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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.
Athletic Club
Granada CF
FRI 26.11.2021
20:00
Season 2021/2022
Estadio San Mamés
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona
Real Sociedad
SUN 28.11.2021
15:15
Season 2021/2022
RCDE Stadium
Cádiz CF
Atlético de Madrid
SUN 28.11.2021
17:30
Season 2021/2022
Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla
Real Madrid
Sevilla FC
SUN 28.11.2021
20:00
Season 2021/2022
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona
Real Sociedad
SUN 28.11.2021
15:15
Season 2021/2022
Matchday 15
RCDE Stadium
One of Real Sociedad’s biggest strengths is their ability to adapt to the different phases of the game. When in possession, the San Sebastian outfit lie in the top half of the LaLiga standings in terms of positional width, whilst when out of possession they’re the second-narrowest team in the league. The Basques have bagged a top-two spot in terms of defensive efficiency, both in terms of containing the opposition and denying them chances in their own box. La Real’s statistics in these metrics place the team in fourth spot in the LaLiga standings for the number of shots it takes for them to be breached.
Meanwhile, RCD Espanyol are the team to have blocked the most shots and lie in second place in the league for the number of shots it takes the opposition to score. These statistics gain even greater significance when we consider that the Catalans receive the second-most shots in the league.
In this sense, Diego Lopez plays a pivotal role between the sticks. The Pericos custodian posts the best save percentage in the Spanish top tier and lies fourth in terms of the number of big saves. We mustn’t forget that the boys from Barcelona are one of the sides to receive the most shots in the whole division.
Real Sociedad sit in third place in the charts for the distance covered after relinquishing possession. This ranking should come as little surprise when we consider the Basques’ compact block in the defensive phase.
A side’s possession can be analysed from a whole range of perspectives. If we look at the length of possession, it emerges that Real Sociedad lie in fifth spot for the seconds per possession, as they retain the ball for over 18 seconds each time they get it. In contrast, their opponents this matchday, Espanyol, languish down in mid-table with possessions lasting around 15 seconds.
Despite, the duration of their possessions, the Catalan outfit sit in second position in the league standings for the distance gained in possession as Vicente Moreno’s charges adopt a pragmatic and direct approach when on the ball.
Adrian Embarba features amongst the top 15 players in the competition in terms of high-impact actions, whilst he also excels in the number of high-intensity actions completed per game.
The Madrid-born trickster is heavily involved in his team’s attacking play. His experience and attacking threat see him dovetail effectively with one of the players to have recorded the most shots in the league, the on-song Raul de Tomas.
Embarba lies second in the Espanyol charts for the number of shots taken following his carries. Given that the Barcelona-based side don’t retain possession for long periods, such actions and progressive carries are vital to Espanyol’s chances of success. The flying winger has also established himself as one of the league’s leading lights in the assist stakes, where he features amongst the division’s top 15 performers.