Ranking Serie A's 5 Hottest Strikers Right Now

Serie A has proven to be a hotbed for the best strikers in the world.

It is notorious for being a difficult league for strikers to succeed in due, in part, to the extreme tactical focus from the vast majority of managers and the extra emphasis placed on defending.

Some of the greatest footballing minds of Italy have adamantly stated that the perfect game of football would end 0-0.

So when a striker succeeds in Italy, it is generally assumed that he is capable of translating that form, if provided the appropriate game time, to another league.

Here are my five hottest strikers in Serie A right now.

Feel free comment below with your views and thoughts, whether you agree or disagree.

5. Giampaolo Pazzini, Milan

Giampaolo Pazzini might be finding himself on the bench in the immediate future now that Mario Balotelli has signed for the Rossoneri.

But Milan's renaissance since their appalling start to the season has been aligned with Pazzo consistently finding the back of the net.

The former Inter striker has scored six goals in his last eight games, including this masterpiece against Bologna a few weeks ago.

With Balotelli cup-tied for the Champions League, Pazzini will be starting against Barcelona, which will be a great opportunity to show Milan that he still holds a future at the club.

4. Alberto Gilardino, Bologna

Alberto Gilardino is enjoying a purple patch for Bologna in 2013.

The veteran striker has been in sensational form as of late, banging in four goals in his last six games to start the new year.

Bologna have hoisted themselves clear of the relegation zone, and Gila appears to have refound his eye for goal.

Linking brilliantly with the magician, Alessandro Diamanti, Gilardino has rediscovered those predatory instincts inside the penalty area again.

I push him just ahead of Pazzini in terms of who is in hotter form right now simply because the Milan striker missed the last game through injury and also enjoys a better quality of service than Gilardino does.

3. Marco Sau, Cagliari

Marco Sau is another striker who is carrying one of Serie A's relegation candidates with his form in front of goal.

The former Juve Stabia forward has grasped the opportunities for the Isolani this season and has established himself as a starter, even ahead of last season's sensation, Mauricio Pinilla.

Sau has banged in four goals in six games to lift Ivo Pulga's troops, using a combination of speed to pull away from defenders and a great instinct in front of goal.

Cagliari will need Sau to continue to fire in front of goal as he has been doing if they are to avoid the drop to Serie B.

2. Mauro Icardi, Sampdoria

Mauro Icardi really is Serie A's latest striking sensation.

The Argentine-born forward had only scored once before the winter break, all be it a crucial goal in the Derby della Lanterna against Genoa.

Since the new year, though, Icardi has been in prolific form, scoring six goals in five matches, including four in the 6-0 thrashing of Pescara.

His double against Juventus really brought him to the attention of the bigger clubs in Europe, prompting Napoli to reportedly bid €12 million for the player who cost just €300,000 from Barcelona in 2011.

Keep an eye on Icardi, as he could be one of Europe's hottest strikers by this time next season.

1. Edinson Cavani, Napoli

Edinson Cavani is not only the hottest striker in Italy right now, but surely the Uruguayan is in better form than any forward in world football currently.

I include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie and whoever else that you want to throw into this argument.

All of the aforementioned stars have better service at their clubs than El Matador, yet Napoli's prized asset has registered 20 goals in his last 17 matches, a strike rate to rival even Messi.

The Argentine has 25 over a similar period of time, but I reiterate the point that Barcelona create many more opportunities for the three-time reigning Ballon D'Or winner than Cavani could ever wish to receive with the Partenopei.