La Pausa

Doesn't feel like their positional game has been hugely threatening on the creation front so far, but they're managing the game well with that platform.

Even if Levante are happy defending deep, you could see Calero wasn't at all comfortable with the severity of that start.

Great win for Elche over Levante - and another game in which they showed a pretty extreme level of conditioning their opponents & the type of game they sustain.

Averaged 94% (!) possession in the opening 20 minutes, with 121-6 for passes in opposition half.

Nice impact from Javi Rueda in Celta's (much improved) second half v Betis last night. Already their best off-ball mover from FB/WB, which is especially valuable when Aspas is on the pitch.

One of our pre-season picks for a breakout year: www.lapausa.digital/p/12-laliga-...

La Pausa | Substack An analytical look at football in Spain, by Robbie Dunne & Jamie Kemp. Click to read La Pausa, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

If you'd prefer this straight into your inbox every week, here's your ticket: www.lapausa.digital

El Betis rechaza ofertas por Sergi Altimira El centrocampista, que tiene contrato con el Real Betis hasta el 30 de junio de 2029, es una pieza fundamental en el presente y el futuro del club verdiblanco que no piensa en venderlo a pesar de que ...

Good timing for our cover star Altimira, with reports saying Stuttgart have been busy bidding for him and trying to jump the queue... www.estadiodeportivo.com/futbol/betis...

Charting LaLiga #2: Ascendant Altimira, Barça's revival, Real Madrid remain unscathed (& more) With matchday two in the books, we're back with another drop of insights from around the Spanish top-flight.

📈 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...

Real Sociedad's post-Zubimendi plan begins to spin Whether Martín Zubimendi stays or goes, La Real's preparation for the worst case scenario will pass through their academy.

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...

Joaquín Panichelli puts unlikely Mirandés on his back The 22-year-old already holds the Mirandés scoring record in a second tier campaign, and could yet propel an historic promotion for los Rojillos.

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 Real Oviedo and Mirandés have plenty to thank their full backs and wing backs for in their respective runs to the play-off final.

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):

Average position maps for both Real Oviedo and Mirandés in their semi-final second legs.

Oviedo a little more defensive in the second leg (naturally), but both teams are engineered get their full/wing backs in high positions and even finishing zones (as we've seen).

The wing back flyers who could decide LaLiga’s final spot Real Oviedo and Mirandés have plenty to thank their full backs and wing backs for in their respective runs to the play-off final.

Just over 24 hours until Segunda play-off final time…

📝 In what will likely be our final piece of the 2024-25 season, @jamiemkemp.bsky.social analyses the influential wing backs on show and how they might just define the final. www.lapausa.digital/p/the-wing-b...

Joaquín Panichelli puts unlikely Mirandés on his back The 22-year-old already holds the Mirandés scoring record in a second tier campaign, and could yet propel an historic promotion for los Rojillos.

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...

Goal and xG difference in LaLiga in 2025.

Concerning for Girona. Results, goals, and xG all say they've been the third-worst team in the division since the start of the year. And even in better performances (like yesterday at El Sadar), they're missing the key moments in games.

Sancet has played 1,428 minutes in LaLiga this season and is still averaging a goal or assist every game (1.01 per 90).

Even with injuries and stop-start periods of the season, the way he can come in and immediately produce tells you all about his quality. Different level.

Oihan Sancet v Rayo Vallecano this season:

at Vallecas: 2 goals in 34 mins
at San Mames: 2 goals in 45 mins

The only player this century to score 2+ home and away against an opponent in a LaLiga season, with both coming in sub appearances.

Maybe not all that surprising, but tells you the problem.

If you don't or can't press, Real Madrid's defensive shape should be infinitely better than it is (with the legs you're saving/keeping numbers behind the ball). They're achieving neither as it stands.

Real Madrid made 36 high-intensity pressures in the final 1/3 against Arsenal.

The fewest by any team in a #UCL KO stage game this season (ranked 72nd out of 72).

Assists can be misleading, but does feel symbolic of what McBurnie has brought on limited opportunities.

Finding the right passes/linking up play at the end of the usual gritty CF moments a real strength of his. 6/6 aerial duels won v Celta too (as a feature of the gameplan).

After last night, Oli McBurnie now has six assists from open play in La Liga this season (1,179 mins played).

The only players with more are Lamine Yamal (11) and Iñaki Williams (7).

Along with Ilaix Moriba from tonight, those are two players who'd be viewed in a very different light if they hadn't yet already had their 'big move' at a young age.

Current performances of both should put them back where they once were, and both still young enough to go again.

Really not many CFs who've been as consistently good as Fábio Silva in LaLiga this season, factoring in his context.

With the handicaps of playing in a weak team/lacking quality service, it's pretty surprising how well rounded he's looked. Regularly makes a lot out of little.

Since the start of February, Betis have two players in the top five in LaLiga for attacking sequence involvements (Antony and Isco).

Nice - and not unsurprising - to see Javi Guerra amongst it too. Improving form under Corberán and contributing in different ways from midfield.

Lamine Yamal in LaLiga this season:

4.8 completed dribbles per 90
2.2 chances created per 90 (open play)

Since Yamal was born, the only other player who's replicated/bettered both averages in a LaLiga season is Lionel Messi (11-12, 13-14, 17-18 & 19-20).

Pellegrini's Betis find their groove Antony's arrival has helped to mark a before and after Real Betis, but he's not the only one putting the wind in their sails.

LaLiga returns this week, and brings with it a Betis v Sevilla treat.

In our latest post, @jamiemkemp.bsky.social takes a look at a Betis team on a five-game win streak, and why Antony — while playing an important role — isn’t the only factor in their turnaround: www.lapausa.digital/p/pellegrini...

Some of the teams he's played in his 15 starts: Brazil, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Netherlands (x2), Serbia, Switzerland.

40% of his international starts have been in knockout stage matches too.

Most goals/assists per 90 for European nations since September 2023 (Yamal's Spain debut), including a few other attacking categories.

When you consider how many strong opponents Yamal has had to play against so far, his record in international ⚽️ is sensational.

(Come join us, amigos.)

Joan García's shot-stopping performance since becoming Espanyol's starter (+11 goals prevented, based on quality of SOT faced - 42 apps).

You'd have put your house on Mamardashvili being the most impactful GK in this season's relegation battle, and it's been a no contest...

Rodrygo is the first player to create 3+ chances, win 3+ fouls and complete 100% of his passes (31/31) in a #UCL knockout stage match since Arjen Robben in 2009 v Liverpool.