Alexandre Lacazette is a striker for French Ligue 1 club Lyon. This season, he has started every league game for Lyon. Not only that but the Frenchman is currently tied for third place among Ligue 1’s top scorers this season with ten goals scored in the league. He is the man in form for Lyon and is pumping in goals for Lyon this season. Unfortunately, there is news surrounding him being injured after Lyon’s most recent clash against Clermont, which Lyon surprisingly lost one-nil at home. Even then, Lyon is one of the teams in contention for the top four spots in Ligue 1, and their main man in front of goal is displaying impressive stats this season, a few of which are analysed below.
The above viz shows the percentile rank of the player in comparison to other players in Ligue 1. As the man in form, Alexandre Lacazette is still a big threat in front of goal and ranks among the top for goal contributions, averaging 0.66 goals in the league. Overall, he ranks highly in duels and passing, proving to be an extremely efficient resource for the team.
Maintaining a constant threat
Lacazette is pumping goals for Lyon and is a crucial part of their attack. In the 2022–23 French Ligue 1 season, Alexandre Lacazette has played 17 matches. Lacazette has 26 shots on target from a total of 44 shots and has scored ten goals (9.50 xG). Alexandre Lacazette averages 26 passes per game, has a 73% pass completion rate, and four assists. All of his goals have come from inside and around the six-yard box, along with a few attempts on goal from outside the box.
The above viz is a representation of shot assists for Lacazette. With four assists, Lacazette has an xA of 3.06 for the matches played. Most of the actions have been taken inside the box, with some in the final third. He makes 2.88 passes into the final third per 90 with an accuracy rate of 60%. Overall, he makes 27 passes on average with 73% pass accuracy.
Lacazette with the ball
Lacazette covers the final third of the pitch as a centre forward and also ensures to fall back in order to perform defensive roles. The above viz depicts the ball progressions made by the player. It can be observed that he makes most of his attempts in the final third of the pitch. He attempts 2.45 dribbles per 90 with a success rate of 50%.
Pressure up the pitch
The above viz represents various high regains made by Lacazette for Lyon in the 2022–23 season. It can be seen that he has made 25 high regains, 25 counter-pressing recoveries, and seven dangerous recoveries. He makes 4.1 recoveries in the opponent’s half and 1.35 interceptions per 90. Additionally, he is successful in 56% of the defensive duels contested on average. Lacazette has the ability to put pressure on the opponent’s backline and is skilled at doing so.
Goal drought last season
Incredibly, Lacazette has already fired in more goals than what he managed in his final year at Arsenal from 36 games in all competitions, scoring just four goals in the league, three of which were from the penalty spot. It’s difficult to really sum up Lacazette’s time at Arsenal. There were plenty of good moments for the striker, and his form in the 2018-19 season deservedly saw him voted the club’s Player of the Year. Yet there will always be a sense that the Frenchman failed to really live up to the hype. His highest-scoring tally in the Premier League was just 14, and that came in his first-ever season in north London.
Alexandre Lacazette is the man in form for Lyon and needs to continue to pump goals this season for the club to reach their desired spot. With plenty of experience under his belt, Lacazette surely has been through the process before and can prove his worth in France this season. His threatening nature in front of goal, along with his tactical awareness, are his major strengths, and both Lyon and Lacazette will be looking to pump out some needed goals in the remaining half of the season.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
