Darwin Nunez, once struggling for consistency in front of goal under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, has found his stride with the Uruguayan national team. Since Marcelo Bielsa took over as manager, the 25-year-old forward has been in remarkable form. His latest achievement came in Uruguay’s 5-0 victory over Bolivia in the second group game of Copa America, where he scored his 10th goal in his last seven games.
Nunez’s impressive goal-scoring streak continued as he found the back of the net with a deadly finish on the counter after 21 minutes. However, he had already missed an early opportunity to give Uruguay the lead in the second minute. Despite the initial miss and a couple of other chances, Nunez finally beat the goalkeeper with his fourth effort of the game.
This remarkable run of form for Nunez is the longest goal-scoring streak for Uruguay since at least 1928. While it has been claimed that Hector Scarone achieved a similar feat in seven straight fixtures between 1927 and 1928, Transfermarkt records indicate that his run was actually six goals in six games.
Although Nunez’s passing accuracy was not at its best, completing only six out of 10 attempted passes, his impact on the game was undeniable. He had the most shots on goal (seven) and completed the most dribbles (six) among all players. Nunez also had an impressive 15 touches in the opposition box, making up 41.7 percent of his involvement in the penalty area. Additionally, he won the most duels (12) and made the fourth-most defensive actions for Uruguay (six).
Marcelo Bielsa praised Nunez’s performance, describing him as “very dynamic, energetic, and powerful” in his post-match press conference. Under Bielsa’s guidance, Nunez has scored 10 goals and provided three assists in nine games. It seems that Bielsa has found the key to unlocking Nunez’s potential by focusing on his finishing ability and reducing his involvement in all-round play.
As Uruguay prepares for their final Group C game against the United States, Arne Slot, the Liverpool manager, will undoubtedly be closely monitoring Nunez’s performances. With his recent goal-scoring exploits, Nunez has proven himself to be a formidable force for both club and country.