Morata ajawahi kucheza Uingereza na Lukaku amecheza na kufunga magoli zaidi ya 20 kwenye ligi hiyo. Morata ni mara ya kwanza (msimu uliopita)kwenye uchezaji wake kuvuka magoli zaidi ya 15.
FINISHING
Over the past three seasons, Lukaku has scored more goals per 90 minutes than Morata – 0.51 against 0.33 for the Spaniard – although the 2016/17 was different. Used as an impact sub off the bench, the Real Madrid attacker actually out-scored the Belgian with 1.01 goals per 90 versus 0.69.
In the box, the Everton striker was still more efficient, however. He converted 30% of his shots in the area. Morata managed to convert 27.08%. Over the past three seasons, Lukaku has taken more shots in total too – 3.22 per 90 versus 2.17, or 2.22 on target against 1.40. He has the variety too, with 11 headed goals, 15 off his right and 27 off his left in the league since August 2014.
Winner: Lukaku
HOLD UP PLAY
The Spaniard is without doubt the superior option when it comes to playing with his back to goal. Lukaku prefers to get a run on defences, whereas Morata has shown his value as a centre-forward who can bring others into play, especially during his two year stint at Juventus.
However, the statistics paint a more complex picture that might otherwise be assumed. Over the past three years, Morata has drawn more fouls per 90 than Lukaku (1.90 versus 0.80) and done more when it comes to defensive work, winning tackles and making interceptions (0.81 against 0.23), while the Belgian has actually created more chances (1.30 to 1.03 for the Spaniard) and completed more passes in the final third (10.04 to 6.96).
Despite the Real Madrid attacker recording more assists per 90 (0.26 to 0.16), Lukaku has actually played more through balls too – 20 in total, or 0.19 per 90, to three for Morata, or 0.07. Even so, these numbers must be considered in the context of each players’ respective styles of play and performances.
Winner: Morata.
MOVEMENTS
Here, Lukaku comes into his own. Not only has he shown his ability to pop up in dangerous areas more often than Morata, taking 0.65 shots from “big chances” – situations in which a player finds themselves in a position to shoot from very close range or with only the ‘keeper to beat – over the past three seasons, he has also taken carved out 20 goal-scoring opportunities on the counter-attack, or 0.19 per 90.
Morata, meanwhile, has averaged 0.37 “big chances” and 0.07 chances on the counter per 90, although unleashed off the bench and in a more aggressive role for Madrid last season, the Spaniard actually took on more “big chances” (1.01 per 90 to 0.66) than the Belgian. He is no slouch.
Winner: Lukaku
DUES
A category in which the Belgian just about pips his rival. With his quick feet, he can turn defenders inside out to force back lines to implode, and completed 1.74 take ons per 90 last season (1.18 in the final third) compared to 1.48 (1.08) for Morata. Over the past three seasons, it’s a similar story: 1.44 (1.00) for Lukaku, 1.27 (0.79) for the Spaniard.
In the air, it’s closer still, although not in the way that may be obvious. While the Everton striker rules over Morata through the sheer number of aerial duels won (2.81 versus 0.85 over the last three seasons) for success rate, the Spaniard shows the value of quality, over quantity, completing 46.99% of his headers to 39.97% for Lukaku.
Winner: Lukaku
BIG MOMENTS
The Spaniard’s record is hard to beat. He has already scored more Champions League goals than Diego Costa, and in 2015 found the back of the net in both of the semi-finals and in the final against Barcelona for Juventus. Last season in La Liga, only Lionel Messi and Neymar scored more goals in the last 10 minutes of games than the Real Madrid striker.
Lukaku can be the man of the moment too, however. No player scored more goals from “big chances” in the Premier League last season. He was tied with Harry Kane on 18. The Belgian also topped the charts for goals in the final 10 minutes of action too, with nine – five more than Morata managed in Spain. Against tired legs, his underrated dribbling abilities, movement and capacity to catch teams on the break cannot be dismissed.
Winner: Morata
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