Roma in a promising position, just four points shy of the Champions League qualification spots, igniting hopes among the Giallorossi faithful.

Fiorentina‘s Comeback Victory

In another match that had fans on the edge of their seats, Fiorentina staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Lazio 2-1.

Despite hitting the woodwork three times and falling behind to a counter-attacking goal from Lazio, Fiorentina‘s resilience shone through.

Michael Kayode’s equaliser and Giacomo Bonaventura’s decisive goal not only secured three points but also allowed Fiorentina to leapfrog Lazio in the race for European qualification.

This result underscores Fiorentina‘s tenacity and their ability to overcome adversity, traits that will be invaluable as the season enters its final stretch.

Who are the favourites to win Serie A in 23/24?

Based on the latest insights and odds from Squawka, Inter Milan emerges as the overwhelming favourite to clinch the title.

Despite losing key players like Andre Onana, Milan Skriniar, and Edin Dzeko, Inter has shown resilience and dominance on the field.

Under the guidance of Simeone Inzaghi, the Nerazzurri have secured a comfortable lead at the top, winning 20 of their 24 matches and sitting nine points clear of their closest rivals Juve.

FAQ: Serie A 23/24 Season Favourites to win

Who are the current favourites to win the Serie A 23/24 season? Inter Milan are the clear favourites to win the Serie A title this season, with Juventus and AC Milan also considered strong contenders.

Why is Inter Milan considered the favourite to win the Serie A? Despite losing key players, Inter Milan has shown exceptional form, leading the league by a significant margin. Their performances under coach Simeone Inzaghi have been outstanding, with 20 wins in 24 matches.

What challenges has Juventus faced this season? Juventus has struggled with consistency, suffering three losses, including a defeat to Inter Milan. Their absence from European competitions has allowed them to focus on the Serie A, yet they’ve faced difficulties maintaining a winning streak.

Here is the table as it currently stands for Serie A:



Source link

#Liga #Table #Gameweek #Results #Updated #Table

Cruciate ligament injuries: The recovery process

Post By Sports , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Football players are under more strain than ever, and the injuries continue to accumulate.

Some are simple strains due to the intensity of the football calendar, but in others there have been season-ending problems, with Barcelona‘s Ansu Fati and Liverpool‘s Virgil Van Dijk among those to suffer ACL injuries in recent years.

Despite improvements in technology aiding the process cruciate ligament injuries are, unfortunately, still too common an injury in football.

Going back a few decades, such an injury could potentially be career-ending, but advances in medicine and surgery means that many players can make a full recovery and, in the main, return to their former range of movement and ability.

But what exactly is a cruciate ligament injury, how does it happen, and what kind of rehabilitation do players face?

How do Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries happen?

You’ll have seen the footage yourself many times. A player’s foot is planted and he or she tries to change direction. The foot remains in the ground and the knee doesn’t travel with the rest of the body.

It’s the ACL, the anterior cruciate ligament, that takes the strain and if the strain is too much, it gives in, in various levels of severity.

Can you walk on a torn ACL?

You’ll often hear commentators also say that ‘it can’t be too bad because he walked off the pitch’. ACL injuries can be walked on by the sufferer – it’s not like a broken bone. The player would be in pain but it is possible to limp off, with the initial swelling subsiding.

It doesn’t in any way provide an indicator of how serious the injury is, however. Players who walk off the pitch usually have ice applied immediately before they can be taken for surgery.

ACL injury surgery options

There are significant differences in the severity of ACL injuries and also different options that are available in order to resolve the issue.

The fantastic Twitter account Injury Mechanisms outlines this and explains the various options available.

1. Autograft v Allograft

The ‘autograft’ method utilises the players’ existing tendon in order to make repairs. It has a low risk rate but generally the surgery time increases the length of the recovery.

The ‘allograft’ users what is known as ‘donor or cadaver’ tissue to fix the problem. Historically it is a less painful procedure for the player but the risk of failure is higher than the autograft method. The cost of the surgery is also higher, though this isn’t not necessarily a concern for top professional clubs.

2. Patella Tendon Graft

This method uses 1/3 of the patella tendon using bone blocks. It has the lowest failure rate of all the procedures and involves bone-to-bone healing. As Injury Mechanisms points out, this is considered the optimum approach for athletes wishing to return to their very best.

