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Cheick Diabate equals 17-year Serie A goalscoring record

Benevento's Cheick Diabate EPA/MARIO TADDEO

Despite Benevento's struggles at the wrong end of the Serie A table, Cheick Diabate equalled an Italian goalscoring record this weekend when he netted twice in the 2-2 draw at Sassuolo.

The Mali international's double took his tally up to six goals in his last three games, having scored two in each of Benevento's last three top-flight clashes.

His outstanding return equals a 17-year Serie A record that's stood since 2001, when Dario Hubner of Piacenza enjoyed a similar purple patch according to Opta.

29-year-old Diabate marked his loan spell at Benevento from parent club Girondins de Bordeaux with a goal on his debut against Crotone, and then picked up his goalscoring form with a brace in the 3-0 victory over Hellas Verona on April 4.

He then netted twice as Juventus won 4-2 at the Ciro Vigorito three days later, before adding another two against Sassuolo on Sunday.

Despite Diabate's sensational goalscoring form, he's been unable to lift the strugglers off bottom spot in the table.

The Stregoni have taken just 14 points from their 32 Serie A games to date, and are a whopping 14 points off safety with six games to play.

According to So Foot, Stade Reims and AC Ajaccio have both been linked with move for Diabate when his temporary spell at Benevento ends this summer.