Breaking Down the Diego Costa vs. Harry Kane Striker Battle

Of all the battles and sub-plots we’re expecting at Stamford Bridge on Monday, the most intriguing will be between front pair Diego Costa and Harry Kane.

It’s where the game will be won and lost. If Chelsea’s Costa produces the sort of performance that has defined his post-Christmas form, then Chelsea will be difficult to contain. Equally, should Kane maintain the form that has propelled Tottenham Hotspur into a title fight with Leicester City, then Spurs will take some beating themselves.

So how do Costa and Kane compare? Bleacher Report takes a closer look.

Style

Whereas Kane has quickly become the poster boy of English football, Costa is very much at the other end of the spectrum. The Chelsea man has a reputation for playing on the edge of controversy and the laws of the game, which often brings the best out of him. He thrives on the challenge of it all.

Too often in the early part of this season, Costa allowed himself to play beyond those boundaries and it severely impacted his form. He looked lost at times, seemingly more focused on causing a ruckus with defenders than he was scoring goals. That he only found the back of the net four times in all competitions ahead of the Christmas period outlines how ineffective he was.

Costa’s rediscovered his scoring touch by getting back to what he does best, which is bullying defenders within the laws of the game. He’s back to being the intelligent player we saw last year when Chelsea romped home to the title, using his physicality to bulldoze his way through at times.

There’s more to his game than that, however. Costa doesn’t get enough credit for his ability as a footballer. His movement off the ball is excellent not only to create options for Cesc Fabregas from deep, but he also creates space for those around him. He’s an expert playing off the last defender, exposing a high defensive line.

Kane has some of those same attributes that Costa brings to Chelsea, notably his efficiency in front of goal. The Englishman has proven himself to be much more than a one-season wonder, scoring 27 goals in all competitions.

What impresses about that statistic is that Kane isn’t a poacher in any sense. He’s a team player, often dropping deep and into wide areas to link up play before working tirelessly to …

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