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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.
Real Sociedad
Valencia CF
DOM 21.11.2021
20:00
Season 2021/2022
Reale Arena
Rayo Vallecano
RCD Mallorca
LUN 22.11.2021
20:00
Season 2021/2022
Estadio de Vallecas
Granada CF
Real Madrid
DOM 21.11.2021
15:15
Season 2021/2022
Nuevo Los Cármenes
Atlético de Madrid
CA Osasuna
SÁB 20.11.2021
17:30
Season 2021/2022
Riyadh Air Metropolitano
Real Sociedad
Valencia CF
DOM 21.11.2021
20:00
Season 2021/2022
Matchday 14
Reale Arena
La Real lie top of the LaLiga Santander table after having amassed 28 points so far this season, which is proving to be one of the most evenly contested campaigns in living memory. In the attacking stakes, the team continues to favour a playing style based on combination play and currently occupy a spot amongst the division’s top five sides for game initiative. The Basques’ penchant for link-up play and positional football gives them the division’s largest hull convex when in possession, as the team gives the man on the ball good width and depth and offers passing lines and spaces in which to play.
In terms of shot efficiency, the Txuri-urdin continue to be standout performers in the Spanish top flight, as they find the net once every eight shots, a healthy return that places them amongst the league’s top six. Their statistics in the final third see the San Sebastian outfit occupy a place amongst the top three teams for points per goal.
This matchday sees the Basques lock horns with Valencia, who have established themselves as one of the league’s most potent attacking forces. Jose Bordalas has managed to instil his characteristic style, as illustrated by the fact that the Che are one of the top five teams for possession in the opposition’s half. The Mestalla-based outfit are amongst the division’s top three sides for shots per minute of possession. In terms of attacking efficiency, the Valencians are excelling and occupy a top-two berth for shots taken to score, a statistic that is closely related to them being second in the standings for the percentage of successful shots.
Valencia’s direct approach is illustrated by the fact that they lie top of the LaLiga Santander charts for percentage of passes played forwards after winning the ball back. In addition, these passes often overcome whole lines in the opposition’s set-up, which has seen the visitors bag a place amongst the top five teams for opposition players passed per pass. This tactical blueprint requires considerable physical exertion and it therefore comes as little surprise that the Valencians occupy a place on the podium for the number of actions completed at the highest intensity.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad have displayed sound decision-making in terms of when to apply their press. Indeed, Imanol Alguacil’s men lie top of the pile for percentages of recoveries in the opposition’s half and are one of the leading three sides in LaLiga Santander for percentage of quick recoveries. As a result, the San Sebastian-based side are the team to have scored the most goals after regaining possession in the opposition’s half (along with Rayo Vallecano). In fact, the team features amongst the top three sides when it comes to the number of opponents to be beaten after the ball is won back. All of these statistics speak volumes of the fine job the team does when it comes to pressing the opposition.
Mikel Merino understands Alguacil’s playing philosophy from top to bottom and is an instrumental figure in all phases of the team’s play. His impact in the final third is clear for all to see and he features amongst the top three players in the division for passes played in the final third, whilst he occupies second spot for high-impact attacking actions completed by the division’s midfielders and has weighed in with two goals. His creative abilities have also seen him emerge as a key cog in La Real’s system. He lies top of the league standings for double-pressure passes completed, with these passes overcoming an average of three opponents and travelling an average distance of 16.21m.
However, Merino’s talents don’t end there, far from it! He’s also impressing in the defensive third, where the Navarran midfielder tops the recovery charts in the opposition’s half, whilst also claiming second spot in the league’s recovery standings. He has also bagged himself a top-five spot in the LaLiga Santander aerial duel stakes, where he can lay claim to an impressive 58% success rate. In short, Merino really is the complete footballer.