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THREADBVB - In Possession
Lucien Favre has developed BVB into a very fluid attacking side, varying systems from 3-4-3 to 4-2-3-1. They rank favourably in a number of attacking metrics & are methodical in their approach to ball progression.
Here I have had a look at various data & how this effects their performances while in possession. By looking at some of their underlying numbers as well finding some examples from match situations it will hopefully be a bit more clear on what exactly they are attempting.
BVB´s in possession system relies heavily on ball possession. With an average of 62.9%, they rank 2nd across Europe´s top 5 leagues in that regard, a number which is only bettered by Bayern Munchen. An interesting statistic which I feel illustrates how secure they are with the
ball:
PPDA Against- 22.15 (3rd Europe´s top 5 leagues)
This is an extremely low number, meaning that teams will often deploy a less aggressive pressing system while facing BVB, most likely due to the fact that they are so good in possession, & difficult to pressure.
PPDA Against- 22.15 (3rd Europe´s top 5 leagues)
This is an extremely low number, meaning that teams will often deploy a less aggressive pressing system while facing BVB, most likely due to the fact that they are so good in possession, & difficult to pressure.
BVB average a total of 648.49 passes p90. This ranks top across Europe´s top 5 leagues & is nearly 50 passes more p90 than any other club. While BVB is extremely persistent in their attempts to build up possession from the back, what makes them so difficult to press is the
is the unpredictable nature of their ball progression. With Håland at striker, they are able to always keep opposition defences honest by playing balls into depth behind opposition backlines. The speed & movement from Håland is key in this phase.
Here is a great example. BVB starts their build up phase under heavy pressure from a Bayern press. By playing short, composed passes & drawing pressure, they are able to exploit the high backline of Bayern from a ball into depth to Reyna, with Håland making a run to the back post
Many of BVB´s build up sequences can be very intricate & include many passes before the pressure is broken. In this instance below, 13 passes have already been played before the example of their successful build up is shown.
A typical example of a BVB build up. Finding a central play who opens up space laterally again. A player further up the pitch meets the ball, in this case Håland, while a vertical third man movement centrally into depth creates more space for the incisive pass to be played into.
There is a considerable amount of data which shows BVB´s proficiency when in possession. Again, looking at Europe´s top 5 leagues, BVB rank 3rd in Key Passes p90. These are passes which create a clear goal scoring opportunity for a teammate. With Reyna, Sancho & the perhaps
under rated Guerreiro in the side, they have a lot of creativity in their passing. Here is a sequence of passes which led to a solid goal scoring opportunity for BVB. Similar to their build up play, BVB plays with a very high tempo in between each pass, making it difficult
for the opposition to sustain pressure. Quick combinations & third man movements are key to to always creating & occupying new spaces.
Another fine metric which underlines their tempo in possession & quick passing movements is Passing Rate. This is the total number of passes per minute while in possession. With a Passing Rate of 17, BVB rank first in the Bundesliga & 4th in Europe´s top 5 leagues.
So far I have focused on BVB´s passing tempo, build up & creativity. This may make it seem like they are only looking to control possession & open up new spaces by moving the opposition block. However, this is not the case. BVB are also a team which attacks with intent &
verticality when possible. Looking at Europe´s top 5 leagues we once again see BVB with an impressive stat. They lead all of these clubs in Progressive Passes p90, with an average of 93.4, 7 more per match than the next club. Here is an example which I feel shows their various
ways of attacking the opposition. Hummels, who is extremely adept at progressive passing, particularly for a central defender, does well to play the ball into space here, following a support pass from the central midfield.
Similarly to BVB´s ability to play progressively, looking at some more of their underlying numbers shows they do not simply possess the ball for the sake of it. They also rank 5th in Europe´s top 5 leagues for Deep Completions, averaging 14.82 p90. These are passes which are
targeted to the zone within 20 meters of the opposition goal. Picture from @wyscout glossary.
If we take a look at data just from the Bundesliga, BVB are completely dominating in terms of possession metrics. Though the season is still young, they are leading the Bundesliga in Passes Completed, Pass Completed %, Total passing distance, Short passes completed and
Medium passes completed. Here we can see that they do not just simply attack one dimensionally, as they are attempting & completing passes in all phases of the attack. BVB are dynamic over the entirety of the pitch, averaging 848.3 touches p90, nearly 80 more than any BL club.
Where BVB need to improve to take the next step, is their efficiency in front of goal & the quality of chances they are creating. They are currently scoring as expected, with 15 goals & an xG of 14.63. However their xG per shot of .136 ranks just 35th in Europe´s top 5 leagues.
Indicating they do not necessarily come to great scoring chances when attempting a shot.
