Goal rounds up Europe’s leading goal-scorers from the top leagues, ordered by the number of strikes multiplied by each league’s factor With European football at the mid-way point of the season, Goal tallies up all the top scorers across the major leagues and takes a look at who could be crowned this season’s Golden Shoe winner. Last season’s European Golden Shoe winner Lionel Messi will be looking to defend his crown after netting a breathtaking 34 goals last season, which earned him his fifth prize – moving him one award clear of Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of total victories. Getty Images #1 Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 25 goals (50)…

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero hit three goals and hit the post a stunning display in their 6-0 win over Chelsea in the Premier League. Aguero was handed the Man of the Match award during his post-game interview with Sky Sports – but statisticians don’t agree. Even though the Argentine hit his 11th Premier League hat-trick – the same amount as Alan Shearer – the algorithm over on WhoScored.com reckons he didn’t quite deserve the gong. Aguero was given a rating of 9.95/10 for his performance but it Raheem Sterling who the stats picked out as the top player on the day, giving him an incredible 10/10. But, bearing this…

Los Blancos were unable to overturn the 2-1 deficit from the first leg against Celta Vigo and are out of the cup as their blip in form continues COMMENT Real Madrid have been here before. After a superb 22-match winning run at the end of 2014, Carlo Ancelotti’s team looked on top of the world. However, an injury crisis and a loss of form saw Los Blancos’ season derail in the opening months of 2015. Real Madrid crash out of Copa del Rey History is now repeating itself. Zinedine Zidane’s side set a new Spanish record by putting together a 40-match unbeaten streak. That was extremely impressive, but it ended…

Dwight Gayle has been charged by the FA following his ‘dive’ against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night. The West Bromwich Albion striker is adjudged to have ‘successfully deceived’ a match official by going down in the box to win a penalty. If foudn guilty, he could be hit with a retrospective ban. From the resulting spot kick, Jay Rodriquez stepped up to level the scores at 2-2 in the final minute of normal time. An FA statement read: “West Bromwich Albion’s Dwight Gayle has been charged for ‘Successful Deception of a Match Official’ following the game against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. “It is alleged he committed an act of simulation…

Jurgen Klopp is relishing Liverpool’s Champions League challenge against Bayern Munich this week and is determined to prove his side are one of Europe’s best. The Reds boss has faced the media ahead of another big week for the club. They face Bayern on Tuesday night in their round of 16 first-leg before making the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday to face Manchester United. And Klopp has had plenty to say ahead of the two huge clashes. Injury update for Bayern tie “You want the complete line up? Dejan [Lovren] we have to see. Yesterday he had a clearing session. We’ll see how he reacted. Shaq [Xherdan Shaqiri] trained…

Roy Hodgson equalled his best run in the FA Cup as his Crystal Palace side beat League One Doncaster 2-0 to make it to the quarter-finals. First-half goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Max Meyer proved enough for Palace to win their fifth-round tie. Palace, the finalists in 2016, are one win away from a semi-final spot which would represent manager Hodgson’s best return in the knockout competition. There may have been comfort in the scoreline, but the Premier League side had to work hard for their victory. Rovers enjoyed plenty of the ball and got numerous shots away but were found lacking in the final third. Palace showcased their top-flight…

The Blaugrana boss knows his side are favourites in the cup final, but he is not taking Sevilla lightly after the club’s European exit Winning the Copa del Rey can help Barcelona move on from their Champions League disappointment, according to Ernesto Valverde. La Liga’s leaders have the chance to complete the first leg of a potential domestic double when they take on Sevilla in Saturday’s final in Madrid. However, their hopes of glory in Europe were dashed last week by Roma, as the Italian club incredibly overturned a 4-1 first-leg deficit to progress to the semi-finals on away goals. Article continues below Editors' Picks Sarri vindicated for dropping Kepa…

Spain’s two top fielded under-strength sides away from home, but take healthy leads into the second legs. It’s time to make the cup more exciting… No surprises in the Copa del Rey. Barcelona beat Murcia 3-0 away from home on Tuesday night with hardly any of their first-team regulars in the line-up and Real Madrid followed up with a 2-0 win at nearby Fuenlabrada on Tuesday as a host of big names stayed at home. It is time for a change. Every year, there is talk of 2009 and Madrid’s 4-0 loss to Alcorcon: the Alcorconazo . That remarkable result proved to be the beginning of the end for coach Manuel…

Chelsea were thrashed 6-0 by Manchester City on Sunday in what was a record Premier League defeat for the club. Sergio Aguero hit a hat-trick, Raheem Sterling bagged a brace and Ilkay Gundogan struck from distance, sending a message to main rivals Liverpool as the title race rages on. Away from the title race – far, far away – Chelsea now sit sixth and are in something of a crisis. Maurizio Sarri’s men have started 2019 with away defeats to Tottenham, Arsenal, Bournemouth and now City with a 0-12 aggregate score across the four games. Read Chelsea’s player ratings for the 6-0 defeat at Manchester City below. Kepa Arrizabalaga –…

Ashley Cole turned back the clock as Derby’s FA Cup run came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at Brighton. The Seagulls advanced to the quarter-finals for the second season running thanks to first-half goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia. But they were forced to endure a tense finish when 38-year-old veteran Cole came off the bench and halved the deficit late on. The FA Cup’s most decorated player, with seven winners medals, nabbed his first goal in the competition and his first on English soil since 2012 with a rare header. Nonetheless, despite a late onslaught, the Premier League side held on to book their place in…