📈 The second edition of Charting LaLiga is out - and here's what we've got for you:
Sergi Altimira's rise, Jon Gorrotxategi's LaLiga debut (cameo), Enzo Boyomo love... plus some early thoughts on Alonso's Real Madrid & #FCB's correction at Levante. www.lapausa.digital/p/charting-l...
And from earlier in the season, another analysis on Jon Gorrotxategi - one of the stars of 2024-25 in Segunda and a player who might well figure in Real Sociedad's succession plan for Martín Zubimendi. www.lapausa.digital/p/real-socie...
Analysis of Joaquín Panichelli, the 20-goal Argentinean on loan from Alavés who's already attracting plenty of attention from across Europen football (& already has FOUR assists in the play-offs). www.lapausa.digital/p/joaquin-pa...
The wing back flyers who could decide LaLiga's final spot - looking at the influence of Oviedo pair Nacho Vidal & Rahim Alhassane and Hugo Rincón & Iker Benito of Mirandés. www.lapausa.digital/p/the-wing-b...
🧵 For anyone still following 2024-25 league football... written some stuff on the Spanish 2nd tier play-off final between Real Oviedo and Mirandés (6pm tomorrow) that may help to set the scene.
Links below (check out @lapausa.bsky.social):
Piece on Joaqúin Panichelli, the 20-goal man who could lead (massive underdogs) Mirandés to the gates of LaLiga tonight.
Suddenly one of the better young Argentinean CFs around. Already had a €15M bid from Strasbourg this summer, and potentially more to come... www.lapausa.digital/p/joaquin-pa...
A uniquely aggressive/direct passer by Spanish football standards:
Piece for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com on Álex Baena, who's become one of the most impactful creators in Europe in recent seasons (while not fitting the Spanish playmaker stereotype).
Including some insight from Miguel Ángel Tena, Villarreal's Director of Football. theanalyst.com/2025/03/alex...
#LUFC in wins over Sunderland and Sheffield United:
Match time: 201:20
Time winning: 10:16
% of time winning: 5.1%
Led for a grand total of 616 seconds.
As a fan, I thought it'd take getting back to the Premier League to be able to watch a player as good as Ao Tanaka.
Wrote about his season for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com, and how he's helped #LUFC become one of the most efficient machines the Championship has seen. theanalyst.com/eu/2025/02/a...
Nico González: first midfielder to complete 100+ passes on their PL debut on record, as well as the best completion rate by any midfielder on PL debut (97% - min. 50 passes).
And just by magic, the first PL game in 24-25 that Man City haven't conceded a big chance in (via Opta).
𝐀𝐨, 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐆𝐨 📈
Ao Tanaka might not be the name you see on the scoresheet or assist list week by week, but he’s the orchestrator of the choir.
We analyse why he’s become the key component of Leeds United’s promotion charge.
theanalyst.com/2025/02/ao-t...
#LUFC
As a fan, I thought it'd take getting back to the Premier League to be able to watch a player as good as Ao Tanaka.
Wrote about his season for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com, and how he's helped #LUFC become one of the most efficient machines the Championship has seen. theanalyst.com/eu/2025/02/a...
The influence of set-piece coaches in the Premier League seems to have grown significantly in recent years, but how much of an impact have they had, and is it just a fad?
Here, our new-look interactive article analyses Premier League set-pieces.
Read here: theanalyst.com/2025/02/arse...
Took the Real half of this @optaanalyst.optajoe.com Madrid derby preview, with @robbiejdunne.bsky.social on Atlético duty.
Real Madrid's starting XI decisions, tackling Atlético's rejuvenated defensive solidity, the first Mbappé v Simeone meeting + plenty more... theanalyst.com/2025/02/real...
Took the Real half of this @optaanalyst.optajoe.com Madrid derby preview, with @robbiejdunne.bsky.social on Atlético duty.
Real Madrid's starting XI decisions, tackling Atlético's rejuvenated defensive solidity, the first Mbappé v Simeone meeting + plenty more... theanalyst.com/2025/02/real...
Lamine Yamal completed more take-ons in this clip (3) than there has been by under-18s in the Bundesliga and Serie A combined this season (2).
Just as well that Ao Tanaka is the Championship's Marco Verratti.
Safe to say #LUFC 7-0 Cardiff was one of the most dominant performances in Championship history.
Across the 1st/2nd tiers in England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy, it was the first time a team have had 5+ xG while conceding 0.1 or fewer since: PSG 9-0 Guingamp in January 2019.
(Still taking Pedri now and then, that said)
Remembering what Iago Aspas said about Nico González, after facing Barça in 2021:
Man City at 3-1 v Club Brugge:
5:47 of possession
102 uninterrupted passes
1.4 metres progressed from start-end
How to close a game out Guardiola-style.
Real Sociedad lost 3-0 at home to a desperate Getafe side at the weekend, but it’s not their defence that should worry them.
Wrote about their recent struggles here, and why the numbers game has started to fail them: www.lapausa.digital/p/real-socie...
Trend continues to rise across Spanish football.
Betis get a big win at Mallorca with Jesús Rodríguez (19), Ángel Ortíz (20), Sergio Arribas (21), and Pablo García (18) all playing notable roles. All recent arrivals adding immediate value… (J-Rod looks particularly special)
Looks like Real Madrid want top spot back. bsky.app/profile/news...
Second that! No player in Europe I enjoy watching more than a healthy, in rhythm Pedri.
Prompted by a big passing display from Pedri against Benfica this week - probably the best by a midfielder in the #UCL this season as far as this topic goes.
24 line-breaking passes, 21 in the opp. half, six directly leading to shots... masterful season he's putting together.
Top 10 midfielders for line-breaking passes in the #UCL this season (per 90).
Strange to see no Toni Kroos immovably sat at the top of this list.
Can't be many Barcelona players who've been this prolific, while being as relentless without the ball. Data from his final Premier League season:
#1 for sprints
#1 for high-speed distance covered
#1 for total distance of off-ball runs
Players with 30+ goal involvements for a big-5 European league club this season (excl. pens):
33 - Mo Salah (16G, 17A)
30 - Raphinha (21G, 9A)
With all the other intangibles he brings, incredible for Raphinha to still be moving at a goal/assist per game in late January.
