While goals are what clubs spend big to bring in and fans pay to see, for some they prove hard to come by at the start of a campaign. Here, WhoScored.com run through the players to have had the most shots that are yet to score in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
Andreas Pereira – Granada (16 shots)
The highly-rated midfielder is currently on loan from Manchester United at struggling Granada, but Pereira is hardly helping his club’s cause this season. Indeed, no player for the Spanish outift has had more shots in La Liga than the 20-year-old (16) this term, but it’s all been in vein so far as he has failed to hit the net.
Yannick Carrasco – Atletico Madrid (16)
While the Belgium international netted the crucial goal in Atletico’s 1-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich, Carrasco is yet to score from his 16 league shots this season. It’s clearly not for want of trying then – and the young winger has been unfortunate at times, striking the woodwork more than any other La Liga player this term (3 times).
Ricky Alvarez – Sampdoria (16)
Alavrez hasn’t exactly endured a poor start to his second season with Sampdoria; he does have two assists to his name from five league starts. However, an inability to hit the back of the net from 16 shots is a disappointing showing from the attacking midfielder and a return he needs to improve sooner rather than later if Samp are to end a run of five matches without a win.
Thomas Muller – Bayern Munich (16)
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For a player who scored 20 league goals last season – the third best return in the Bundesliga – it’s remarkable to think that Muller is yet to hit the back of the net this time around. It's 16 shots and zero goals for the Bayern Munich star, who to his credit has three assists to his name already, albeit all of which came in a 6-0 win on the opening day over Werder Bremen.
Florin Andone – Deportivo La Coruña (18)
In the wake of Lucas Perez’s move to Arsenal, Deportivo required a capable frontman to fill the void. Andone’s game differs to that of his predecessor though, and the Romanian has again struggled to cope with the demands of La Liga football. He has mustered 18 shots without scoring so far having struck 21 times for Cordoba in the Segunda Division last season.
Christian Eriksen – Tottenham (18)
Tottenham are the only unbeaten team left in the Premier League this season, though it’s feasible to suggest fans could still demand more from Eriksen. The Dane has two assists to his name, but is yet to score from any of his 18 shots in England’s top tier this term. Pochettino will hope a brace in the Capital One Cup win over Gillingham is a platform for Eriksen to build upon.
Lorenzo Insigne – Napoli (19)
Gonzalo Higuain’s sale to Juventus isn’t proving to be too much of a hindrance to Napoli, but Insigne has to date failed to help shoulder the goalscoring burden in the wake of the former’s exit. Despite playing from the left, the Italian has chanced his luck 19 times in Serie A, but is yet to score. In the wake of Milik’s injury, Napoli have every right to require Insigne to break his duck post-haste.
Antonio Candreva – Inter (19)
While hardly the most prolific of players, Candreva isn’t adverse to going for goal and that has certainly been the case following his switch to Inter. The Serie A outfit will be hoping for him to net his first league goal after his move in the not-too-distant future, with the 29-year-old firing off 19 shots without scoring in Italy’s top tier so far.
Angel Di Maria – PSG (20)
Post-Zlatan PSG have made a worrying start to the new season, with the defending champions four points off top spot. It's hardly a gulf, but concerning for a team of PSG’s magnitude. For all of Di Maria’s ability, meanwhile, the Argentine has thus far been unable to help ease the loss of last season's top goalscorer, with all 20 of his shots failing to beat the opposition goalkeeper.
Julian Draxler – Wolfsburg (21)
Having pined for a move away from Wolfsburg over the summer, Draxler has struggled to re-capture his commendable Euro 2016 form. It’s not for want of trying, with the 23-year-old mustering 21 shots in the Bundesliga this season, but that number is the most of players yet to score in Europe’s top five leagues this term and Dieter Hecking will be desperate for that number not to grow given the Wolves profligacy so far - scoring just 4 goals.
Who would you say is the biggest surprise inclusion on the players who have failed to scored this season? Let us know in the comments below
