Benzema vs Haaland: The stats behind the best strikers in the world

The Champions League semi-finals always bring together some of the biggest names in football. This year is no different with holders Real Madrid facing off against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

But beyond the teams, the semi-finals will also act as a stage for two of the world’s finest strikers to battle it out for top billing.

Last year Karim Benzema fired Madrid to European success with this best season of his career. This season Erling Haaland has been tasked with delivering the Champions League trophy that Manchester City crave.

After impressive seasons from both Benzema and Haaland, who will come out on top in the semi-finals? Our friends at Sofascore have taken a look at their comparative records this campaign…

Goals, goals, goals

Benzema and Haaland have been at the forefront of a resurgence of the ‘number nine’. Both players are adept at many things but their goal-scoring output is what really sets them apart from the rest.

So far this season Karim Benzema has scored 29 goals in the 38 games that he has featured in. This works out as a goal every 110 minutes and he has scored 44% of the big chances that have come his way.

Benzema’s scoring has helped Madrid to the semi-finals of the Champions League, but the Frenchman’s record this season is overshadowed by the Norwegian sensation.

In Haaland’s first season in English football he has scored an incredible 51 goals in 46 appearances. He is currently scoring at a rate of one goal every 70 minutes, and is taking more than half of the big chances that come his way. And at City, that’s a lot.

Influence on the game

Goals are a striker’s currency but to reduce Benzema and Haaland’s performances to just goalscoring would discount the rest of their work. Benzema’s build up play has been crucial for Madrid in recent years and his influence on the team is clear to see.

His heat map shows how his influence is felt throughout the attacking half, and how he tends to drift left to combine with Vinicius Junior.

In stark contrast, Erling Haaland is very much a penalty box striker. So complete is City’s build up play that the Norwegian tends to stay close to the goal, where he can be the most effective.

The difference in their styles is clear to see from their passing figures. Benzema has contributed 2 key passes per game this season, while Haaland has averaged just 0.85. Haaland, however, helps City’s attacking play by making piercing runs that stretch the opposition defence.

Both strikers has unique skillsets that make them the best in the world at what they do. Who will come out on top in the Champions League? We’re about to find out...