3. Hamstring Autograft

The hamstring autograft uses the same method as the original autograft in terms of taking an existing part of the body to assist with the repair. Taking a piece of the hamstring is an easier ‘harvest’ process and requires a smaller incision, but the graft failure rate is historically higher using this method in younger athletes.

It requires longer integration in order to work and takes longer biological healing, and there are also other issues at play such as the graft stretching or the hamstring suffering weakness afterwards.

4. Quadriceps Tendon Autograft

This is the least common method of repairing ACL injuries. It has a predictable graft size and also requires a small incision, but recent studies have shown the failure rate to be higher, hence the reason that it is less commonly used.

Does an ACL injury require surgery?

Not necessarily. Players are increasingly exploring methods by which surgery isn’t required, but it requires an intense consultation and dedication to the methods of repair to work (rest + likely workload post surgery).

For example, athletes who are not pre-disposed to changing direction regularly of pivoting can see more success in this respect. But for footballers, basketball players or specific NFL positions (like wide receivers), surgery is still recommended.

Different severity of ACL injuries

Not all ACL injuries are equally serious and there are various grades to describe the severity of the injury.

Grade 1 means that the ligament has sustained mild damage and and has been overextended but is still mild and the knee joint has remained stable.

Grade 2 means that the ACL has been stretched and has become loose. In this scenario, the ligament has likely suffered a partial tear but it’s rare for this mid-level injury to happen.

Grade 3 is referred to as a complete ligament tear. It means that the ACL has split into two pieces and the knee itself needs to be stabilised. This is the most common serious injury suffered among football players.

What is the expected recovery time?

This is dependent on many factors. Players are usually walking again after two weeks and this leads them into a false sense of security that everything is ok. They need to be very carefully managed through the rehabilitation procedure to ensure that they are not overextending themselves while the ligament continues to heal.

The optimal period of recovery is sixth months but much of the process is in the hands of the player. If they are compliant with the exercises and regimes provided to them then the process can be expedited, but the utmost care has to be taken to ensure that there is no relapse.

There are countless examples of players trying to rush back to finish too soon, and in the most severe cases, it can take a player up to a year to be ready for first-team football once again.



Source link

#Cruciate #ligament #injuries #recovery #process

Cruciate ligament injuries: The recovery process

Post By Sports , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Football players are under more strain than ever, and the injuries continue to accumulate.

Some are simple strains due to the intensity of the football calendar, but in others there have been season-ending problems, with Barcelona‘s Ansu Fati and Liverpool‘s Virgil Van Dijk among those to suffer ACL injuries in recent years.

Despite improvements in technology aiding the process cruciate ligament injuries are, unfortunately, still too common an injury in football.

Going back a few decades, such an injury could potentially be career-ending, but advances in medicine and surgery means that many players can make a full recovery and, in the main, return to their former range of movement and ability.

But what exactly is a cruciate ligament injury, how does it happen, and what kind of rehabilitation do players face?

How do Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries happen?

You’ll have seen the footage yourself many times. A player’s foot is planted and he or she tries to change direction. The foot remains in the ground and the knee doesn’t travel with the rest of the body.

It’s the ACL, the anterior cruciate ligament, that takes the strain and if the strain is too much, it gives in, in various levels of severity.

Can you walk on a torn ACL?

You’ll often hear commentators also say that ‘it can’t be too bad because he walked off the pitch’. ACL injuries can be walked on by the sufferer – it’s not like a broken bone. The player would be in pain but it is possible to limp off, with the initial swelling subsiding.

It doesn’t in any way provide an indicator of how serious the injury is, however. Players who walk off the pitch usually have ice applied immediately before they can be taken for surgery.

ACL injury surgery options

There are significant differences in the severity of ACL injuries and also different options that are available in order to resolve the issue.

The fantastic Twitter account Injury Mechanisms outlines this and explains the various options available.

1. Autograft v Allograft

The ‘autograft’ method utilises the players’ existing tendon in order to make repairs. It has a low risk rate but generally the surgery time increases the length of the recovery.

The ‘allograft’ users what is known as ‘donor or cadaver’ tissue to fix the problem. Historically it is a less painful procedure for the player but the risk of failure is higher than the autograft method. The cost of the surgery is also higher, though this isn’t not necessarily a concern for top professional clubs.

