Hakan Calhanoglu has scored most direct free-kick goals in Europe [divider]
Bayer Leverkusen star Hakan Çalhanoğlu scored in the 2-0 win over Kaiserslautern in the German cup.
Çalhanoğlu scored from a free-kick to join Trabzonspor midfielder Mehmet Ekici and Zlatko Junuzović as the top set-piece taker in Europe.
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Junuzovic, Ekici and Çalhanoğlu have all scored four direct free-kick goals this season.
Ekici has scored four free kick goals from 13 attempts. Zlatko Junuzović has also scored four times directly from set-pieces but from 16 attempts.
Çalhanoğlu has a reputation as a set-piece specialist. Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola rates the 21-year-old as one of the best free-kick takers in the league.
“Çalhanoğlu is one of the best free-kick takers in the Bundesliga,” Guardiola told Hurriyet.
The Turkish international has scored seven direct free-kicks in the Bundesliga in his career despite being just 21-years-old.
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Kaiserslautern
Leverkusen: Leno – Donati (Hilbert 46′), Spahic, Toprak, Boenisch (Wendell 100′) – Castro, Rolfes – Bellarabi, Calhanoglu, Brandt – Drmic (Kießling 79′)
Kaiserslautern: Müller – Schulze, Orban, Heubach, Fomitschow (Stöger 113′) – Zimmer, Ring, Demirbay (Jacob 89′), Jenssen – Matmour, Zoller (Hofmann 90′)
Goals: 1-0 Calhanoglu (102′), 2-0 Kießling (113′)
