Erling Haaland's start in the Bundesliga has been outstanding, to the point where it's gotten a fair share of comparisons with a former Dortmund player's debut: Paco Alcacer. Our football database ProFootballDB has compared the two player's numbers, and despite Haaland earning a wonderboy status, they are strikingly similar.
Erling Alcácer or Paco Haaland. Physically they have hardly anything to do with each other, but the way they started their respective careers in Borussia Dortmund is amazingly similar. Because of this, we have decided to take a closer look at their respective numbers.
The Norwegian striker, who scored seven goals in his three days as a player at Signal Iduna Park, has now become a regular fixture and earned his place in the starting line-up. He has also been fully effective with his seven shots on goal. His statistics are completed with an average of one goal every 19 minutes of play. Instant impact.
However, it's not the first time they've seen something like this, far from it. Two seasons ago it was Paco Alcácer who landed in Dortmund with the sign of hope for the new '9'. And he also defended it to perfection. And when we look at their numbers, they're truly strikingly similar: seven goals after seven shots, on goal for an average of 18 minutes per goal.
Really amazing. The only difference is that Alcácer got them in four games, instead of the three Haaland needed. The difference in minutes is also small: 134 for the Norwegian, compared to 127 for the Spanish international.
Alcácer's move to Villarreal was prompted by the arrival of the striker this winter transfer window, and it has taken him little time to realise that he is fully capable of achieving at least the same numbers as the Spaniard.