The defensive tactics behind Juárez's success

Los Bravos have reached more than 20 points for the first time

Author

Tom Harrison
April 10, 2025

Data from Golstats, Wyscout and Fotmob, photo from TV Azteca.

Thought: It’s extremely important that teams can analyze and identify weaknesses in their systems, and that coaches can create and train adjustments.

Los Bravos from Juárez have already secured their best ever season in Liga MX. Juárez have reached more than 20 points for the first time since buying a place in the top flight of Mexican football, and after drawing with Atlas, it’s likely that Los Bravos will avoid paying a fine (also for the first time).

Juárez have enjoyed a successful season despite averaging just a single goal per game. There are short-term impacts of variance that have helped Juárez this season, and it doesn’t seem likely that they’ll obtain the same results with similar performance levels next season. However, their defensive performance and limited creation from their opponents has created the circumstances to make the most of variance, by producing low-scoring matches with little xG for and against.

It’s possible to over-estimate the job that Martín Varini is doing, considering that the results have been better than the underlying numbers. But the 33-year-old head coach does deserve credit for Juárez’s defensive performances, and especially for how he’s managed to adjust his out of possession structures to find solutions for specific matches or improve weaknesses than his opponents had exploited.

Juárez suffered between game weeks five and nine, with a run of difficult fixtures against América, Monterrey, Toluca and Tigres, and Los Bravos were fortunate to come away with victories against both Monterrey sides. But in the past five games, Varini’s side has created more xG than their opponents on four occasions, and average just 0.88 xG against. An important tactical change was made after the San Luis match, that will be analyzed.

Analysis of Juárez’s xG for and against per match, removing penalties.

Juárez haven’t been a particularly intense team, in terms of attempting to quickly recover possession, and their PPDA is the fifth highest in the league this season. However, Varini’s side are more effective at preventing opposition progression, at intercepting passes (ranking 1st in the metric per game) and limiting shots against (sixth for shots received).

The most important concept from Juárez’s defensive phase, which has been consistent all season, is their adjustment in the low block. On paper, Juárez have started every match with a back-four (4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3), and many sides attempt to generate superiorities by attacking a back-four with five attackers. Therefore, Varini always defends with a back-five in their low block phase.

The left-winger (José Luis Rodríguez or Madson) has the most important role in this phase, playing like a wing-back and covering the left side, allowing left-back Ralph Orquín to shift inside. With a back-five, Juárez can close spaces between full-back and centre-back, cover the half-spaces and reduce the possibility of opponents getting into the box unmarked.

For example, in their second game of the season versus Cruz Azul.

And against Xolos, the back-five in their low block.

Varini doesn’t just adjust to limit space when their opponents reach the final third, but also whilst they’re building-up attacks. Juárez have suffered, for example against San Luis, when their opponents have been able to progress the ball through the centre of the pitch. Therefore, their defensive system works much better when they can get pressure on an opponent’s build-up.

A key, effective change, that’s helped to improve recent performances, came in their pressing structure. Los Bravos have improved their adjustments to face-up a back-three in the build-up (another rather common trend in Liga MX is the usage of three players in the first line of build-up).

The right-winger moves inside, directly matching-up a back-three with the striker and interior/attacking-midfielder. They try to block the passing lane to the pivot midfielder, but Juárez also position an interior/holding-midfielder close-by, to limit their space.

Example versus Chivas.

Another very similar example against Atlas, it’s also possible to see the positioning of the left-winger, covering the opposing right-wing-back and creating a back-five.

This is a significant difference from earlier in the season, when Juárez pressed with just a front-two. Teams like América and Rayados could easily create a three vs two, and progress the ball.

For example, América circulate to Cristian Borja, who has space to carry forwards.

In the recent examples against Atlas and Chivas, Juárez have strategically left an easy, but sideways, passing option. Their pressing isn’t used to regularly win the ball high up the pitch, but to control and orient their opponent’s possession, and limit space for ball progression.

Los Bravos generate few recoveries in the centre of the opposition half, but can force turnovers out wide.

The pitch is oriented to show Juárez’s goal on the left side.

What can teams do to create more threat?

Exploiting transitions with direct attacks can be important to create more chances against Juárez. Many of their players have to cover large distances between their positioning in and out of possession. The left-winger has to create a back-five, whilst right-back Denzell García inverts to occupy a central midfield role when Juárez have the ball.

Their opponents could also try to create more opportunities to progress the ball by changing the structure of the first line, for example, with four players instead of three.

In positional attacks, Toluca showed one method to cause more problems for Juárez’s backline. Against a back-five, Toluca attacked with six.

This example comes before a Paulinho goal. Toluca have two attacking-midfielders, two strikers, full-back Brian García and central midfielder Marcel Ruíz in attack. Juárez cover García’s movement, but Ruíz creates doubt for centre-back Jesús Murillo, and Paulinho ended-up unmarked when Alexis Vega put the ball across the face of goal.

After investing nearly $20m on transfers in the past three years, FC Juárez have finally beaten the 20 point mark. Variance has helped short-term results, but their flexible defense, and Martín Varini’s solutions during the season have also been key factors.

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