Hazard vs Costa Goal Analysis

As two of Chelsea best attacking options, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa should be on most Fantasy managers radars. But with both having a hefty price tag, for most, owning both is not an option. To help make your mind up I’ve taken a look back to last season to see how they compare in front of goal.

Hazard goals 2013/14

Against top 10 – six goals

*Liverpool* (home)

*Newcastle* (home, 1 pen) x3

*Tottenham* (home, pen)

*Arsenal* (home, pen)

Against bottom 10 – eight goals

Norwich (away)

Cardiff (home) x2

West Brom (home, pen)

Sunderland (away) x2

Swansea (home)

Hull (away)

Diego Costa goals 2013/14

Against top 10 – 13 goals

*Sevilla* x2   (away)

*Real Madrid* (away)

*Celta Vigo* x2 (home)

*Athletic Bilbao* (home)

*Valencia* x2 (home)

*Levante* x2 (1 pen) (home)

*Real Sociedad* x2 (home)

*Athletic Bilbao* (away)

Against bottom 10 – 15 goals

Rayo Vallecano x1 (home)

Almería (pen) x1 (home)

Real Valladolid   (away)

Osasuna x2 (home)

Real Betis (home)

Granada (pen) (away)

Getafe (home)

Elche (away)

Valladoid  (home)

Espanyol  (home)

Real betis (away)

Granada (home)

Getafe (away)

Elche (pen) (home)

Analysis

If we look at the stats, Hazard loves a goal against the top 10 teams – but only if it’s at home and, apparently, only if it’s a penalty. Costa on the other hand seems to be good finding the net home or away and only one penalty indicates that his scoring from open play is good.

Against the bottom sides, Hazard managed seven goals from open play, with three coming at home. Costa managed 12. What’s more, eight of these goals came at home. This indicates that Hazard was let off the leash against the away sides, being used as the main spark to break down stubborn defences. Costa, on the other hand, seems to enjoy playing at home more than away. Of the 25 goals he scored in the league from open play, 17 came in home matches.

Of course, you could argue that the Premier League is a much more competitive league than La Liga, especially with regard to the bottom ten clubs. However, what I believe these stats indicate is that anyone deciding between Costa and Hazard should plump for Costa. A poor World Cup, followed by an absence in pre-season and uncertainty surrounding his fitness mean that Hazard is too big a gamble. Costa is currently leading the Fantasy Football Scout captain’s poll and has already got off the mark against Burnley. I believe a lot of managers are plumping for Hazard because of his penalties, however a look at these goals indicates that Costa does not need penalties to get himself on the scoresheet. Costa looks sharp, has a proven track record against weaker opposition and I expect him to reward owners and captainers alike this weekend.