LaLiga Institutional
LaLiga with sport
This video illustrates how recoveries can be distinguished not only in terms of their effectiveness, but also their quality. Barcelona record the fourth-most advantageous recoveries in the league, i.e. situations that involve a numerical advantage and where the side in possession has more players ahead of the ball than the opposition.
Given the importance of build-up play in the system deployed by Xavi’s troops, the team’s set-up at the start of the attacking transition is key. This video shows how the Barcelona players react in these situations. It’s worth pointing out that 15% of the Catalan giants’ recoveries put them at an advantage.
Real Madrid are the LaLiga Santander front runners for the number of carries leading to shots, with four per game to their name. Carries can be analysed from a whole host of angles, but in this case we’re keen to look at their outcome, i.e. shots.
There’s no question that Ancelotti’s charges are capable of making the most of these actions, as illustrated in our Clip of the Week. The players’ ability to go past their man, their skill level and decision-making ability are key to the success of such actions, which can reap rich rewards for the capital club.
As we can see in this clip, Simeone’s boys post an average of two carries that lead to shots per game. Indeed, this is one of Atleti’s favourite tactics to pose a threat on goal. If we dive deeper and take a look at what the Wanda Metropolitano-based outfit do in possession, we learn that they feature amongst the league’s top five teams for the number of players per possession (almost three), whilst they find themselves amongst the division’s leading five teams for the number of dangerous possessions per match (4.6).
When it comes to possession, there are a whole host of aspects that we can analyse, with one of them being the degree of danger created. When we speak of dangerous possessions, we’re referring to those that end in a goal or a goalscoring opportunity. This video features a dangerous possession put together by Manuel Pellegrini’s charges. Betis excel in this department and lie second in the LaLiga standings for the number of dangerous possessions (5.7 per outing).
The Real Madrid players ensure that their team balance enables them to consistently produce and improve on their statistics as the games goes on. As we can see in the latest instalment of Clip of the Week, the Blancos record more dangerous possessions than any other side in the league (6.76 per game) and, crucially, they make them count.
Granada CF
Deportivo Alavés
Season 2021/2022
Nuevo Los Cármenes
FC Barcelona
Real Betis
Season 2021/2022
Camp Nou
Real Sociedad
Real Madrid
Season 2021/2022
Reale Arena
Rayo Vallecano
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona
Season 2021/2022
Estadio de Vallecas
FC Barcelona
Real Betis
Season 2021/2022
Matchday 16
Camp Nou
Barcelona sit pretty in third place in the LaLiga charts for the number of times possession is regained in advantageous positions. This comes as little surprise when we consider the Catalans’ high press and the number of recoveries made when the opposition seek to play the ball out from the back. These advantageous positions allow the team to build play up with more players in the attacking transitions. Barça boast the best stats in the league when it comes to the number of times possession is relinquished, successful dribbles and retaining possession in opposition territory.
One key hallmark of Real Betis’s blueprint is their shooting ability. The Verdiblancos’ build-up play is impressive and they sit in second spot for the number of shots taken and shots taken in open play, and are handily placed in fifth spot for the percentage of shots on target. Meanwhile, Manuel Pellegrini’s troops occupy fourth spot in the LaLiga table for carries that break the opposition’s midfield line.
The Sevillians feature amongst LaLiga’s top five sides for forwards passes after possession is regained. This enables the boys from the Benito Villamarin to launch swift, direct counter-attacks. Betis also sit in second place for the number of dangerous possessions amassed. As highlighted above, the team’s characteristics in the attacking phase make them one of the top-performing sides in the shooting stakes.
Barcelona have bagged themselves the final spot on the podium in terms of dangerous possessions, a statistic which is closely related to the fact that the Catalan giants top the division’s charts for dribbles per game.
Juanmi staked his claim by helping himself to the matchball last time out in a dazzling display that helped to boost his efficiency stats.
The frontman features amongst the top 10 players in LaLiga for shots taken, whilst 42% of his efforts have resulted in goals, a statistic that speaks volumes of his importance to the Seville-based side.
However, there’s far more to Juanmi’s game than goalscoring. Indeed, he lies second in his team’s charts for the number of carries that break the opposition’s line, whilst he’s top of the class in terms of high-intensity actions completed at over 21km/hr.