The best in recent years? Gianluca Lapadula’s incredible record that reveals his immediate impact at Universitario de Deportes

And the day arrived! The forward that the fans of Universitario de Deportes had been asking for so much landed amid flashes and microphones, all attentive to his movements and words. But Gianluca Lapadula has plenty of movements and words, the goals fall out of his pockets.

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Lapadula’s performance against Los Chankas, with a double and the widespread ovation at the Monumental Stadium, restored the ‘merengues’ and lifted them from the stands once again hopeful for the ‘four-time championship’.

With only six matches played in Liga 1, the forward coming from Spezia of the Italian second division has made a statement and is already competing in the top scorers table of the Clausura Tournament. With 5 goals, he is only surpassed by Facundo Callejo and Eryc Castillo, both with six goals.

This is, without a doubt, a new breath of fresh air for the ‘U’ after the setback in the Apertura. Lapadula’s charisma and performance can exert not only a weight of authority over the squad or consideration from rivals, but also a widespread push.

Many forwards have passed through the Ate club in the last ten years, and the ‘Bambino’ is the one who has needed the fewest matches (6) to score his first five goals. You have to go back to 2015 to find a similar mark: Raúl Ruidíaz.

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Players remembered like Jonathan Dos Santos (9), Germán Denis (10), Edison Flores (13), Emanuel Herrera (13), Luis Tejada (14), and Álex Valera (17), needed more matches than ‘Lapa’ to reach the ‘little hand’ of goals.

In 299 minutes played, he records a goal or an assist every 60 minutes. But his influence is not only measured by the number of goals, his partnership with Álex Valera boosts Héctor Cúper’s scheme, frees the wing-backs, and provides space for the midfielders.

A few weeks before a new FIFA date, Gianluca Lapadula positions himself as a sure option for the upcoming friendlies of the Peruvian national team under Mano Menezes.

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