Was Lucca right to take Thauvin’s penalty? Conversion rates compared – Football Italia – February 21 latest

LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Head coach of Udinese Kosta Runjaic and Lorenzo Lucca of Udinese during the Serie A match between Lecce and Udinese at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2025 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Lorenzo Lucca caused an awkward situation among the Udinese squad by scoring the only goal of the game against Lecce, but took a penalty away from captain Florian Thauvin to do so, leading to an argument with his teammates and his immediate removal from the game, but which of the two players has the better conversion rate from 12 yards out? 

What happened between Lucca and Thauvin? 

Udinese were awarded a penalty just after the half-hour mark in Friday evening’s Serie A match away against Lecce at the Via del Mare. 

Thauvin, who was the captain on the night, was the designated spot-kick taker, but Lucca grabbed the ball and refused to let any of his teammates take it away from him. This caused an argument with several of his teammates, as well as the Lecce players, who were keen for their opponents to just get on with it. 

Lucca eventually dispatched into the top left corner, but was left to celebrate on his own, before being substituted off by Kosta Runjaic immediately afterwards. 

Lucca and Thauvin penalty record compared 

While Thauvin was the designated penalty taker on Friday night, Lucca has the better record from the spot. 

The Italian has scored seven out of the 10 penalties he has taken throughout his career, although four of those successful spot kicks came while he was still playing at youth level. 

Lucca had taken one penalty previously this season, in a 3-1 Coppa Italia win over Salernitana in September, which means that he still has a 100% record from the spot this season after scoring again against Lecce. 

The last time that Lucca missed a penalty was in November 2021, when he missed twice in one game in a Serie B match between Pisa and Perugia. 

Lucca has a 100% record from the spot this season, and a career average of 70%. 

Thauvin, meanwhile, has converted 13 penalties throughout his career and has missed six. 

The Frenchman has taken three penalties for Udinese this season, scoring against US Avellino in the Coppa Italia in August. However, he has missed his last two since then, which came against Bologna and Napoli in Serie A. 

This means that Thauvin has a conversion rate of 33% this season and a career average of 68.42%.