Jornada 11 Review

Data from Fotmob, Sofascore and Golstats. Photo from Enfoque Deportes.

Tigres UANL (0.78 xG) 1 - 0 (0.41 xG) Querétaro

The spirit of Tuca Ferretti has returned to Tigres. In his first Liga MX game as head coach, Guido Pizarro immediately showed his intention to have more possession and patience on the ball. Tigres attempted a remarkable 791 passes against Querétaro, their highest pass count in more than 10 years, and five different players had more than 100 touches. Just 5% of their attempted passes were long, much less than their season average of 11%.

Pizarro has also changed Tigres’ base formation, starting with a 3-4-3 system. His team has attempted to create via wide combinations, particularly between the wide attacker and wing-back, and the only goal of this game came from a cross from the right.

Apart from the defensive line, Juan Brunetta’s role is the biggest change in Pizarro’s system. Brunetta has had to play as one of the two central midfielders, helping out more frequently in their build-up. The Argentine does have the ability to make a difference in this phase of the game, however, there are doubts about his defensive capabilities versus stronger teams, and if this role will reduce his attacking output. Brunetta had just a single touch in the box during this match.

Atlético San Luis (1.19 xG) 1 - 0 (1.22 xG) Juárez

Juárez have only scored five goals in open play this season, and Martín Varini has attempted to improve their attacking output with a more attacking line-up. Madson has come-in as a right winger, with Jairo Torres playing, at least on paper, as one of the two central midfielders. Torres has the freedom to move towards the penalty area and right wing, his favoured position, and connect with Madson. The midfield spot is covered by Denzell García whilst Juárez have possession (a right-back on paper), as he rolls into midfield to create a double-pivot.

There’s an argument that Juárez’s attack was more effective versus San Luis, and that their chance creation was enough to have won this match. However, Varini’s new idea comes with a defensive weakness. Their mid-block is less effective with Torres playing as a central midfielder out of possession, and San Luis could find space and consistently progress play through the centre, before creating out wide with Vitinho and Sanabria.

Puebla (1.09 xG) 1 - 3 (1.12 xG) Pumas UNAM

One of the most difficult parts of being a head coach is their lack of control. A coach can come up with the best match plan, and can still lose due to keeper errors or a red card. Puebla were dominant in their aggressive approach during the first half, preventing Pumas from building-up and generating shots following high recoveries. But when Brayan Angulo arrived slightly late in a high pressing situation, and committed a foul which led to his second yellow card, the whole complexion of the match changed.

Injuries were an important factor in Pumas’ fall during Gustavo Lema’s final matches, and the return of key attackers is a major boost for Efraín Juárez. Leo Suárez created progression with his passes and completed four crosses, Jorge Ruvalcaba got in-behind the Puebla defense before Pumas’ second goal, whilst Memo Martínez ended the match with a goal and assist. The result was positive, but Efraín Juárez has to quickly improve his side’s build-up for future matches.

Toluca (2.52 xG) 5 - 2 (0.90 xG) Necaxa

Pragmatism versus dogmatism is one of the most difficult considerations for head coaches. There’s an argument that Necaxa should adapt their ideas more, against a stronger opponents or depending on the game state. This match showed the risks of their play style, with Los Rayos dominated by Toluca’s attacking strength. But, we can also say that these are results that Necaxa need to accept, against the stronger sides, if they’re going to develop their style and have a better chance of beating weaker teams (something that they have done this season). Too many changes in a game plan can confuse players, and limit the compounding impacts of consistently training the same style. Also, losing by three goals rather than one or two isn’t that important.

Necaxa could prevent dangerous ball progression from Toluca in the first half with their aggressive approach, and attack easily through the centre, without much defensive cover from Héctor Herrera and Marcel Ruíz. In the second half, it was Necaxa that suffered more in the central zones. Toluca’s combinations were much more effective, and helped by a couple of set-piece goals (a corner and throw-in), they turned the game around. Alexis Vega scored a hat-trick, and the Mexican has now beaten his best Liga MX goal-scoring season. Vega has out-scored his xG, but is finally getting more shots off from the centre of the box, where he has a higher chance of scoring from.

Pachuca (1.13 xG) 1 - 1 (0.42 xG) Mazatlán

If it wasn’t for Carlos Moreno’s poor decision, coming off his line without getting close to the ball in the lead-up to Omar Moreno’s goal, Pachuca probably win this match. However, once again their attack didn’t create enough clear chances. It’s something they have to improve if they’re going to compete this season.

