Almost ever club has their ‘bogey player’. How many times over the years did Didier Drogba give Arsenal supporters sleepless nights? Ditto Luis Suarez and Norwich City. And, when Real Madrid found themselves 1-0 down at home to Espanyol within the first eight minutes last weekend, the identity of the visitors’ goalscorer would have taken nobody at the Santiago Bernabeu by surprise.
In 10 games against the European Champions, Joselu has scored no fewer than eight goals. Three of those came for Deportivo la Coruna in 2015/16. Another three for Alaves.
And, this season, Joselu has now scored both home and away against Carlo Ancelotti’s side; slamming a pinpoint first-time shot into the top corner of Thibaut Courtois’ net on Saturday afternoon.
That Joselu spent a brief spell at Real a decade ago – coming off the bench for Karim Benzema when making his Los Blancos debut – and the fact that his brother-in-law is none other than Real right-back Dani Carvajal makes the striker’s remarkable record against arguably the greatest club side on the planet even more intriguing.
Former Newcastle United striker Joselu flying in La Liga
“He is a benchmark,” Espanyol coach Diego Martinez says of Joselu; the late-blooming striker who left Newcastle United for just £2 million in 2019 and has since developed into one of Europe’s most underrated hitmen (Estadio Deportivo).
“He brings us a lot on and off the field, even when he hasn’t scored.”
Then again, it’s not too often Joselu walks off the pitch with nothing to show for his efforts these days. Only Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski has scored more than his 12 La Liga goals so far in 2022/23.
“Joselu adds to the team. We are delighted with him,” Martinez adds. “(We admire) everything he provides beyond the goals.”
“His hold-up play, his work-rate, his ability to lead the line alone or with a partner.”
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