The battle for Capocannoniere

Last year Serie A witnessed a keenly contested battle for the award of Capocannoniere, the leading goal scorers award, right up until the dying embers of the Serie A season. In fact, it was only clinched by eventual winner Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the last five minutes or so of Inter Milan's 4-3 win over Atalanta. Zlatan ended up with a total of 25 and managed to hold off both Marco Di Vaio of Bologna and Diego Milito of Genoa at the time who both ended up with 24 goals a piece. Indeed, Ibrahimovic was the first foreign winner of the award since Andriy Shevchenko took the title in the 2003/2004 season as through the next four years the title was dominated by Italian players with Cristiano Lucarelli, Luca Toni, Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero all taking the title over this period. One thing is for certain though, there will be a new winner of the award next season. With Zlatan moving onto Barcelona he will not be able to defend his title. So, and in no particular order, I have decided to look at the players who I believe will be the main contenders for the award next season.

The Contenders for the Capocannoniere title

Diego Milito - Inter Milan
Where better to start than the Argentine International. Milito was a revelation last season. 24 goals in just 30 games was a fantastic level of output for a player signed by Genoa on the last day of the transfer window last season. Indeed, had he not been injured for a brief period during the season it is arguable that he would have won last years award and got close to the magic 30 goal barrier, something only Luca Toni managed since Antonio Angelillo did in the 1958/59 campaign. With a better supporting cast for him at Inter, Milito will surely be in the mix again this season.

Klass Jan Huntelaar - AC Milan
A new addition to the league, and one who only knows how to score goals. Huntelaar is a prolific marksman, registering 76 goals in 92 games at his time with Ajax. Although less successful with Real Madrid Huntelaar did manage 8 goals in 20 games last year despite not always being given a starting shirt.

Marco Di Vaio - Bologna
Without Di Vaio last season Bologna would have been relegated. 24 goals amounted to more than 50% of Bologna's total goals for last season. However, the team did play for him and gave him the chance to finish off most moves the team made. They will need Di Vaio to be at his best again this season.

Alberto Gilardino - Fiorentina
Gila re-discovered his scoring touch last season to confirm himself as one of the best Italian forwards in the league. 19 goals last season was a return to form for the former AC Milan forward, who has struggled the previous two season to find his feet at the San Siro. A definite dark horse for the title and will need to be if Fiorentina are to get anywhere near the Scudetto.

Amauri - Juventus
Someone will need to lead the charge if Juventus are to win the league and if Amauri can stay injury free then he could be the one to do it. He had a great start to life in the Juve jersey before he was injured and tailed off to score only 12 goals when all was said and done. Talented and versatile, the Brazilian is dangerous from a variety of positions and for me that makes him an outside bet in this race.

Giampaolo Pazzini - Sampdoria
If he starts this season as he finished the last one, then Pazzini will be well above 20 goals when all is said and done. Isolated at Fiorentina the move Sampdoria re-invigorated his career. His partnership with Antonio Cassano is one of the best in the league. One complements the other to great effect, and more of the same is expected this season. A real contender for the award and a world cup place with Italy.

Robert Acquafresca - Atalanta
Atalanta is not an unusual place for top scorer winners to come from. The great Pippo Inzaghi began his career there and Acquafresca will follow in his footsteps next season thanks to his loan move from Genoa. Cagliari though was where he scored his 14 goals last season. With a very solid year in Serie A behind him expect him to step up this season.

Mauro Zarate - Lazio
Zarate was one of the revelations of last season. 13 goals, nearly all of them spectacular efforts, was a solid return in his first Serie A season and the young Argentine will likely better then by a considerable distance this season. However, he is rumoured to be playing in a deeper role behind the front man this season. Time will tell as to whether this will affect his chances but if pre season is anything to go buy then it may not.

Alexandre Pato - AC Milan
Like a duck to water Pato has settled into Serie A now nicely. 9 goals in 18 games in his first season, he followed that up nicely last year with 15 marks in the league to put him in 6th place overall. With Kaka gone he will be expected to contribute more to the build up play, but I don't think that will keep him off the score sheet.

Mirko Vucinic - Roma
An outside bet especially as he scored only 11 goals last year, but Vucinic is a class act. Much like Zarate of Lazio his goals are usually spectacular efforts. More consistency and scrappy goals are required from the big man, but it is about time he weighed in with 15 goals or more.

Edison Cavani - Palermo
Pato and Zarate stole most of the headlines last year with regards to the top young player, but make no mistake there is another class act developing down in Palermo. Cavani has been around for a little longer than the other two but his 14 goals are testament to his growing quality. With Palermo developing in quality also watch out for him to score many more this season.

Samuel Eto'o - Inter Milan
The bookies favourite already has found the back of the net for Inter in the supercup last weekend in spectacular fashion and is looking to follow on from his 30 goals in 36 starts last season for Barcelona. The defences in Italy will be tougher for him to crack but he is more than capable of doing just that. Competition will be rife with Milito though, and perhaps someone else may sneak in and spoil the party.