In a matchup full of intriguing subplots, this one might take top billing…
Two of Major League Soccer’s leading marksmen line up on opposing sides on Sunday, charged with firing their teams through to the Eastern Conference finals.
David Villa and Sebastian Giovinco have 40 MLS goals between them in 2016 but how do their respective records stack up?
Ahead of Sunday’s Eastern Conference semifinal, we take a look at how El Guaje and the Atomic Ant’s regular season records compare…
Matches
Injuries have been a factor for Toronto’s Italian striker this season, meaning he’s played five games less than his NYCFC rival.
Villa: 33
Giovinco: 28
Goals
Only Bradley Wright-Phillips managed to score more goals than Villa’s 23 in the regular season which is five more than nearest competitor Giovinco.
Villa: 23
Giovinco: 17
Goals per Game
Both strikers boast a strike rate which is better than a goal every other game.
Villa: 0.69
Giovinco: 0.60
Shots
No-one in the league took more shots than Giovinco in 2016 although David ran him close with just 11 fewer than the Italian.
Villa: 166
Giovinco: 177
Pass Completion
The Toronto man edges this metric by a few decimals of a percentile.
Villa: 71.8%
Giovinco: 72.3%
Assists
Giovinco takes this one by a landslide having set up an incredible 14 goals for teammates – only Sacha Kljestan, the Red Bulls man, has more in the league.
Villa: 4
Giovinco: 14
Dribbles Per Game
Villa: 0.4 successful
Giovinco: 0.2 successful
