Serie A is ready to start again for the 2018/19 season this weekend, with Cristiano Ronaldo making his Juventus debut away to Chievo on Saturday evening. What follows is a look back at last season in order to determine which sides were quickest off the mark in terms of scoring goals, and which teams left it late.
Lazio & AC Milan fire first
Statistics reveal that both Lazio and AC Milan were quick to score last term, the pair having scored 10 goals apiece in the opening 15 minutes of matches. While the Biancocelesti netted the most in the entire league last term with a total of 89, Gennaro Gattuso’s Milan lagged behind with just 56, meaning that the San Siro outfit bagged more early on in terms of percentage.
Udinese are a surprise addition to that list as they scored nine of just 48 total goals in the opening quarter of an hour, however those quick-fire strikes may not appear again this term as the Friulians once again have a new Coach, this time Spanish novice Julio Velazquez.
As expected, Juventus are also on that list as the side that have won the last seven consecutive league titles – like any true predator – always like to strike their prey early. They racked up nine in the opening period, as did title contenders Napoli, the latter having swapped Maurizio Sarri for Carlo Ancelotti during the summer.
Lazio, Juve & Inter leave it late
Lazio once again topped the table in terms of goals scored in the final 15 minutes of Serie A matches during 2017/18. Simone Inzaghi’s men fired in 20 times during that final period, accounting for 22.47% of their overall tally. Seven of the aforementioned 20 were scored from outside the box, showing that the Biancocelesti like to steal the show in dramatic fashion.
Juventus also feature once again, with a total of 18 goals fired in during the final minutes. The most famous example was when the Bianconeri all-but sealed the title when Gonzalo Higuain sealed the points in a 3-2 victory over Inter on April 28th with an 89th minute strike.
Super-sub Douglas Costa fired home a wonderful goal right at the death in a 4-2 away win at Benevento, meanwhile Paulo Dybala played Lazio at their own game by scoring a 93rd minute winner to earn a 1-0 victory in March.
The addition of Ronaldo into the side should only serve to increase these late goals for the Old Lady, statistics revealing that the superstar scored no less than nine of his 26 La Liga goals in 2017/18 in the final 15 minutes.
Inter may have been the victims of a late goal versus the reigning champions, but Luciano Spalletti’s men also have a penchant for late strikes. The Nerazzurri scored 17 of their total of 66 in the last portion of the match, giving an astonishing rate of 25.76%. Such a figure looks to be as a result of the Coach’s style, Spalletti’s 2016/17 Roma side having scored 21 of 90 goals during the same period of the game, equalling a 23.33% rate. Spalletti’s current team have hugely strengthened their squad, however it would not be a surprise to see them still leaving it late as the new campaign begins.
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