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 7
Sevilla FC
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona
SÁB 25.09.2021
16:30
Season 2021/2022
Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán
Real Betis
Getafe CF
DOM 26.09.2021
19:00
Season 2021/2022
Estadio Benito Villamarín
FC Barcelona
Levante UD
DOM 26.09.2021
14:15
Season 2021/2022
Spotify Camp Nou
Rayo Vallecano
Cádiz CF
DOM 26.09.2021
16:30
Season 2021/2022
Estadio de Vallecas
Sevilla FC
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona
SÁB 25.09.2021
16:30
Season 2021/2022
Matchday 7
Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán
Sevilla FC and RCD Espanyol face off in a clash of styles
The Sevillians, as is the norm since Julen Lopetegui took charge, seek to dominate games with the ball. They are currently the LaLiga Santander team with the greatest attacking build-up play, totalling an average of 6.7 passes per possession. Furthermore, this attacking nature also means that they are the team who take the greatest initiative in the entire division, and the second team with the highest percentage of possessions that end in an attack on goal. Likewise, if they go a goal down, they do not hold back: they are the team who register the largest convex hull when they are losing, making it easier for them to move the ball and create spaces.
They face an RCD Espanyol side who seek to build on the basis of their solid defence and who are proving reliable in their own box. In fact, they are the team who make the most clearances per game at 23.6 per match. They are also the sixth most successful team in the division at preventing dangerous actions in their own area.
RCD Espanyol are the team who gain the most distance per possession
Los Pericos look to attack quickly, without stringing together too many passes which could lead to dangerous losses. This makes them the LaLiga Santander team who gain the most distance in each possession. Furthermore, when they take the lead, they double down on their style: they are the team with the smallest convex hull when they are winning. This will undoubtedly be an aspect for Sevilla to bear in mind, who will try to cut out those enduring possessions by the Catalan outfit.
PLAYER FOCUS
Erik Lamela spells danger for Los Pericos' rear guard
The Sevilla forward has been performing superbly in his maiden LaLiga Santander season. The Argentine scored a brace on his debut in the competition and was on cue again in the following match. In total, he has netted three goals in four games and is establishing himself as one of Lopetegui's attacking heavyweights. Lamela’s effectiveness in front of goal, with three goals from three shots on target, hasn’t gone unnoticed by his rivals, which would explain why he receives passes under pressure from a rival at an average of 4.3 metres.