Major League Soccer has seen rapid growth over the years. Some of the legendary players like Beckham, Gerrard, Ibrahimovic, Kaka, Rooney, and a few others have been followed by some of the European talents of this generation. This season, another player moved to the USA and is now making a mark in the competition.
Giorgios Giakoumakis left Celtic in February and joined Atlanta United. The player left in midseason after failing to get into the regular starting line-up and having one Scottish Premiership title to his name. The 28-year-old forward is scoring goals and making an impact in the MLS. Here is a look at some of his stats from the current season and how this Greek striker can play a crucial role in reaching the playoff stage.
Big impact in the MLS
Despite coming off the bench for Celtic, Giakoumakis was a prolific goal scorer. He is showing the same class for Atlanta United FC in his first season at the club. In the 21 MLS appearances made by the Greek striker, he has found the back of the net 13 times.
Georgios Giakoumakis has started in 15 matches and averaged 3.02 shots per 90 minutes. With a high accuracy of 51%, the player has converted most of the chances from inside the penalty box. His shooting zones have been around the six-yard box. However, one area where the 28-year-old will look to improve is keeping his shots below the bar. The shot map clearly shows how the forward has failed to convert chances from close range. His xG rate is high because of the area from which the shots have been attempted.
The 28-year-old manages to take 3.8 touches inside the penalty box per 90 minutes. In the last four MLS matches, the player has taken 13 touches. He also took 14 shots, and eight were on target. Giakoumakis managed to find the back of the net three times. One thing that can also be observed is the different areas where the striker has touched the ball. He is involved in defensive duties and has often dropped to get the ball. This indicates a high work rate by the forward.
The Greek striker’s ability to cover the pitch allows him to draw players and win a free-kick for his side. Giakoumakis draws nearly two fouls per 90 minutes, a few of them just outside the penalty box.
The overall display
The above viz shows the percentile rank of the player in comparison to other strikers in the league. Georgios Giakoumakis has only played 52% of Atlanta United’s available minutes in the current season.
It can be observed that the Greek striker has a high xG rate, and his shot percentage is also high. His positioning and aerial ability allow the player to dominate the attack. One area where the player has struggled a bit is in his passing.
Georgios Giakoumakis is the highest goal scorer for his team in the MLS. He will look to add more and secure Atlanta a place in the playoffs.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
