Zaza closing in on 73-year-old Valencia scoring record
The Italian is in explosive form and has scored in six consecutive Liga games, a feat last achieved by Mundo, who scored in seven in 1944.
Simone Zaza’s goal scoring start to the season at Mestalla is on the verge of entering into Valencia folklore with the Italian having found the net in nine of 10 Liga games so far this season, including six consecutive strikes in his last six fixtures. The last time Zaza achieved that streak was in Serie B with Ascoli Picchio in 2011-12, when he also ended the season with his highest total to date of 18.
Next weekend against Leganés, Zaza has the opportunity to match a record that has stood since 1944. If the Italian finds the net in Mestalla he will equal the record set by Valencia legend Edmundo Suárez, who scored in seven consecutive Liga games against Castellón, Espanyol, Celta Vigo, Real Oviedo, Sabadell, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.
Zaza’s run has seen the striker hit the target against Málaga, Real Sociedad, Athletic, Real Betis, Sevilla and Alavés, placing him on the cusp of Mestalla history.
Zaza in line for Italy return
It is a far cry from when the Italian first arrived on the east coast on loan from Juventus, via a loan spell at West Ham, and was immediately questioned by the Valencia support over his strike rate. Such is Zaza’s stock after his start to 2017-18, which has included goals in four Valencia wins by a single strike, that he will be a very interested observer when Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura announces his squad for the World Cup qualifying playoff against Sweden.
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