Quality recoveries & build-up play that offers guarantees
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.

Madrid aim to advance up the pitch & prove their potency
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.

Atletico Madrid & their carries leading to shots
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).

Betis & their breathtaking dangerous possessions
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).

Dangerous possessions that result in goalscoring chances
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.

It’s your Game
Matchday 23
RCD Mallorca
Cádiz CF
SÁB 05.02.2022
15:15
Season 2021/2022
Estadi Mallorca Son Moix
CA Osasuna
Sevilla FC
SÁB 05.02.2022
20:00
Season 2021/2022
Estadio El Sadar
FC Barcelona
Atlético de Madrid
DOM 06.02.2022
15:15
Season 2021/2022
Spotify Camp Nou
Real Madrid
Granada CF
DOM 06.02.2022
20:00
Season 2021/2022
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
RCD Mallorca
Cádiz CF
SÁB 05.02.2022
15:15
Season 2021/2022
Matchday 23
Estadi Mallorca Son Moix
Sound management of team spacing out of possession
As we can see in this video, Mallorca’s team spacing out of possession covers an area of 738m², which makes them one of the seven-most compact teams in the division in this phase of play. If we turn our attention to how the islanders fare in duels, there are two criteria that are well worth highlighting: Mallorca rank top of the LaLiga Santander for possession won in both attacking and defensive aerial duels.
Just like their hosts, Cadiz are themselves languishing towards the foot of the table and a new manager has recently taken up the reins. The Andalusians register the highest percentage of long balls in the league and no other team has more possession in their own half than the Amarillos, whilst they lie in third spot for the number of through-balls played per game (over 23).
Cadiz possessions see team gain ground
The Costa de la Luz outfit gain more distance per possession than any other side in the league (37.3m). Cadiz’s high-tempo game means that they lie second in the charts for the number of players involved in the press after losing the ball (an average of 3.2).
In addition to Mallorca’s management of team spacing when out of possession that we explored above, it’s worth noting that an average of 3.2 of their players are involved in the press after they lose the ball.
PLAYER FOCUS
Alejo is Cadiz’s danger man
Valladolid-born Ivan Alejo claims his spot on the Cadiz podium across a whole range of criteria. Of particular note are his berths in the team’s TOP 3 on dribbles (3.5 per outing); his impressive shot conversion rate (20%) and his high-impact attacking actions.
As if that wasn’t enough, the wideman’s carries that lead to shots see him gain 14m for the team. This is one of the elements that make the speedy Alejo a game-changer from his wide berth.




