DBasia.news – With 18 goals scored by Karim Benzema and 23 goals from Lionel Messi, the two will fight to prove who is the best in this crucial battle.
Real Madrid’s duel against Barcelona is one of the most awaited moments of the season. It isn’t just a match between eternal rivals, but a meeting between two clubs full of talent and great goalscorers.
If you have to choose two players with the best skills and ability to score goals this season, Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema are the answer.
FC Barcelona striker Lionel Messi not only leads the number of goals for his club, but also becomes the most fertile goalscorer in LaLiga with 23 goals in 2,303 minutes.
The Rosario-born legend is unrivaled, with 27 games so far and only made two appearances as a substitute.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have Karim Benzema who is the top scorer and is fourth in the Pichichi race with 18 goals. He has played 2,203 minutes and has been a key part of Zinedine Zidane’s grand plan, who has started 25 games this season.
Both are extraordinary players who always leave their mark every time they enter the field aiming for the goal and are irreplaceable for their respective clubs.
However, both of them will give different treats to the players from France and Argentina who have different skills, dribbling techniques and kicking abilities. Let’s explore the abilities of these two great attackers.
Looking at Messi, the striker’s war has helped his teammates and set the tempo of play. The Blaugrana forward averages 71.6 passes per match with an accuracy of 82%. In addition to scoring 34% of goals for his club, Messi has also provided eight assists this season. That record has placed him in second place alongside Celta de Vigo’s Iago Aspas and Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente.
If we look at his goal-scoring skills, the Argentine forward has averaged 5.7 shots every 94 minutes, with three of them hitting the target.
Of his 23 goals during the 2020-21 season, 17 of them came from straight play and six goals from dead spots with a conversion rate of 17%. Although most of the shots are taken outside the box, Messi is no stranger to scoring from close range. The proof, nearly 24% of attempted goals came from inside the penalty box.
Meanwhile, Karim Benzema, has a fairly small number of passes, averaging 38 passes. On the other hand, the success rate of the French player’s passing has reached 83%.
So far, Benzema has provided six assists which has made himsit alongside Real Betis’ Sergio Canales and Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal as the sixth highest assists scorer in LaLiga.
Despite being a highly mobile player who always looks for gaps in the opponent’s defense, 40.9% of Benzema’s shots come from inside the penalty box.
In fact, despite sometimes trying his luck at scoring goals from outside the penalty area, Benzema often scores goals from close range. According to the statistics obtained by BolaSkor, of his 18 goals so far, 16 of them have come from direct play and only two have come from set pieces.
In terms of defense, Benzema and Messi have a similar record when it comes to winning the ball. Messi has won possession of the ball 53 times, one more than Benzema.
It is interesting to look forward to who will be the hero of each club in the match. One thing is for sure, Benzema and Messi are the most dangerous strikers in this El Clasico.