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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.
Rayo Vallecano
Real Madrid
SÁB 26.02.2022
17:30
Season 2021/2022
Estadio de Vallecas
Sevilla FC
Real Betis
DOM 27.02.2022
15:15
Season 2021/2022
Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán
Real Sociedad
CA Osasuna
DOM 27.02.2022
17:30
Season 2021/2022
Reale Arena
FC Barcelona
Athletic Club
DOM 27.02.2022
20:00
Season 2021/2022
Spotify Camp Nou
Real Sociedad
CA Osasuna
DOM 27.02.2022
17:30
Season 2021/2022
Matchday 26
Reale Arena
Imanol Alguacil’s charges record a very credible 2.16 carries leading to shots per game. However, this isn’t the most characteristic element of the San Sebastian outfit’s game. That title goes to the Basques’ team spacing with and without the ball, where they have consistently earned themselves a spot amongst the LaLiga Santander frontrunners right since the start of the season. The Real Arena-based side boast the second-widest team spacing in possession and are the fourth-most compact side without the ball.
This clip demonstrates how Osasuna are the side to involve the fewest players per possession in the top tier. When there’s ever any mention of playing direct football, one aspect that instantly comes to mind is breaking lines. The Pamplona-based side lie top of the tree in this department, with their passes beating an average of 3.25 opponents. The Navarrans are also involved in the most double-pressure passes, where both the player and receiver are subject to pressure.
Martin Zubimendi’s passes beat an average of 2.79 opponents. However, not only does the midfield man perform well in the team’s build-up, he is also instrumental when it comes to wrestling possession off the opponents. He lies amongst the top four performers in the Txuri-urdin ranks for recoveries in the opposition’s half and the average distance covered per game (10.76km per outing). If we analyse his total number of recoveries, we note that the combative Zubimendi makes over five recoveries per game.