In the previous weekend some of the Premier League's standout goal droughts came to an end, with the likes of Rooney, Suarez and Victor Moses netting long awaited strikes for their teams. We look at the streaks they had gone on without scoring and delve deeper into Europe's ongoing strugglers in front of goal.
WhoScored investigates the player in each of Europe's top 5 leagues to have taken the most shots without scoring, with Moses' strike leading another Premier League winger to take the unwanted accolade. We also study those who may be a little concerned with runs without goals having netted early on in the season, with confidence clearly an issue for some.
It's Finally Happened
In the Premier League this weekend, Victor Moses' instant equaliser against West Brom set Wigan on their way to back-to-back league victories away from home, but the goal will have meant a lot to the youngster on a personal level as well as for the team. The 21-year-old had previously held the longest run in the league this season without scoring in terms of shots per game, but his strike this Saturday gave him his first goal at the 46th time of asking.
One man who had attempted nearly as many efforts without scoring was Liverpool's Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan netted the only goal in a 1-0 win over QPR, representing his first in 7 games having attempted a remarkable 45 shots in that period (6.4 per game) since scoring in the Merseyside derby at Everton.
Another high-profile name to end a goal drought this weekend was Wayne Rooney. The England international has had a tough time of it of late off the pitch and it was beginning to show on it, failing to score in 9 Premier League matches before a bagging a brace against Wolves. Between his goal against Chelsea and first strike this weekend, the forward had attempted 37 shots (4.1 per game in that period), including a penalty miss in the same game against Andre Villas-Boas’ side.
Not Going In
With Moses finally opening his personal account for the season with Wigan, QPR summer signing Shaun Wright-Phillips now holds the Premier League record for shots without scoring - and indeed the record across Europe. In 12 appearances the 30-year-old has amassed 1058 minutes of playing time without finding the net, attempting 36 shots in that period (3 per game).
In terms of strikers, Parma's Graziano Pelle has been anything but prolific this season. With co-owned Juventus playmaker Sebastian Giovinco stealing the headlines in behind him, Pelle has played 624 league minutes this season without scoring, having taken 21 shots (2.3 per game). Worryingly for his club, Giovinco's goals have dried up somewhat as well, scoring just 1 of 7 this season in his last 7 games in all competitions, coinciding with 3 defeats and 2 draws in that period, and Parma failing to score in the last 3.
Former Arsenal-man Jose Antonio Reyes leads the way in Spain's La Liga having played 12 times in the league without netting. Over the course of 691 minutes he has mustered 31 shots (2.6 per game) without finding the net. However, it doesn't end there for the Spaniard; who has failed to score in European competition either, stretching his goal-less run to 15 games (773 minutes) this season.
In a Bayern side that seemed so dominant in the early stages of the season, young midfielder Toni Kroos has been an integral figure. The German international is not in the side for his goal scoring abilities - though he has netted twice in the Champions League - but nevertheless has had plenty of cracks at goal without reward in the Bundesliga. A total of 29 attempts over 15 appearances (1199 minutes) makes Kroos the most prolific shooter in the league yet to register a goal this season.
Signed from Sochaux in the summer, winger Nicolas Maurice-Belay has been a mainstay in the Bordeaux side this season, racking up 15 appearances. Never a real goal-getter, the 26-year-old netted just 3 times in 37 appearances last term, but has been particularly wasteful this time around. An indication that France's finishers may have been a little more clinical is highlighted by the fact that Maurice-Belay's league leading shots per goal figure without scoring is just 1.4 (21 in total), which is significantly down on the rest of the leagues.
A Turn for the Worse
With the aforementioned streaks without goals ending in the Premier League last weekend, few now standout as looking out of sorts in front of goal. One player who has attempted numerous shots in vein of late is Everton frontman Louis Saha. The experienced French forward has had 22 shots in his last 5 games (4.4 per game) since scoring an injury time goal against Fulham, without finding the net.
After a fantastic start to his Lazio career, Djibril Cisse is perhaps the most out of sorts striker in Europe right now. Having admittedly played in wider roles in 3 of his 11 starts this season; the 30-year-old is now 13 games without a goal in the league since netting on his debut against AC Milan in the season opener. That run elongates to 17 games when counting the Europa League as well, spanning a course of 1219 minutes and 1108 in the league alone. In that spell, Cisse has attempted 37 shots to no avail, failing to score from 2.8 shots per game.
Betis' season in La Liga got off to a flyer, and a key man in that early success was midfielder Benat. Netting in 2 of the sides first 4 league games, all ending in victory for the club, the 24-year-old hasn't scored since, with Betis ending a 10-game winless run this weekend. Benat's efforts have not dried up despite his goal tally going stale, having attempted 25 shots over 717 minutes of league action without scoring.
When looking for scoring strugglers in Germany and France, there are few candidates who stand out. In the Bundeslgia, baron runs came to an end for the likes of Mike Hanke and Sascha Molders in recent weeks, while in Ligue 1, only 1 player to have more than 2 shots per game has netted less than 3 goals this season, with Bakary Sako's 1 coming against Caen this weekend. Hannover's Mohammed Abdellaoue has gone 5 games without a goal, while Lyon's Gomis is without a goal in 7 in the league, despite netting 4 in an incredible 7-1 win over Zagreb in the Champions League.
One thing is for sure. While the likes of United and Liverpool will be delighted that their star strikers are seemingly back to their old selves, sides such as Everton and Parma could certainly do with a little help from their misfiring forwards.
