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Haaland extends lead in race to be crowned Champions League top scorer

Haaland

Eight teams are battling it out to book their place in the Champions League semi-finals.

As the competition enters its latter stages, the race to be crowned top scorer is also hotting up as the world’s most lethal forwards compete.

We run through the favourites to see who is in the mix.

Erling Haaland (11 goals, one assist)

Erling Haaland continued his miraculous scoring feats when netting five goals against RB Leipzig in Manchester City’s 7-0 last-16 second-leg victory.

Records continue to tumble for the Norwegian sensation who became the quickest and youngest player to notch 30 times in the competition, taking only 25 games at the age of 22 years and 236 days.

His effort against Bayern Munich in the last eight was his 11th goal in the Champions League this season, his best return in a single campaign and the outright second most for a player for a Premier League side after Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2002-03 (12).

Mohamed Salah (eight goals, two assists)

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was on fire in Europe this season and scored his eighth goal in just seven matches to hand his side a 2-0 lead over Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 showdown.

Unfortunately for the Egyptian, the Reds went on to lose 5-2 at Anfield and were knocked out after a 1-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Kylian Mbappe (seven goals, three assists)

World Cup Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe has enjoyed a prolific campaign but will not land the coveted crown.

The Frenchman failed to inspire his side past Bayern in the last 16 and finishes on a respectable seven goals from eight outings.

Vinicius Junior (six goals, three assists)

Vinicius Junior struck twice against Liverpool in a huge boost to his hopes of personal and team glory.

Despite a disappointing season in LaLiga, Los Blancos will fancy their chances of going all the way in Europe and the Brazilian could emerge as the continent’s foremost goalscorer if they do.

Joao Mario (six goals, two assists)

Joao Mario scored in both legs as Benfica breezed past Club Brugge in the last 16 — equalling the great Eusebio’s club record of scoring in five consecutive European games.

But he was an anonymous presence in the 2-0 home defeat to Inter Milan in the Eagles’ quarter-final first leg, leaving a huge mountain to climb at the San Siro.

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