Back in September, it was announced that the 2025/2026 campaign would be RC Strasbourg’s last with Emmanuel Emegha leading the line, with the Dutch forward set to join fellow BlueCo side Chelsea the following summer, where he’ll now link up with ex-Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, who made the same move.
Given Emegha’s impressive performances at Stade de la Meinau in 2024/2025, Strasbourg fans may have been left wondering how they’d cope with Emegha’s departure next summer and who would be in line to replace him.
That question has been promptly answered faster than expected by Joaquín Panichelli (187cm/6’2”, 82kg/180lbs).
Panichelli joined the Alsace club from Alavés this past summer for €17m off the back of a strong campaign out on loan at CD Mirandés in the Spanish second-tier, in which the Argentinian forward scored 20 goals.
The 23-year-old striker has carried his 2024/2025 La Liga 2 form over into the 2025/2026 campaign in some style, with Panichelli scoring 10 goals in 17 Ligue 1 games at the time of writing.
Most of these goals have come with Emegha out of the side, due to the Strasbourg captain struggling heavily with injury issues this term.
Rather than entering the Strasbourg team alongside Emegha, which may have been the plan given the two have lined up next to each other when Emegha’s been fit, he’s instead been tasked with outright replacing the Strasbourg talisman a season in advance of his actual departure.
He’s managed to do that quite effectively, and this Joaquín Panichelli scout report aims to shed light on the right-footed Argentina international’s key strengths and weaknesses, as well as his tactical role in the team, which is utilising those strengths so effectively in 2025/2026.
This scout report explains why Joaquín Panichelli may be Strasbourg’s next major sale and why he may well force his way into Lionel Scalonis FIFA World Cup plans.
Joaquín Panichelli Stats
The below pizza chart in Figure 1 shows Joaquín Panichelli’s percentile ranks for 2025/2026 in several key metrics when his performance is compared to that of other centre-forwards in Europe’s top-five leagues.
The data reflects Panichelli’s 2025/2026 focus on adapting to football at the highest level.
This adaptation has been observed in the way his game has been very box-focused and how his role has been clearly streamlined and boiled down by his Strasbourg coaches: Joaquín Panichelli’s job at Strasbourg primarily encompasses finding space in high-value shooting positions, which he’s done quite effectively.
Joaquín Panichelli Pizza Chart 2025/2026
The box-focused elements of this role, his effective interpretation of it, and his teammates’ strong adaptation to Panichelli’s game explain the relatively high percentile ranks in xG contribution, shot volume, and opposition penalty-area touches.
Two other key attacking services that Joaquín Panichelli provides for Strasbourg are a strong aerial presence, as evidenced by the aerial duel volume and success numbers, and hold-up play.
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