This season's UEFA Europa League top scorers
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
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Ten players have hit the mark three times or more going into matchday four of the UEFA Europa League; UEFA.com profiles the most dangerous marksmen in the competition.
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With a grand total of 188 goals across the three matchdays, this is shaping up to be one of the most prolific UEFA Europa League seasons yet. Meet the men most responsible for the goal glut.
Franco Di Santo (Schalke) – 4 goals (3 games)
The Argentina striker has made a flying start to his maiden UEFA Europa League campaign, notching four goals and one assist – including a hat-trick against Asteras – to fire Schalke to the Group K summit. The 26-year-old former Chelsea and Wigan attacker, in his first season in Gelsenkirchen having arrived for a €6m fee from Schalke's rivals Werder Bremen, is currently the competition's leading marksman.
Fernandão (Fenerbahçe) – 3 goals (3 games)
If many assumed Robin van Persie would be the lone striker in the Yellow Canaries' lineup this term, Fernandão is doing his utmost to earn that spot in Vítor Pereira’s starting XI. Not content with scoring twice against Atromitos in the UEFA Europa League play-offs, the 28-year-old target man also claimed two goals in the 2-2 Group A draw at Celtic before netting a vital last-gasp winner against Ajax. The question is whether the muscular Brazilian will get the chance to show what he can do for 90 minutes?
Dries Mertens (Napoli) – 3 goals (2 games)
The Belgian international has been in outstanding form for Maurizio Sarri's team, registering twice in the 5-0 Group D hammering of Club Brugge, then hitting the opener against Legia in Warsaw. A €9.5m signing from PSV, the winger established himself at Napoli under Rafael Benítez and has remained a key member of the side, developing an excellent understanding with fellow in-form forward José Callejón and Manolo Gabbiadini.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Dortmund) – 3 goals (2 games)
Dortmund qualified for the UEFA Europa League the hard way, seeing off Wolfsberg in the third qualifying round before overcoming Norwegian side Odd in a high-scoring play-off, with speed merchant Aubameyang contributing three goals across the four games. The 26-year-old Gabon international has since matched that tally in Group C with a hat-trick during the 3-1 victory at Qäbälä which propelled Thomas Tuchel's men into pole position.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke) – 3 goals (2 games)
The second-most-prolific goalscorer in UEFA Europa League history – his 33 strikes second only to Henrik Larsson – the Dutchman opened this term's account with a pair against APOEL and followed it up with a well-taken finish in the 4-0 rout of Asteras. The 32-year-old, who started out at PSV and enjoyed spells with Heerenveen, Ajax and Real Madrid, needs just one more goal to reach 50 in UEFA club competition. Few would bet against him passing that milestone this season.
Aritz Aduriz (Athletic) – 3 goals (3 games)
Aduriz's Group L brace against Augsburg and consolation effort in the defeat at AZ doubled his career haul in the UEFA Europa League. The 34-year-old striker, a product of Athletic's youth system and a cultured, intelligent presence on the pitch, rejoined the club from Valencia in 2012 following stints with Burgos, Real Valladolid and Mallorca. This is gearing up to be one of his finest campaigns yet, with the veteran having netted 14 goals and counting in all competitions.
Steffen Hofmann (Rapid Wien) – 3 goals (3 games)
The talismanic midfielder has scored on all three matchdays – as well as creating Stefan Schwab's equaliser in the Group E victory over Villarreal – with his form a key factor behind the Austrian team's 100% start. The 35-year-old German began his career at Bayern but switched to Rapid for season 2002/03 and, aside from a short-lived stay at 1860 München, has remained at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, racking up 467 appearances and 117 goals on all fronts for the Green and Whites.
José Callejón (Napoli) – 3 goals (3 games)
Napoli are another side boasting three wins from three games, with a large part of their success owing to the clinical finishing of Callejón, whose immaculate flick over goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen in the recent 4-1 demolition of Midtjylland is already a goal of the tournament contender. The 28-year-old Spain forward, whose twin Juanmi plays for Club Bolívar in Bolivia, came to Naples in a €10m move from Real Madrid in 2013 and has netted 35 goals for the Azzurri to date.
Aleksandr Samedov (Lokomotiv Moskva) – 3 goals (3 games)
The 31-year-old winger has featured in every minute of pace-setting Lokomotiv's Group H campaign, weighing in with two goals as the Muscovites became the first side in UEFA Europa League history to beat Sporting CP in Lisbon before executing a clinical finish in a 2-0 success over Skënderbeu. Having initially considered representing Azerbaijan – his father's birthplace – one-time Spartak trainee Samedov has established himself as a fixture in the Russian team since his debut in 2011.
Andrija Živković (Partizan) – 3 goals (3 games)
A direct and powerful winger whose dribbling skills have drawn comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo, Živković got the decisive goal in Partizan's 3-2 Group L triumph over AZ before plundering two goals against Augsburg. Touted as one of Europe's most exciting prospects, the 19-year-old is the youngest player ever capped by Serbia and was the standout performer at this summer's FIFA U-20 World Cup – producing a series of phenomenal displays to propel Serbia to the title.