A tiger and his principality patrons, a baby-faced debutant and some Toffees, and a vintage pharaoh star in FIFA.com’slatest stats review, which does not make positive reading for a studious Spaniard and his heavily-inked countryman.
44
years and two days was the age at which Egypt’s Essam El-Hadary became the oldest player in CAF Africa Cup of Nations history on Tuesday. When first-choice goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy went off injured in the 25th minute against Mali, El-Hadary came on to smash the record set by compatriot Hossam Hassan, who was 39 years and six months when he rose from the bench against Senegal in the 2006 semi-finals. El-Hadary, whose international career appeared to be over until a surprise recall last year, has expressed his desire to become the oldest player in FIFA World Cup™ history. Faryd Mondragon, at 43 years and three days, took the record of Cameroonian Roger Milla when he came on for Colombia against Japan in 2014.
40
matches unbeaten – a record for a Spanish club – was the run that came to an end for Real Madrid at Sevilla on Sunday. Three days earlier, against the same side, late goals from Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema snatched Zinedine Zidane’s team a 3-3 draw in the Copa del Rey, which saw them break the 39 games Barcelona went without defeat until a well-taken Cristiano Ronaldo goal grabbed Madrid victory in El Clásico in April 2016. The 31-year-old Portuguese broke the deadlock at the weekend, tying Hugo Sanchez’s record of 56 for the most penalties scored in La Liga. However, Sergio Ramos put through his own net in the 85th minute – it was the 30-year-old’s first goal for Sevilla since he scored in a 2-2 draw against, ironically, Real Madrid in 2005 – and Stevan Jovetic secured the upset in stoppage time. Los Merengues followed that up by losing 2-1 at home to Celta Vigo in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final, meaning they have already lost as many games this year, as they did in the whole of 2016.
4
goals without reply is what Everton banged past Manchester City to hand Pep Guardiola the heaviest league defeat of his eight-year managerial career. New signing Ademola Lookman came on for his debut in the 90th minute and scored, with just his second touch, to seal the Toffees’ biggest defeat of Manchester City since a Gary Lineker hat-trick inspired victory by the same score in 1986. The 19-year-old winger’s strike left Claudio Bravo having conceded 13 goals from the last 21 shots on target he has faced. The result meant Guardiola unwantedly tied his record high for league losses in a season – Barcelona and Bayern Munich also lost five times in 2008/09 and 2014/15, respectively. The man who turned 46 on Wednesday has 17 matches to go to avoid registering six defeats in a campaign for the first time.
4
goals in 41 minutes is what Monaco scored at the Velodrome – the fortress at which Marseille had previously conceded only one goal in ten Ligue 1 games. A Thomas Lemar gem broke the deadlock in the 15th minute before Falcao’s 12th goal in 14 French league appearances this season made it 2-0. Although Marseille pulled one back, Bernardo Silva’s brace earned Leonardo Jardim’s side a 4-1 victory which, coupled with Nice’s unexpected goalless draw at home to rock-bottom Metz, catapulted them top on goal difference. Monaco have now netted a whopping 60 goals in Ligue 1 this season – 21 more than Paris Saint-Germain, who have the second-most. The next highest-scoring team in Europe’s big five leagues this season is Barcelona on 47.
Quick hits 52points from his opening 21 English Premier League matches is what Chelsea’s Antonio Conte has seized, equalling the record Jose Mourinho set with the same team.
35 different clubs is what Lionel Messi has scored against in La Liga following his goal for Barcelona against Las Palmas, tying Real legend Raul’s all-time record.
9 goals in his last six starts is what Kostas Mitroglou has after he got the comeback going for Benfica, as they reversed a 3-0 deficit to draw with Boavista and netted a hat-trick in the 6-2 win over Leixoes.