Serie A: 5 Early Contenders for the Capocannoniere Title
The Serie A season is now into its second full month, and an early picture of the scoring race has emerged through the first five games.
The prestigious title of capocannoniere has lost some luster of late. The last three men to win the award—Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Ciro Immobile—left the league the following summer.
However, the race for the scoring title is shaping up to be exciting this season. Several of the contenders from last year's race are back. Younger players have broken through the ranks at their clubs and cemented themselves in the starting XI and thrust themselves into the race. Some new arrivals to the league are looking to make a mark as well.
Which players look to be the early favorites to take part in the race at season's end? Let's take a look at the league and figure it out.
Jeremy Menez
1 of 5
Jeremy Menez has become the centerpiece of Filippo Inzaghi's new attack at AC Milan.
The Frenchman, who arrived at the San Siro from PSG on a free transfer, has been installed as a false nine in Inzaghi's 4-3-3. He scored three times in his first two games and has continued to play well since, even though he hasn't netted again.
Inzaghi's system has turned Milan into a high-powered attacking machine. That's a necessity considering the fact that their deficient defense will likely force them to win a number of their games by outscoring their opponent.
Menez is going to be an integral part of this high-octane offense. He will be presented with numerous opportunities. If he can take them, he'll be high up the scoring chart come the end of the season.
Mauro Icardi
2 of 5
Last season Mauro Icardi made more news with his personal life than his play. An injury sidelined him for much of the first half of the season, and when he returned Rodrigo Palacio had become entrenched as Inter's No. 1 striker. He only appeared in 22 games and started only 12, scoring nine times.
It wasn't the start that was expected after the Argentine arrived from Sampdoria and immediately claimed the No. 9 shirt.
This year's start has been better. Icardi scored twice against Stjarnan in the Europa League playoff and scored a hat-trick against Sassuolo on September 19. Walter Mazzarri's Inter has sputtered since, but the talented Icardi is going to take a large role in his team's attack this year.
With the equally talented young Croatian Mateo Kovacic supplying him from the midfield and Palacio as a formidable strike partner, look for the youngster to finally start to realize his potential.
Antonio Di Natale
3 of 5
Last year was supposed to be Antonio Di Natale's last season.
He had announced in January that he would be hanging up his boots but shortly after his season-ending hat-trick against Sampdoria he was convinced to change his mind.
That has been a boon to Udinese so far. Di Natale has rewarded his team with a pair of braces. He has looked like the man that won the title of capocannoniere in two straight seasons at the beginning of the decade, when Francesco Guidolin was taking them to the Champions League.
Di Natale is the only one of the last four capocannoniere to have remained in the league the next season. His efforts this season have Udinese back in familiar territory—third place.
If Toto can continue to roll back the years he'll be in familiar territory himself—the top of the scoring lists. Whether he can win a third scoring title is yet to be seen, but he will certainly be the focal point of Andrea Stramaccioni's team for the remainder of the year.
Simone Zaza
4 of 5
Now time for the dark horse candidate.
Simone Zaza steadily improved last season, and he has so far been a focal point in Sassuolo's attack.
He has scored only once in four matches this year, but his production is likely to rise after the return of fellow wunderkind Domenico Berardi, with whom he has developed good chemistry since the beginning of last season.
Berardi himself could be a contender for this list, having broken out last season with 16 goals in only his second professional season. But Zaza is primed for a breakout.
His performances toward the end of last year caught the eye of Antonio Conte. In particular, his performance against Juventus in Sassuolo's April loss to the champions gave the then-Bianconeri boss a first-hand look at what he could do.
It earned Zaza his first international call-up, and he took advantage by opening his account for his country in Euro 2016 qualifying last month.
He may be held back by his team, which is still one of the weakest in Serie A. But Zaza has a history of scoring for bad clubs. Two years ago he scored 18 times on loan from Sampdoria at Ascoli—a team that was relegated that season.
Zaza is ready for a true breakout year. He has a reason to step up his performance, as a good season will likely mean a return to Juventus, who have a buyback option after selling him to Sassuolo this summer. A high place on the scoring list will make that a certainty.
Carlos Tevez
5 of 5
The fact that Juventus clinched the title so early last year was detrimental to Tevez's run at the top spot of the scoring charts, as the Argentinian star was rested over the season's last three games.
Up to that point, Carlitos was the go-to striker that Antonio Conte had been pining for his first two years with the club. He scored 19 times, propelling the team to an easy title win and one of the best domestic seasons in European history.
Tevez took a game to settle in before catching fire. In his last three games in Serie A he has scored four goals and notched an assist. He added a brace in the team's Champions League opener for good measure.
Tevez is the best striker on the best team in Italy. He's going to have tons of service. Opponents won't be able to key in on him without inviting the likes of Fernando Llorente, Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba to work the space that frees up.
Tevez is in position to have more opportunities than any striker in the league, and he has more than enough ability to take those opportunities. It's early, but Tevez should probably be considered the favorite to win the title.