2. Patella Tendon Graft

This method uses 1/3 of the patella tendon using bone blocks. It has the lowest failure rate of all the procedures and involves bone-to-bone healing. As Injury Mechanisms points out, this is considered the optimum approach for athletes wishing to return to their very best.

3. Hamstring Autograft

The hamstring autograft uses the same method as the original autograft in terms of taking an existing part of the body to assist with the repair. Taking a piece of the hamstring is an easier ‘harvest’ process and requires a smaller incision, but the graft failure rate is historically higher using this method in younger athletes.

It requires longer integration in order to work and takes longer biological healing, and there are also other issues at play such as the graft stretching or the hamstring suffering weakness afterwards.

4. Quadriceps Tendon Autograft

This is the least common method of repairing ACL injuries. It has a predictable graft size and also requires a small incision, but recent studies have shown the failure rate to be higher, hence the reason that it is less commonly used.

Does an ACL injury require surgery?

Not necessarily. Players are increasingly exploring methods by which surgery isn’t required, but it requires an intense consultation and dedication to the methods of repair to work (rest + likely workload post surgery).

For example, athletes who are not pre-disposed to changing direction regularly of pivoting can see more success in this respect. But for footballers, basketball players or specific NFL positions (like wide receivers), surgery is still recommended.

Different severity of ACL injuries

Not all ACL injuries are equally serious and there are various grades to describe the severity of the injury.

Grade 1 means that the ligament has sustained mild damage and and has been overextended but is still mild and the knee joint has remained stable.

Grade 2 means that the ACL has been stretched and has become loose. In this scenario, the ligament has likely suffered a partial tear but it’s rare for this mid-level injury to happen.

Grade 3 is referred to as a complete ligament tear. It means that the ACL has split into two pieces and the knee itself needs to be stabilised. This is the most common serious injury suffered among football players.

What is the expected recovery time?

This is dependent on many factors. Players are usually walking again after two weeks and this leads them into a false sense of security that everything is ok. They need to be very carefully managed through the rehabilitation procedure to ensure that they are not overextending themselves while the ligament continues to heal.

The optimal period of recovery is sixth months but much of the process is in the hands of the player. If they are compliant with the exercises and regimes provided to them then the process can be expedited, but the utmost care has to be taken to ensure that there is no relapse.

There are countless examples of players trying to rush back to finish too soon, and in the most severe cases, it can take a player up to a year to be ready for first-team football once again.



Source link

#Cruciate #ligament #injuries #recovery #process

UCL 2022/23 | In last-4, Man City meets Real test, Inter sets up Milan clash

Post By Sports , , , , , ,

His 48th goal for Manchester City this season.

Erling Haaland scored again on Wednesday for City to advance to a Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid with a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in the second leg of their quarterfinal.

Norweighian forward missed a first-half penalty but atoned by sealing City’s progress with a 4-1 win on aggregate by scoring on a counterattack in the 57th minute, just after Bayern missed a good chance at the other end.

Bayern’s lack of confidence after losing the first leg 3-0 in Manchester showed as it failed to take advantage of numerous chances.

“We really wanted to take the lead in the first half,” said Joshua Kimmich, who scored Bayern’s consolation from the penalty spot in the 83rd.

“We had a few chances, very, very good chances, and we needed the lead against City to make them nervous. It’s obviously easier for them when they can keep it scoreless for a long time. It’s very annoying … I’d like to have experienced the second half if we’d scored in the first.” The penalty was awarded after City defender Manuel Akanji was cited through VAR for handball.

Bayern counterpart Dayot Upamecano was also penalised for handball when Ilkay Gündogan’s cross grazed the bottom of his arm in the 35th, but Haaland blasted that spot kick just over the bar.

Kevin De Bruyne played Haaland through to settle it early in the second half when the unfortunate Upamecano slipped as he tried to recover.

“We played very well in the difficult moments, we were very compact and we didn’t give Bayern much,” De Bruyne said.

“At the other end, we got one chance. And when we scored the goal, it was much harder for Bayern.” City did little in manager Pep Guardiola’s return to the club he led to three consecutive Bundesliga titles between 2014-16, but the visitors didn’t need to thanks to their commanding lead from the first leg and Bayern’s lack of efficiency.

