With nine games to play this season the race to be the leading Bundesliga goal scorer is still finely balanced with a number of players hopeful of adding to their tally before the end of the campaign. After the departure of Robert Lewandowski, we will definitely have a new name on the trophy for the first time since 2017. Here we take a look at the candidates to take the crown.
-
Niclas Füllkrug (15 goals)
Werder Bremen’s Niclas Füllkrug remains the favourite for this year’s crown as he continues to find the net for both club and country. Three goals for Germany in the international break show that he is still in good form and unlike some of his competitors, he remains injury free and a guaranteed starter each week for Werder. Compared to previous seasons 15 goals isn’t a huge tally, but he’ll have plenty of opportunity to add this his goals between now and the end of the season.
-
Vincenzo Grifo (12 goals)
Free-kick specialist Grifo is three goals behind Füllkrug and while not a striker he has been amongst the goals this season. This has been his best scoring season since 2014-15 when he hit 14 in the 2.Bundesliga winning season and that figure could be bettered this time around as the Breisgauer look to achieve a top four finish.
-
Christopher Nkunku (12 goals)
Currently out with a minor thigh strain, RB Leipzig’s speedy attacker will want to return to action as soon as possible if he is to challenge for the goalscoring prize. The 24-year-old hit 20 goals last season so has a way to go to beat that figure, but a good end of season could see him close the gap on Werder’s Füllkrug.
-
Marcus Thuram (12 goals)
This is set to be Thuram’s last season in the Bundesliga before he moves abroad in the summer so winning the Torschützenkanone would be an excellent way to sign off on his Borussia Mönchengladbach career while also helping the Foals achieve a more respectable league position. Only two of his 12 goals have come in the Rückrunde so an upturn in form is going to be needed to add to his current tally.
-
Randall Kolo Muani (11 goals)
Despite being four goals adrift at the moment, Eintracht Frankfurt striker Kolo Muani could be best placed to usurp Niclas Füllkrug at the top of the scoring charts. The Frenchman was praised by no-other than Kylian Mbappe in the international break for being the complete striker and if the Adler can provide the ammunition in the final games, he could end a superb first season in the Bundesliga as the leading scorer.
-
Jamal Musiala (11 goals)
The Bayern youngster is on the verge of returning from a hamstring injury and he will need to get himself in new coach Thomas Tuchel’s side if he is to add to his 11 goals this season. Much will depend on his fitness and the role Tuchel has for him, but the eye for goal is there. The 20-year-old has already more than doubled his tally of five from last season.
-
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (10 goals)
It was unclear when Robert Lewandowski left whether Choupo-Moting would be given the chance to lead the Bayern attack, but after a brief experiment of playing without a recognised target man Bayern turned to the Cameroon international. While not in the Lewandowski category of goals, he has 10 so far and if Bayern are to successfully defend their Bundesliga crown from Dortmund a few more goals from ‘Choupo’ would certainly help. The fact that he has previously worked successfully with Thomas Tuchel could help.
