On Saturday in Frankfurt, we could see a head-to-head between the two strikers who are currently the Bundesliga's most prolific scorers: André Silva vs. reigning Best FIFA Men's Player Robert Lewandowski. fcbayern.com takes a closer look at the performance data of the two front men so far this season.
André Silva: Top scorer of 2021 so far
With 22 out of a possible 24 points in 2021, Eintracht Frankfurt are currently riding high in the Bundesliga. There's no question that striker André Silva has had a big hand in this. With nine goals, one more than Robert Lewandowski, he's the most successful striker of 2021 so far. Crucially, four of those goals opened the scoring for his team. "I'm just finishing off the work of the whole team. Together we're in terrific form right now," said a modest Silva after the recent 2-0 win against 1. FC Köln.
Silva excels through his "outstanding technique" and is "clinical when it comes to finishing," commented SGE board member for sport Fredi Bobic. The latter can also be proven in figures: the 25-year-old has converted 79 percent of his big chances this season and now has 18 goals. No other player in Frankfurt's Bundesliga history has netted as many times at this point in the season. The fact that Silva is now being "troubled slightly" (head coach Adi Hütter) by back problems ahead of the clash with Bayern and is in danger of missing out is a cause for concern for the Eagles. It's a long time since Eintracht lost a game when their top scorer was playing - namely 5-0 in the reverse fixture against Bayern.
Robert Lewandowski: On track for the all-time record
The high level at which Frankfurt's Silva is currently playing, however, has been embodied by Robert Lewandowski for several years. With 25 goals after 21 matchdays, the Poland international recently set a new Bundesliga record - and while Silva is chasing Bernd Hölzenbein's club record (26 goals, 1976/77) at Eintracht, Lewandowski is hunting down the all-time record set by his predecessor in the Bayern front line, Gerd Müller (40 goals, 1971/72). Both teammates and opponents agree that the 32-year-old is currently the best striker in the world. Something that was underlined not least by his selection as Best FIFA Men's Player 2020.
Lewandowski oozes goalscoring confidence throughout the entire match: His 86 attempts - an average of almost five shots on goal per 90 minutes - this Bundesliga season is a best-mark, ahead of Frankfurt's Silva (74). What makes him world-class, however, is what he does with these opportunities. If you believe the stats, the Pole has scored six goals more this season than would have been predicted given the number and quality of his goalscoring opportunities. His goal last Matchday against Bielefeld (3-3) is also symbolic of this. The probability of taking the ball down with his chest after David Alaba's cross and putting it into the goal on the spin was just 12 percent!
As always, take a look at our top stats article for more fascinating facts about the Eintracht clash:
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