MADRID, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Girona's Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk finished the 2023-2024 La Liga season as the top scorer after a dramatic last round of matches.
Dovbyk started the last weekend with 21 goals, two behind Villarreal's Norwegian striker Alexander Sorloth, who overtook him in the race for the Pichichi Award last weekend with four goals in Villarreal's 4-4 draw at home to Real Madrid.
Dovbyk responded on Friday night with a hat-trick, including an 89th-minute penalty, as Girona routed already-relegated Granada 7-0, with the last goal taking his tally for the season to 24.
Sorloth had the chance to once again overtake Dovbyk when Villarreal visited Osasuna on Saturday afternoon, but he was only able to play 14 minutes before suffering a muscle injury in his left leg as he attempted to shoot and had to be substituted.
The 26-year-old striker has proved to be one of the bargains of the season in La Liga, joining Girona for a reported 7.7 million euros (8.35 million U.S. dollars) from Ukrainian side Dnipro last summer.
His goals have been vital as Girona claimed a historic first qualification for the UEFA Champions League and have seen his value rise steeply.
The Ukrainian will now cost anyone who wants to buy him around 30 million euros, although even at that price Girona may struggle to keep him. ■