It is the Bavarian powerhouse’s third consecutive quarterfinal exit since winning the tournament in 2020 and the second competition it has been knocked out of in as many weeks following Freiburg’s win over Bayern in the German Cup quarterfinals.

Bayern chief executive Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidžic fired Julian Nagalsmann as coach last month as they felt the team was in danger of missing its targets for the season. Tuchel has since only seen the team win two from six games across all competitions. Bayern still leads the Bundesliga by two points from Borussia Dortmund with six rounds remaining.

Bayern fans held a huge banner toward the end of Wednesday’s game criticising Salihamidžic and Kahn saying “Targets may be missed — the club’s values not!” Bayern had made an encouraging start only to be let down with final crosses going astray and poor finishing.

Leroy Sané had the best early chance when Jamal Musiala sent him through but the Germany winger sent his shot just wide of the far post.

Referee Clement Turpin upset the home team when he showed the last defender Upamecano a red card for bringing down Haaland, who was offside. Turpin rescinded the red card after the linesman flagged the offside, then booked Tuchel for his ironic applause.

Tuchel was sent off late with his second yellow card for protesting another decision, while his assistant Zsolt Löw was shown a direct red card.

Manchester City is bidding to win the Champions League for the first time. It would be Guardiola’s first since winning as Barcelona coach in 2011. City will play Madrid, the defending champion, away for the first leg of their semifinal in May. Madrid beat City 6-5 after extra time in their semifinal last year.

“To win this competition, you have to beat them,” Guardiola said. 

Inter advances past Benfica, sets up Milan semifinal in CL

Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg football match between Inter Milan and Benfica at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
| Photo Credit:
AP

The Milan clubs are set to meet again in another Champions League semifinal a decade after their last encounter in the final four of Europe’s elite club competition.

Inter Milan drew 3-3 against Benfica on Wednesday to complete a 5-3 aggregate victory over the Portuguese team. That came a day after AC Milan prevailed against Napoli in their quarterfinal.

After Nicolò Barella’s opener for Inter, Fredrik Aursnes restored some hope for Benfica shortly before halftime. But Lautaro Martínez and substitute Joaquín Correa netted in the second half to help Inter reach its first semifinal since José Mourinho led it to the treble of the Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup in 2010.

Inter nevertheless managed to relinquish a two-goal lead as António Silva and Petar Musa netted late on for Benfica.

“bviously I am happy, and I am happy for the boys because it is an important and historic achievement,”Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said.

“We’ve come a long way, from a very, very difficult group.

“With regards to the goals, their forward did well on the second goal and on the third goal we heard a whistle and so several players stopped. Of course I would have wanted to have won 3-2 and I’m more disappointed for the boys but we were already through to the semifinal and there was that whistle that we heard on the bench too … we would have deserved the win.” The Nerazzurri will face its city rival in a repeat of the 2003 semifinal. AC Milan won that on away goals and went on to beat Juventus in the final.

“It’s a very special match, we know what it means to play a match of this sort,” Inter forward Martínez said.

“Now we have to pick up points again in Serie A and then we’ll think about the Champions League.

“I play this sport to win everything.” Real Madrid will face Manchester City in the other semifinal after the English team drew 1-1 at Bayern Munich on Wednesday to advance 4-1 on aggregate.

Both Inter and Benfica came into the match at San Siro on a poor run of form.

Inter had only won one of its past eight matches in all competitions — the first leg in Lisbon — while Benfica had lost three straight matches for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

Inter had been criticised for not making the most of its numerous goalscoring opportunities — and had only scored two goals from open play in its past seven matches.

But the Nerazzurri took the lead with their very first chance, in the 14th minute, as Barella rode a tackle and played a one-two with Martínez before curling a delightful effort into the top left corner.

Benfica faced an uphill task and Inter was yet to concede in the knockout stage. The Nerazzurri had the ball in the back of the net again in the 33rd minute but it was disallowed for a slight nudge by Martínez on Gilberto.

Moments later, Barella did well to acrobatically clear a cross with Benfica top goalscorer Gonçalo Ramos lurking.

However, a defensive lapse saw Benfica get back into the quarterfinal seven minutes from the break as Aursnes got in front of Denzel Dumfries to head in Rafa Silva’s cross from the right.

