Romelu Lukaku and Cristiano Ronaldo’s personal battle for goalscoring supremacy could define Chelsea and Manchester United’s campaign.
Although neither will admit it, there is now a rivalry going on between the two ferocious forwards.
It might be an adversary void of malice, one full of respect, but this is a showdown nonetheless.
A straight shootout for the Golden Boot award, to be England and Europe’s main marksmen.
So far, every time one of them fires, another has already loaded their weapon in retaliation.
Lukaku is currently one bullet ahead of Ronaldo, having played two games extra than the United attacker.
Both bagged a brace in the Premier League last weekend and were on target again yesterday whilst attending Champions League duties.
Ronaldo’s night ended in defeat, whilst Lukaku saved Chelsea’s blushes with 20 minutes to spare.
This fight between two of the game’s greatest finishers could be one for the ages.
Certainly a contest that is threatening to outrank another historic skirmish of Chelsea and United folk law.
Blue against Red
Cast your mind back to the 2009/10 season.
United had just managed another league and cup double, leaving Chelsea nine points behind in their wake.
Alex Ferguson was king again, whilst Chelsea changed managerial ownership once more.
Out went Guus Hiddink, in came Carlo Ancelotti.
The race for top-flight ruling was back on for the Blues.
Leading their charge was a certain Didier Drogba, who only managed a mere five league goals the year before.
Heading United’s defence, Wayne Rooney, scorer of a dozen domestic goals in 2008/09.
Many had it down as Fergie vs Carlo, but really it was Drogba vs Wazza.
Whichever striker came on top, their respective side would surely be crowned English champions.
As it proceeded, the Ivorian climbed to the foot of the mountain quickest, rippling the net 29 times to Rooney’s 26.
In all competitions, the Chelsea centre-forward bagged 37 times, Rooney 34.
However, Drogba’s individual victory arrived rather fortunately.
The pair were virtually neck and neck entering into the final stretch of the campaign; in fact, Rooney was two goals ahead.
But on matchday 31, United’s no.10 suffered an ankle injury, leaving his Chelsea nemesis a clean hit at the Golden Boot.
Drogba scored five goals in the remaining seven matches, including a strike against United and a hattrick on the last day.
If Ronaldo vs Romelu is anything like this particular conflict, fans are in for a treat.