Serie A has long been famed for it's defensive abilities and tactical organisation, it's gifts to the world deemed to be tacticians such as Giovanni Trapattoni and Arrigo Sacchi, breeding defenders the likes of which other countries could only look on in envy of. Yet, as a byproduct of coming up against players such as Gaetano Scirea, Franco Baresi and Fabio Cannavaro on a weekly basis, the players at the opposite end of the pitch had to be similarly excellent so for every Beppe Bergomi there is a Gigi Riva, for every Paolo Maldini a Giuseppe Meazza.
It is not just native strikers that have hit the heights in Italian football, great names throughout history have come to the peninsula to test their skills against the best. From John Charles in the late 1950's, through to Marco Van Basten or Gabriel Batistuta in more recent times, Calcio has always been home to fantastic goal scorers. With such great defensive play, taking chances when they present themselves is a vital skill for these men and, while Serie A is no longer the centre of the footballing universe as it was twenty years ago, some of the names at the top of the scoring chart this season would grace any league. Here we take time to look at these strikers and rank them in terms of goals-to-shots ratio, seeking out the most deadly 'bomber' so far.
Here are the seven finest marksmen, each with a minimum of five goals to their name from WhoScored's Serie A Player Statistics. No midfielders have been included, ruling out a number of midfielders with better strike-rates than some on this list.
7. Edinson Cavani (Napoli) - 5.6 shots per goal
The Napoli striker is one of the hottest properties in the game today - as the outpouring of man-love on various podcasts attests - after a remarkable debut campaign in the shadow of Vesuvius last season. Following on from that campaign, in which he scored 26 goals in 32 Serie A games, he has started in much the same vein this term, netting seven goals in his twelve matches thus far. He has taken 39 shots to reach that tally which, added to a superb return of four goals in his first six Champions League appearances, reinforce the belief that the Uruguayan truly is the real deal.
6. Alessandro Matri (Juventus) - 5.5 shots per goal
Subject of much criticism, his January switch to Juventus has arguably been one of the major catalysts behind the resurgence of the Turin giants this term. Last season, which he split between the Bianconeri and Cagliari, Matri netted the benchmark of 20 league goals that separates good strikers from great ones. Not only has he taken less shots than Cavani - his six goals coming from just 33 attempts - but he has done so while playing significantly less - his 886 minutes far below the Napoli man's 1088.
5. Emanuele Calaiò (Siena) - 4.8 shots per goal
Now here we have the clearest example of what it takes to be an important player in a league like Serie A. Due to their status as a newly promoted side currently struggling to come to terms with the leap in class, Siena are struggling for chances, ranking behind only Chievo in shots per game (10.7). However, 29-year-old Calaiò, a journey-man who has played for six different clubs in an eleven year career, has certainly made the most of his opportunities. His five goals have come from just 24 shots, a total spread over 1173 minutes of action making him truly vital to his club's bid for survival.
4. Miroslav Klose (Lazio) - 4.75 shots per goal
It can surely be no surprise to see the name of Klose on a list such as this, with the German international long considered one of the finest poachers in the modern game. He has taken 38 shots to net his eight goals, to which he has added two goals in two Europa League appearances and of course four in just five games for his country. It has been a remarkable beginning to his new start in Rome after becoming surplus to requirements at Bayern Munich, one which has been key in Lazio's equally good start that has seen them keep pace with the league leaders.
3. Zlatan Ibrahimović (Milan) - 4.7 shots per goal
While the speed at which Klose has adapted to life in Italy has been surprising, it is the continued excellence of the Swede which impresses most. Notwithstanding his unbelievable run of league titles over recent seasons, he surpassed the milestone of 100 goals in Serie A, doing so in just 196 games. Only 72 men have managed this feat and only 18 of them foreigners, but none perhaps split opinion as much as Zlatan. Even his scoring record this term, ten goals in just twelve games, has been criticised, mostly because half of that total has come via the penalty spot. Currently on a scoring streak of five games (in which he has found the net six times) it seems he can never do enough to convince some of his undoubted ability.
2. Germán Denis (Atalanta) - 3.8 shots per goal
Another surprise entry, but in the case of former Napoli man Denis it is the fact he is currently Serie A's leading scorer rather than the number of shots he has taken to reach his league high eleven goals. In needing just 42 attempts he is far more clinical this term than closest rival Antonio Di Natale who has ten goals from 67 shots. His total is also an astounding 58% of Atalanta's 19 goals in their first 15 games, again beating the Udinese captain (who has 50% of his club total) into second place. How long it can last remains to be seen but his start - and already his best goal return in Italy - has been among the highlights of the season to date.
1. Rodrigo Palacio (Genoa) - 3.7 shots per goal
Not the first name to come to mind - unless bad haircuts is the topic of discussion - Argentine striker Palacio has six goals from a mere 22 shots, good enough to make him the league's most clinical striker so far this season. The former Boca Juniors man also has four assists to his name and his injury, suffered in the win over Siena, is a huge blow to Genoa who's rise to eighth in the table is largely down to the 29-year-old's impact.
