As we enter the home stretch of the 2021-22 Serie A season, the battle for the Golden Boot is very much a two-horse race. Who will finish atop the scoring charts in May?
As it stands, Lazio Ciro Immobile leads the way with 21 goals. However, Dusan Vlahovic is just one goal behind Immobile following his switch from Fiorentina to Juventus.
⚽️ Ciro Immobile✅ Basta un rigore di #KingCiro per superare all'Olimpico il Venezia!#CMonEagles 🦅 pic.twitter.com/Nq7vIrXJiV— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) March 15, 2022
⚽️ Ciro Immobile✅ Basta un rigore di #KingCiro per superare all'Olimpico il Venezia!#CMonEagles 🦅 pic.twitter.com/Nq7vIrXJiV
With Giovanni Simeone, Lautaro Martinez and Tammy Abraham a fair way off the pace, Immobile and Vlahovic look set to battle it out for the prize.
Despite having played three games fewer than Vlahovic, Immobile has scored more Serie A goals than any other player this season.
The Lazio striker has netted 21 goals in 24 games, meaning he averages 0.91 goals per 90. That equates to a goal every 99 minutes.
Due to injury and Covid, Immobile has missed five of Lazio’s 29 league games this season. Still, the prolific marksman has managed to score at a frightening rate.
Since the turn of the year, Immobile has netted eight goals in nine Serie A appearances – underlining his ability.
On the flip side, Vlahovic has netted 20 goals in 27 matches. He averages 0.78 goals per game and has scored a goal every 116 minutes this term.
During the first half of the campaign, the 22-year-old bagged 17 goals in 21 league outings for Fiorentina – including three braces and a hat-trick.
He then moved to Juventus in the January transfer window and has scored three goals in six Serie A games for the Old Lady.
At this moment in time, it is difficult to predict exactly how the Golden Boot race will pan out. That said, it feels like Immobile has the edge over Vlahovic.
Not only has Immobile scored one goal more than Vlahovic, but he has also won the Golden Boot on three occasions in the past.
Having finished as the top scorer in 2013/14, 2017/18 and 2019/20, Immobile knows what it takes to scoop the prize.
Still, you would be foolish to write off Vlahovic. The Serbian young gun has become one of the most prolific forwards in the game over the past couple of years.