Los Tuzos can still create danger in transitional moments, like in their only goal of the game, but their press hasn’t been quite as intense or effective this season, and the squad lacks some creativity. Oussama Idrissi’s output has dropped, as has Miguel Rodríguez’s after returning from Spain. “Chofis” López might need more minutes, his average xA is a huge 0.71 p90, but he’s only played 245 minutes.

Cruz Azul (1.13 xG) 1 - 1 (1.28 xG) Monterrey

Sometimes, it seems that the xG doesn’t match the general flow of a game. Cruz Azul appeared the better side for the majority of this match, with Monterrey’s defensive organization totally ineffective.

I’ve often written about the importance to drop into a back-five in the low block phase against Cruz Azul to defend their crossing threat, and Martín Demichelis’ side didn’t do this. La Máquina completed 40% of their attempted crosses, with “Corcho” Rodríguez’s role particularly important to analyze. Demichelis can’t use wide attackers Sergio Canales or Lucas Ocampos to create a back-five out of possession, so Rodríguez has to be the one dropping-in when necessary, but he didn’t do this against Cruz Azul.

For example, Rodríguez (in black) is close to the defensive line here, but doesn’t actually help in marking Cruz Azul’s options (the line shows where he should be). Full-back Ricardo Chávez is therefore forced to mark inside and Carlos Rotondi (in red) is open, and manages to get a shot off.

This cut-back created a dangerous chance for Lorenzo Faravelli (in red). With the Rayados defenders in a line, it seems to be Rodríguez’s job to cover the zone in-front of the centre-backs, which he didn’t do.

Rodríguez was a factor in Cruz Azul’s goal as well. There’s a case to be made that he had to divide the space between two opponents, but he let Faravelli make the run behind him, and therefore Stefan Medina had to step forwards, leading to a two vs one for Cruz Azul at the far post.

Despite creating many threatening situations, Cruz Azul didn’t make the most of their attacking possession to have had more clear shots during the match, and Monterrey could generate some high xG chances in transition. At least on the xG, it was a fair draw.

Guadalajara (0.44 xG) 0 - 0 (1.11 xG) América

André Jardine clearly showed that he’s prioritizing the clásico in the CONCACAF Champions League. América’s head coach made nine changes for the second of three consecutive clásicos, with just midfielders Érick Sánchez and Alan Cervantes, two players with high physical output, starting both matches.

The game was very tight, with just 15 total shots. Las Águilas had more possession (62%) and played against 10 after Cade Cowell’s red card in the 70th minute. América didn’t create consistently, but did enough to have won the match. However, Rodrigo Aguirre couldn’t finish a pair of opportunities in the first 12 minutes, and Tala Rangel made an acrobatic save to keep-out Israel Reyes’ 93rd minute header.

Santos Laguna (2.52 xG) 2 - 1 (1.03 xG) León

Eduardo Berizzo is still struggling to find the best way of adjusting his side defensively. Whilst individual errors, like poor clearances or losses in build-up, were part of León’s defensive weakness in this match, their system left too much space in-front of the defensive line.

Santos, especially through Fran Villalba, could consistently find spaces between the line, normally when Nicolás Fonseca jumped to press. For example, Fonseca jumps here and Rodrigo Echeverría has to follow his pressure, open a space between the lines.

A similar situation during the second half, Fonseca jumps, leaving Echeverría to defend a huge amount of space, with the defensive line pinned. León are still top, but the underlying numbers suggest that Berizzo has to resolve these situations and improve his side’s defensive organization if their going to compete for the title. Using Jame from the right, to have Tadeo Estrada helping the midfield is probably the best option, although that can leave Sebastián Santos isolated.

Tijuana (1.87 xG) 3 - 4 (1.88 xG) Atlas

One of the most incredible comebacks I’ve seen. Xolos had total control of this match, 3-0 up in minute 53, against an Atlas side that had only attempted three shots at the point of the game. In all three goals, Tijuana were able to get in-behind Atlas’ defense, with the second and third coming from transitions. But they couldn’t maintain their advantage.

Xolos focused on adding heigh during the winter transfer window, and ironically it set-pieces and a header that led to the comeback. Matheus Dória’s goal was extraordinary, but Unai Bilbao didn’t do enough to put him off, and the Spaniard committed the foul, from another corner, that led to a red card and penalty. Uros Durdevic levelled-up the match with a header and the final goal of the match was a gift. Durdevic has been crucial in Gonzalo Pineda’s victories, scoring twice against Puebla and San Luis, and three times in this match. His finishing has been effective, but it won’t be possible to keep up this level of efficiency. Removing penalties, Durdevic has six goals from just two xG.

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