Buoyed by that goal, Benfica continued to press but it was Inter that scored in the 65th minute, to all but put the outcome beyond doubt.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan cut a pass in from the left to Federico Dimarco, who crossed for the easiest of finishes as Martínez prodded it into the roof of the net from point-blank range.

And Correa capped a brilliant night for Inter by curling in off the right post two minutes after coming off the bench.

António Silva headed in a free kick for the visitors with four minutes remaining to add some respectability to the scoreline, before Musa drilled through a sea of legs in stoppage time to at least end Benfica’s losing run.

“We are disappointed because I think at the start we showed that we still believed we could reach the semifinal,” Benfica coach Roger Schmidt said.

“We started very well but after the first goal it was difficult because that makes everything even more difficult.

“I think our team showed a very good attitude today, very good focus and very good mentality … we tried to push in the second half but then we conceded a goal and I think we were also not very lucky with the decisions.” 

Source link

#UCL #last4 #Man #City #meets #Real #test #Inter #sets #Milan #clash

European Golden Shoe 2021/22 standings

Post By Sports , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



The 2021/22 European Golden Shoe race is over after a season in which the continent’s most prolific goalscorers were all vying to win one of football’s most prestigious individual awards.

Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski saw off the challenge of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to finish at the top of the European Golden Shoe rankings last season.

READ MORE: European Golden Shoe 2022/23: Current standings and past winners

Lewandowski scored an astonishing 41 league goals from 29 appearances, giving him 82 Golden Shoe points and the highest winning score since Ronaldo in 2014/15.

Manchester United star Ronaldo and Messi – who has moved from Barcelona to PSG – both entered the new campaign expecting to challenge again in the standings for the most goals in Europe.

READ MORE: Who will be the European Assists King for 2021/22?

Messi’s PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe and a fellow young star in Erling Haaland were also expected to be in the mix to top the Golden Shoe rankings and take the crown from Lewandowski.

Along with Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku, Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah started the season as the top Premier League candidates, though surprise winners have also emerged in the past.

This page was updated throughout the 2021/22 season with regular updates on the European Golden Shoe standings, and the final result can now be viewed below.

2021/22 EUROPEAN GOLDEN SHOE STANDINGS

Robert Lewandowski has clinched back-to-back European Golden Shoe titles after another spectacular season.

The Bayern striker scored in his side’s last game of the Bundesliga campaign against Wolfsburg on May 14, with his future at the club looking uncertain amid transfer speculation.

Lewandowski therefore finished the league season with 35 goals to his name from 34 appearances, a total which saw him score the most goals in Europe for 2021/22.

Given the Bundesliga season is shorter than the other major divisions in Europe, Lewandowski finished before many of his rivals had completed their top-flight campaigns, but a huge lead meant his victory never looked in doubt.

Lewandowski secured European golden boot glory once more even though he fell slightly short of his historic 41-goal total last season.

He led the Golden Shoe race for most of the season, but while he was stable at the top, the chasing pack behind him was rotating regularly, right up until our final standings.

PSG sensation Kylian Mbappe, the Ligue 1 top scorer, ultimately claimed second place with 28 goals and 56 Golden Shoe points.

It was a remarkable year for the World Cup winner, who also had 18 assists in the top flight to tie Thomas Muller for the best creative total in Europe’s top-five leagues.

A hat-trick as PSG thrashed Metz 5-0 on the last day of the Ligue 1 season saw Mbappe leapfrog Karim Benzema and Ciro Immobile to finish as best of the rest behind Lewandowski.

It was the second-best goal total of his career, behind only the 33 he scored in 2018/19, and the attacker looks a likely winner of the Golden Shoe in the future.

Benzema (27 goals) recorded the best league goalscoring campaign that he has had in 13 seasons with Real Madrid, impressively beating the 24 goals he netted in 2015/16.

The France forward posted highest Primera Division total and was one of the most prominent challengers to Lewandowski in these standings for much of what was a sublime campaign.

Benzema may have taken second over Mbappe had he not had his schedule carefully managed by Carlo Ancelotti in the final weeks of the season after the domestic title was secured, with a Champions League final against Liverpool in mind.

