Pandiani seeks magic seven

By Andy Hall

Walter Pandiani recently set an RC Deportivo La Coruña scoring record that had stood for the last 49 years - now the player is on the brink of smashing a national record in Spain.

Club record
Pandiani's 56th-minute strike against Club Atlético de Madrid on Saturday edged him past Manuel Pahíño as the first Deportivo player to score in each of the first six games of the season. It was a proud moment for the striker and a good moment for the club to remember Pahíño's achievements at the Riazor - notably the fantastic scoring run at the start of the 1954/55 season which saw him get ten goals in five games.

Top scorer
Signed as a 30-year-old from Real Madrid CF, Pahíño had already been the Spanish top flight's top scorer twice - once with his first club, RC Celta de Vigo, in 1947/48 and again four years later with Real Madrid. Pahíño is remembered at the Riazor as a determined and courageous striker, and the man who took his scoring record at Depor, Pandiani, will need courage and determination aplenty if he is reach his next goal.

A field of his own 
Should Pandiani score in his next game against FC Barcelona, he will become only the fourth player in Spanish history to score in seven consecutive games at the start of a season, joining Vilanova (Hércules CF 1939/40), Enrique Castro Quini (Sporting Gijón 1979/80) and Prudencio Sánchez Hernández (Club Atlético de Madrid 1940/1). Another goal in the following Primera División game against Valencia CF would lift him into a field of his own.

Golden boot
All of which would be superb news for Deportivo, who have found a worthy replacement for Roy Makaay, who joined FC Bayern München in the summer after an incredible season in 2002/03. Of his side's 69 top-flight goals, the Dutchman scored 29 to win the European Golden Boot as the continent's deadliest striker.

Pandiani returns
In his absence, many thought Javier Irureta's side would struggle, but they had not reckoned on Pandiani's glorious return to the club after spending a successful season on loan with RCD Mallorca, scoring 18 goals. The 27-year-old Uruguayan, originally signed from CA Peñarol in 2000, had made no secret of his commitment to Deportivo, even refusing to celebrate any of the three goals he put past his club for Mallorca last season.

'El Rifle'
Restored to the Riazor first team, the man they call 'El Rifle' has scored in every game he has played this season - including two UEFA Champions League games. However, personal records are of no interest to Pandiani. "My only concern is that the team does well, I just do my best to help them win whether I score or not" he explained.

'On a roll'
However, he is not short of targets. A goal against Barcelona would also equal a Deportivo scoring record of goals in seven consecutive games set by Bebeto in 1992/93, although the club are keen to keep the pressure off. President Augusto César Lendoiro said: "It's very difficult to maintain such a high success rate in front of goal, even when you are on a roll like Pandiani is."

Final record
Should his roll continue unabated, Pandiani could even threaten the record of scoring in ten consecutive games held jointly by Barcelona's Mariano Martín (who achieved the feat in consecutive seasons in 1943/44 and 1944/45) and Ronaldo (who matched him in 1996/97). Six is great, but eleven would be heaven.