More goals than Valera, Guerrero and Ruidíaz combined: Lapadula’s incredible 2023 that has Cagliari dreaming of promotion to Serie A

At 14 minutes into the game, the ‘Bambino’ received a precise cross from the Uruguayan Nahitan Nandez and in the middle of two centrals – he was the only one of his team in the rival area – headed to the goalkeeper’s right post and put the first. Four minutes later, with that goal-scoring instinct, he made it 2-0 with a cross-footed shot after the mistake of two Venezia defenders.

If you want to fight for promotion, hire Lapadula you must. The ‘Bambino’ is becoming an expert in Italian promotion football. For that, Cagliari signed him at the beginning of the season.

Also chosen as the best player of the league season, Gianluca reached 23 goals in the campaign -six goals in the last four games-, surpassing his second best mark: in 2014-15 he scored the same number of goals with Teramo in Serie C. His best figure was with Pescara in 2015-16: 30 celebrations, which earned him to be signed by AC Milan.

His incredible present can even be compared to the scorers of the top five leagues in Europe. Lapadula beats the German niclas fullkrug and his 16 goals with Werder Bremen. He also equalizes with the Nigerian Victor Osinhem (23 goals with Napoli in Serie A) and the Pole Robert Lewandowski (23, Barcelona in La Liga). A couple of steps up kylian mbappe (28, PSG in Ligue 1) and higher up, far from everyone, is Erling Haaland (36, Manchester City in the Premier League).

His present, the best of the ‘9’ of the selection

Less than a month after the last friendlies of the Peruvian team (06/16 vs. Korea and 06/20 vs. Japan, both in Asia), there are few doubts as to who owns the ‘9’. The spectacular present of lapadula It has established him as the potential starter for Juan Reynoso with a view to the start of the Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The numbers of the ‘Bambino’ are so good that they even surpass those achieved by Alex Valera, Raúl Ruidiaz and Paolo Guerrero, the other strikers on the Bicolor coach’s radar. Of the 24 goals he has scored this season (23 for Serie B and one for the Italian Cup), the Cagliari attacker has scored 16 in 2023.

alex valera He is the striker who is closest to Gianluca, although with the difference that exists between the level of League 1 and Serie B. The man from Pomalca is the scorer for the ‘U’ in the Apertura, as well as scoring in the South American Cup somewhat. However, in contrast to him are his last two senseless expulsions that affect his performance.

Paolo Guerrero He arrived at Racing after a long layoff due to a knee injury. At 39 years old, the ‘Predator’ has scored a goal in every competition he has played: Argentine Professional League, Argentine Cup and Libertadores. He is returning to a competitive rhythm – which was what Reynoso demanded – and could be taken into account for the tour of Asia.

Ruidiaz, the forward “weakness” of the Blanquirroja coach, is not having a good time this year at Sounders. He has just scored two goals in Major League Soccer, the tournament he got tired of celebrating in previous years. This Sunday he reappeared after a month after overcoming a hamstring injury: he was on the substitute bench in his team’s victory (1-0) against New York Red Bull.