How Erling Haaland compares to Sergio Aguero: Goals, creativity, work off the ball

Sergio Aguero is City’s all-time top scorer with 260 goals, but if anyone in world football can fill his boots, Haaland could well be that man. 

We’ve dived into Haaland’s stats from this season and compared them to Aguero’s numbers from the 2017/18 Centurian season.  

 

Goals 

The biggest point of comparison will of course be the numbers put up by each of these elite strikers. 

In 17/18 Aguero scored 21 goals from an xG of 17.5, an overperformance of 3.5 goals in total.  

In contrast to this, Haaland has also scored 21 goals from an xG of 16.6, which gives him a slightly higher overperformance of 4.4 goals. 

Manchester City average 18.1 shots per 90 and this level of creativity will suit a striker like Haaland down to the ground. 

This season Haaland has averaged 3.3 shots per 90, compared to Aguero’s 3.8 in 17/18.  

For Dortmund Haaland has scored at the freakishly good strike rate of 0.97 goals per game, while Aguero averaged 0.66 goals per game for Man City. 

Similar to Aguero, the vast majority of Haaland’s shots come from inside the box as he has only taken three out of his last 80 shots from outside the box. 

Haaland has scored three headers this season compared to Aguero’s five, but it is the Norwegian forward who offers a greater aerial presence. 

The Norwegian forward wins 1.7 aerial duels per 90 compared to Aguero who wins just 0.4, although this is also a reflection of how Manchester City usually play into players feet in the final third. 

 

Creative output 

As well as chipping in with goals, Pep Guardiola requires his striker to be as much of a creative outlet as a finisher, but how does Haaland fit that mould?  

When it comes to each players creative output, Aguero is comfortably ahead of Haaland, although a contributing factor to these numbers will be the fact that he played in a Pep Guardiola system. 

Aguero averaged 1.6 key passes per 90, compared to Haaland’s one key pass per 90.  

Aguero also sees more of the ball and has a greater number of touches due to him getting involved with more of the build-up play.  

The Argentinian forward averages 25.1 passes per 90, compared to Haaland’s 19.4. 

Aguero also tends to keep the ball better than Haaland, with a pass completion of 82.8%, compared to 71.3%.  

 

Work off the ball 

As we know, Pep Guardiola also demands a high work ethic from his forward players off the ball.  

When the Spanish manager first arrived in Manchester, it was wondered whether or not Aguero could adapt to his demands, of which he did.  

Aguero averaged 11.3 pressures per 90 whilst working with Guardiola as well as 0.23 tackles won in the attacking third of the pitch. 

Haaland has been able to match Aguero’s pressing numbers for Dortmund, which will be music to Guardiola’s ears. 

He averages 13 pressures per 90, although he has not won any tackles in the final third.  

 

Injury record 

Perhaps the biggest point of concern around Haaland’s transfer is his previous injury record, something that Aguero is all too familiar with. 

Throughout this season alone, Haaland has missed 16 matches for Dortmund through a series of different injuries. 

His most reoccurring injuries tend to be muscular and knee problems. 

Aguero also had his fair share of injuries throughout his Manchester City career. In 17/18 the Argentinian missed 12 games of the season due to injury.  

Although with Pep Guardiola’s tendency to rotate his forward line, it’s more than likely that Haaland won’t be over worked in his first season as he adapts to the Premier League.