An analytical look at La Liga and 🇪🇸 football, by @robbiejdunne & @jamiemkemp. Subscribe to our Substack below:
Joined March 2023
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Arda Güler is no longer just the baby face with a wand of a left foot - he's now playing like one of the top creators in the game.
📝 New post on his season so far, and why #RM need to keep empowering him (@jamiemkemp): lapausafc.substack.com/p/ard…
Really like this showing Depor's defensive shape against Espanyol but also how Sarabia set up his side to build out from the back.
Fase de presión del Dépor ante el Espanyol/ Fase de salida del Espanyol ante el Dépor.
El RCD cedió el balón voluntariamente, y perdió por repetir el patrón de presión Yeremay-Nsongo sobre el primer mediocentro rival.
Sarabia creó superioridad, jugó con la amplitud y los perfiles de presión y salió en conducción.
Lo que más achaco al Dépor es la falta de control en el siguiente pase, hacia Calatrava. Lentísimos para corregir, defender hacia adelante y evitar transiciones por dentro.
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Lots of bright spots from Eder Sarabia's second game in charge of Espanyol. Players with lots of technical ability to occupy central areas like Edu Expósito and Álex Calatrava.
Some of the combinations between Pere Milla and Roberto Fernández were really nice too.
Didn't really translate it into many big opportunities but:
506 passes, 41 entries into the penalty area and nine shots inside the box is quite impressive for a team that was on its knees.
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Here's a look at the general idea. Three at the back in build-up, Pol Lozano as the single pivot with a rotating cast including Calatrava and Exposito dropping further to drag Depor even deeper into Espanyol's half.
nitter.cf/ErikssMagnus/status/21…
Great to have Eder Sarabia back in the game. A first look at his Espanyol side: narrow back three, short distances and already some clear solutions to create and exploit different superiorities
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The best finish by a centre-back you’ll see this weekend!
⚽ ¡¡¡GOOOOL DEL VILLARREAL B!!!
¡¡¡ÁLVARO GARCÍA MARCA EL SEGUNDO PARA EL FILIAL AMARILLO!!! 💥
@RealZaragoza 0-2 @CanteraGrogueta
📺 FANPLAY TV 1
🔗 buy.stripe.com/fZu7sD2YZfvR1…
#FANPLAYTV #PrimeraFederación #RealZaragoza #VillarrealB
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First up in our Notes From Spain article is Latif Issman, who was heavily linked to Real Madrid in the summer. He's a 19-year-old midfielder playing at UD Logroñés:
"His heatmap for the season confirms a player operating in the left half-space as a number 8 but who often drops deeper into a double pivot. As of now, adding a little more box-crashing to his repertoire could be the quickest win for him to add value. But Logroñés are sitting second in the league and won’t want to tinker too much with a formula that is obviously working."
Read more at the link below:
lapausapodcast.substack.com/…
I had no idea it was this close but Issman Real Madrid as Castilla's first signing next summer is close indeed according to @Rodra10_97.
nitter.cf/Rodra10_97/status/2116…
®️ El Real Madrid está muy cerca de fichar a Latif Issman.
Centrocampista ghanés de 19 años del UD Logroñés.
Llegaría para el Castilla la temporada que viene
espndeportes.espn.com/futbol…
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This is going to be fun.
✍️ OFICIAL | Eder Sarabia, nou entrenador de l’#RCDE. Signa fins al 30 de juny del 2028. Benvingut, míster!
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A victory for Madrid in the Clásico, a boost for Mourinho as the myth-maker and an existential crisis for Barcelona.
All in a night’s work for the Real Madrid manager.
✍️ The tactics that decided the first Clásico of the season.
lapausapodcast.substack.com/…
Pedri is just so good. It's only in the most tense of games where Barcelona need someone to receive the ball and progress it under pressure that it becomes so apparent.
I think we might have just gotten used to the subtle brilliance of Pedri. Almost every single action that he makes look simple involves vision, technique, calm, bravery.
Even this pass below. Galatasaray have him pretty well closed down but he just casually pops a one-touch pass to Rodri. Simple, yes, but it’s the accumulation of these actions over 90 minutes that make Barcelona tick.
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Another solution is to go long, which Raphinha keeps pushing for but Barcelona are hesitant to try that too often and just give up possession.
Or for Raphinha to drop off but Konate doinga good job of marshalling him when that happens and Fermín just can't find the spaces behing Madrid's clogged up midfield.
Ángel Pérez (Alavés) has everything to succeed in the Premier League. Can see there being plenty of interest in him next summer.
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Highly recommend @Jon_Mackenzie's book The Spectre of Pep.
The section that dives into Mourinho's approach, tactical periodisation and comparison to Conte particularly interesting.
We are seeing this playing out right now and is the reason why Mourinho was picked to manage (not micro-manage) this group of players.
Teams have gotten so good at a) building up and then creating against loose defensive units and b) so good at defending against build-ups that aren't very clearly defined and the players' ability to 'decide' games with moments is going to be key for him to succeed. Will it be enough?
One thing that would have helped Barcelona against PSG is for Cancelo to start 10 yards further up the field.
Gordon stepped inside and up to press Marquinhos to prevent any potential pass into the middle. Cancelo had to jump maybe 25 yards on Hakimi, who could receive, turn and pick his pass out.
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Didn't see a single thing about Barcelona's defensive frailties before last night. Prior to the PSG game, they had played 11 and won 11, scoring 48 goals in the process and only conceding 11.
These results and games are part of the deal. And it's not like being slightly more solid would have guaranteed a result anyway. PSG probably would have won 2-1 instead of 4-2.
Since we wrote this, Nizar made his debut with Villarreal's first team. Lacine Koné just scored a double to help Mérida win once again...
Subscribe if you don't want to miss any of the upcoming Spanish talent we are writing about!
lapausapodcast.substack.com/…
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I think we might have just gotten used to the subtle brilliance of Pedri. Almost every single action that he makes look simple involves vision, technique, calm, bravery.
Even this pass below. Galatasaray have him pretty well closed down but he just casually pops a one-touch pass to Rodri. Simple, yes, but it’s the accumulation of these actions over 90 minutes that make Barcelona tick.
As Albert says here.
nitter.cf/Blayasensat/status/211…
Aquesta acció de Pedri explica per què és un jugador fascinant. Et destrossa pressions perquè t'hi convida, lluny d'allunyar-te, t'apropa. Mireu com la toca amb les dues cames, com canvia de direcció i frena. I clac. Passada que et trenca en dos.
Geni. nitter.cf/Jeffmedia67677/status/…
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