Lazio forward Immobile, a former winner of this award, superbly scored 27 times in the league this season to top the charts in Serie A.

He has topped 20 goals in Serie A in five of his six seasons for Lazio and remains a prolific striker who consistently features in the Golden Shoe race.

Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder challenged Mbappe in Ligue 1 for much of the season and he finished with 25 goals to claim an impressive fifth-place finish in the Golden Shoe, boosted by a hat-trick against Brest in the penultimate game of the season.

Ohi Omoijuanfo, who played for Molde and Red Star Belgrade over the course of the campaign, came sixth and was the highest-placed finisher outside Europe’s fop-five leagues.

Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic finished level on 24 goals. Both of those players were fast starters this season which made them a permanent fixture on the leaderboard.

Completing the top 10 were the two payers who ultimately finished level in the Premier League golden boot race with 23 goals. They were Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who was the leader for most of the campaign in England, and his Tottenham rival Son Heung-min.

Strikes on the last day of the EPL season for that duo meant outgoing Dortmund star Erling Haaland, who will be joining them in England with Man City next season, finished 11th after racking up 22 strikes despite an injury-hit season.

So Lewandowski once again finished top of the prestigious Golden Shoe standings and the major league seasons across Europe have now come to a close.

Lewandowski becomes the 10th player to win the Golden Shoe twice – a total only bettered by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who were unable to challenge this season.

After not producing a winner since 1972, the Bundesliga has now come out on top for two straight campaigns, and the stage is set for another intriguing battle in 2022/23.

2021/22 European Golden Shoe

Who are the previous European Golden Shoe winners?

Lionel Messi has won the most European Golden Shoe titles.

The PSG forward has triumphed on six occasions, most recently in 2018/19 for Barcelona.

Cristiano Ronaldo is his closest challenger with four career wins, though the Man Utd attacker has not come out on top since 2014/15 when he was at Real Madrid.

Nine players have two awards apiece, including Luis Suarez and Thierry Henry.

Messi holds the record for most goals and points in a season as well. He remarkably scored 50 goals in 2011/12, earning himself 100 points.

Ronaldo has come closest to breaking that, scoring 48 goals for 96 points when he last won the crown more than six years ago.

Argentina forward Messi is the only player in European Golden Shoe history to win the title three years in a row, doing so from 2016/17 until 2018/19.

Ronaldo, though, is one of only four players to have won the title with different clubs. The others are Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan and Mario Jardel.

Robert Lewandowski became the first Bundesliga winner since 1972 last season, with his 41 goals being the best tally for six seasons.

That came after Ciro Immobile won the 2019/20 European Golden Shoe, scoring 36 goals for Lazio in a tremendous Serie A season.

It was his first title, with the striker becoming the first Serie A player to have the most goals in Europe since Francesco Totti triumphed for Lazio‘s rivals Roma in 2006/07.

Ligue 1 has not produced a winner since Josip Skoblar in 1971, a statistic the likes of Messi and Mbappe are hoping to change soon.

What are the European Golden Shoe rules and weightings?

Only league goals are eligible for the European Golden Shoe, with each strike earning points in a weighted system depending on the quality of league.

The five elite leagues – Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 – all carry a weighting of 2, meaning that a player will be awarded two points for every goal they score in these competitions.

For the leagues ranked sixth to 21 in Uefa’s coefficients rankings – which includes the top-flights in Portugal, Netherlands and Russia – goals scored are given a weighting of 1.5, and goals scored in a league outwith the top 21 are given a weighting of 1.

That was not always the case in the European Golden Shoe. From 1968 until 1991, the award simply went to the highest goalscorer on the continent, regardless of the strength of league.

Awards were not initially handed out between 1991 until 1996, when the new system came into force. Since then, only two players playing outside what were the five highest-ranked leagues at the time have ever won the Golden Shoe – Henrik Larsson (2000/01) and Mario Jardel (2001/02).

The Golden Shoe has been tied in the past, most recently when Suarez and Ronaldo shared the honour in 2013/14. Going forward, though, the award will be given to the player who has played the fewest minutes if two of them end up on the same number of points.

This page covers the 2021/22 European Golden Shoe race.

Last season’s standings can be found here and if you want to see the final results for the 2019/20 European Golden Shoe, follow this link.





Source link