Playing as a forward in modern-day football is not an easy job. The demand and competition are increasing day by day, and if a player doesn’t perform then clubs look for an immediate replacement. Last season, West Ham United heavily invested in a striker. They signed Gianluca Scamacca on a permanent deal from Sassuolo.
The Italian forward came in with a reputation for scoring goals. West Ham needed a No.9 who could spearhead their attack. However, things never worked in the favour of the 25-year-old forward. He found it hard to adjust to the English Premier League and David Moyes offered him limited game time.
Scamacca decided to leave England and move back to Italy ahead of the 2023-24 season. He is one of the leading contenders to lead Italy’s forward line in the Euros in the summer. Atalanta signed him and this proved to be a positive move for both parties. Gianluca Scamacca is scoring goals for his side and was the hero of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg against Liverpool at Anfield. Let’s take a look at what this forward offers to the team.
Atalanta’s target man
Gianluca Scamacca is a tall forward and leads Atalanta’s attacking line. The forward has shown decent form in the Serie A as well as in Europe. Overall, the forward has scored 13 goals from 60 shot attempts. He averages 3.3 shots per 90 minutes and has a 46.7% accuracy rate. Scamacca has scored eight goals in the league and five in the Europa League.
This plot demonstrates the striker’s goal-scoring efficiency by comparing their expected goals to actual goals scored per 90 minutes. When compared to all the centre-forward in the league, Scamacca is ranked among the best in the division.
Every team demands a bit of creativity from their forward players. This creativity doesn’t mean that the player has to deliver dangerous passes. Some forwards are known for holding up the play and setting up their teammates to take a shot. The 25-year-old forward has created 14 such shot-assist chances and his teammates have scored two goals. Most of these passes have been attempted from the edge of the penalty box.
Gianluca Scamacca has the strength to hold the opposition defenders and has won 28 fouls for his team. Some of these fouls have ended up in the form of free-kicks on the edge of the penalty box. This shows that Scamacca has an all-around game and fits perfectly in Atalanta’s setup.
Prolific goal-scoring run
Just before the Euros, Scamacca is finding his form. His recent brace against Liverpool at Anfield took his recent tally to six goals in seven games. Since March, the forward has scored six times, with four coming in Europe. He played a crucial role in taking his side to the quarter-finals and has already made an impact in the first-leg of the last eight.
Gianluca Scamacca has performed in big matches and could be in contention to lead Italy’s attack in the summer. The defending champions will need their No. 9 to be at his best.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine