Haaland v Isak: Who is the better striker?

Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 25.

Player analysis: Erling Haaland (Man City) v Alexander Isak (Newcastle)

Haaland and Isak are set to face one another in a Premier League fixture this weekend for the first time since August 2023.

During that period Newcastle United’s No 14 has been outstanding, growing his reputation to the extent that many now consider the Swede a better centre-forward than Haaland.

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Is that an outlandish suggestion? Or is Isak now at least on a par with the Manchester City superstar who is chasing a third successive Golden Boot?

Let’s analyse how the pair compare.

Who’s the better finisher?

Based on this season’s displays alone, Isak is a more lethal striker than Haaland.

He may have scored two fewer goals, but Isak is netting at a faster rate, and with ruthless efficiency.

They both hit the target with almost identical consistency, with 68 per cent of their efforts, but across the board, Isak’s chance-conversion rates eclipse those produced by City’s No 9 in this campaign.

Haaland v Isak shooting stats 24/25

How do their goal types compare?

Both have explosive pace, so they constantly threaten defenders with runs in behind.

In essence though, they are each at their best when converting close-range efforts inside the middle of the box.

Haaland and Isak are equally strong in the air and have both found the net with four headers this season. The only key difference is that Haaland scores more with his left foot while Isak prefers his right.

How Haaland and Isak have scored their goals 24/25

When you analyse the areas where they fire off their shots, and more importantly where they score their goals from, the similarities are incredible.

Look below at how central Isak has been when scoring for Newcastle this season. All but one of his 17 strikes have been from between the width of the goalposts, and every goal has been in a narrow corridor stretching around seven yards in width.

Isak's shots 24/25

Haaland is another forward who scores the bulk of his goals from between the width of the posts, but the Norwegian’s threat inside the box is slightly higher than Isak’s.

Below you can see how many extra shots the Man City man has compared with Isak, especially from inside the six-yard box.

Haaland and Isak's key team-mates

One shared experience this season is the fact Haaland and Isak both have excellent connections with wide players.

Summer signing Savinho has supplied the City striker with an impressive five assists in 2024/25.

Two of those came in the recent home win against West Ham United, and recently the Brazilian also crossed for Haaland to score in the defeat at Arsenal.

The only top-flight player to create more goals for a team-mate is Jacob Murphy, who has laid on six assists for Isak. Three of those have come of late against Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.

So, both forwards will be confident they will receive chances at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Who is the more creative player?

Isak has always been more than just a goalscorer, drifting all over the forward line to make things happen.

He has completed more than three times as many dribbles than Haaland for example, who is much more of a receiver inside the box than a creative presence.

Haaland v Isak creative stats 24/25

Despite featuring for over 300 minutes fewer, it is Isak who has created more goal opportunities.

His ball carrying and unpredictability have helped him lay on 10 big chances too, six more than Haaland.

How does their mobility compare?

These two heat maps of the season highlight the key differences between Haaland and Isak when it comes to where they receive the ball.

Isak enjoys 39.11 touches per 90 minutes, compared with Haaland’s 22.73. We know Haaland does his best work inside the box, but for Isak, he is happier getting involved in the build-up more frequently.

Who works harder?

Both player cover almost the same amount of ground; Isak runs 9.66km per 90 minutes, with Haaland a fraction ahead on 9.68km.

Isak does make a greater number of sprints and targeted off-the-ball runs, but in general their work rate is very similar.

Haaland v Isak running stats per 90 24/25

Isak’s great strength is challenging the opposition defence with his sharp, penetrative movement.

In a metric that measures off-the-ball runs that threaten to get behind the opponent's back line, the Magpies star is second only to Ollie Watkins, with 19 runs. Surprisingly, Haaland has only made five runs that count in this department.

Players' off-ball runs that challenge defences 24/25

Is Isak the more complete striker?

When you think about Isak’s finishing prowess, creativity and mobility, it is clear Eddie Howe has the more rounded centre-forward at his disposal this season.

Incidentally, the 25-year-old also helps to spring more final-third turnovers for Newcastle. A total of 72 pressures from Isak have resulted in turnovers in this area, including 11 of his own regains. Haaland has registered 50 and 7 respectively in those categories.

However, Haaland is Haaland. A physical specimen with a goalscoring record the envy of everybody the world over, and because of that he deservedly remains the man most opponents fear most.

Yet Isak is undoubtedly closing the gap, and ahead of this mouthwatering encounter, he is the form player of the two this season. Defenders involved in Saturday’s match cannot afford to take their eyes off this pair. If they do, they will be punished.

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