Each line is generated from a finding that cleared its evidence bar; nothing here is a generic coaching point. The grey line says what it rests on; the button opens the sequences.
Copy the sides that escaped it: Osasuna got out 73% (long on 36%).
Average escape rate against them is 53%.
When you win it, go straight through the middle immediately.
39% of the xG they concede after losing the ball comes straight through the middle (32 attacks, 14 shots), against 12% of their own attacking xG through that channel.
Press their build-up in the left of their own third.
Giveaways there lead to a shot 14% of the time (21 giveaways).
Their most dangerous route: Roberto Fernández getting into the box with a carry from the centre. Double up on him there and show him away from goal.
12 times in the window, 67% end in a shot vs 44% for their other routes.
Avoid conceding corners; mark Leandro Cabrera first.
28% of their corners end in a shot; first contacts: Leandro Cabrera (5), Unai Núñez (1), Pere Milla (1).
Where each player takes the ball in each phase of their possession, and who passes to whom. Event data has no off-ball positions, so this is the shape of their touches — the standard event-data proxy. A phase is defined by where the ball is, so the dots sit inside that phase's third (shaded): read the order and the width, not the depth of each line. Espanyol attack left to right.
attacking → · shaded = the build-up zone
605 build-up phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
attacking → · shaded = the progression zone
769 progression phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
attacking → · shaded = the final third zone
548 final third phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
Tackles, interceptions, recoveries, blocks, challenges and fouls in the opponent's final 40%.
187 in the window. The press on a build-up = the first two rows: 32 (3.2 a match).
| source | times | share | per match | shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| press: settled build-up taken off them | 31 | 17% | 3.1 | 10% | |
| press: their restart forced into an error before they settled | 1 | 1% | 0.1 | 0% | |
| counter-press: won straight back after losing it | 6 | 3% | 0.6 | 17% | |
| second ball: the opponent touched it but never controlled it | 149 | 80% | 14.9 | 27% | |
| ↳ rebound after their own shot (saved or blocked) | 20 | 11% | 2.0 | 30% | |
| ↳ their cross / ball into the box, cleared | 65 | 35% | 6.5 | 37% | |
| ↳ their long ball, only headed or touched away | 19 | 10% | 1.9 | 5% | |
| ↳ after their own throw-in / set piece | 12 | 6% | 1.2 | 17% | |
| ↳ loose ball in their combination play (pass blocked or tackled) | 33 | 18% | 3.3 | 21% |
| opponent was | share | league | rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| passing forward | 37% | 25% | 1 / 20 | |
| going long | 17% | 10% | 3 / 20 | |
| dribbling or a loose touch | 13% | 27% | 20 / 20 | |
| passing to the keeper | 10% | 2% | 1 / 20 | |
| passing back | 3% | 0% | 3 / 20 | |
| passing sideways | 3% | 6% | 20 / 20 | |
| passing to a full-back | 3% | 17% | 20 / 20 | |
| a loose ball | 0% | 0% | 1 / 20 | |
| taking a throw-in | 0% | 2% | 12 / 20 |
The opponents who went long most (35% of build-ups) got out 49% of the time; those who mostly played short (11% long) got out 59%. That is a lean, not proven at 20 matches (p=0.197).
Best escapes: Osasuna 73%; Levante 67%; Atletico 67%. One dot per match; hover for the opponent.
Most often started by Edu Expósito (10), Roger Hinojo (9), Javi Hernández (8), Cala (8).
| lost in | losses | won back within 5s | led to a shot |
|---|---|---|---|
| own third | 39 | 28% | 18% |
| midfield | 242 | 26% | 4% |
| final third | 353 | 20% | 0% |
16.6 opponent attacks per match after winning the ball in open play that broke forward fast or reached the final third. Shading and % = share of the xG they produced, by the channel they used. Espanyol's goal is on the left. Central attacks carry more xG for every team, so compare with Espanyol's own attacking xG in the same kind of channel (centre, or the average flank): centre 39% conceded vs 12% own, right 36% conceded vs 44% own, left 25% conceded vs 44% own.
Every real turnover, named by the situation it came from. "Fast" = the side with the ball reached the final third within 10 seconds. Only real turnovers appear here: for everything the press wins high, including restarts it forced into an error, see "Every ball won in the opponent’s third" in the press section.
| type | times | share | fast | shot | xG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won high from a settled build-up (press) | 33 | 5%lg 5% | 39% | 12%lg 12% | 0.2 | |
| Won after their long possession (10+ passes) | 70 | 10%lg 12% | 11% | 0%lg 4% | 0.0 | |
| Won straight back after losing it (counter-press) | 78 | 11%lg 11% | 40% | 5%lg 9% | 0.3 | |
| Won by stopping their counter | 35 | 5%lg 4% | 11% | 3%lg 4% | 0.1 | |
| Won in midfield | 168 | 23%lg 25% | 28% | 2%lg 7% | 0.2 | |
| Won deep in own third | 297 | 41%lg 37% | 11% | 3%lg 3% | 1.4 | |
| Won from their set piece | 39 | 5%lg 5% | 18% | 0%lg 4% | 0.0 |
| type | times | share | opponent fast | shot against | xG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost in own build-up under pressure | 32 | 5%lg 5% | 50% | 19%lg 12% | 0.2 | |
| Lost after own long possession (10+ passes) | 42 | 6%lg 12% | 19% | 5%lg 4% | 0.4 | |
| Lost straight after winning it | 81 | 12%lg 11% | 37% | 9%lg 9% | 0.4 | |
| Lost during own counter | 34 | 5%lg 4% | 29% | 3%lg 3% | 0.1 | |
| Lost in midfield | 204 | 29%lg 25% | 31% | 8%lg 6% | 1.5 | |
| Lost in the final third (attack broke down) | 284 | 41%lg 37% | 15% | 3%lg 3% | 0.6 | |
| Lost from own set piece | 23 | 3%lg 5% | 9% | 4%lg 4% | 0.0 |
Every controlled possession is typed by how it was played, and every real turnover (a possession that was established and then lost) by what the losing side was doing, how it lost the ball and what the winner did next. "Settled" = sustained or worked possessions; "unsettled" = short, second-ball, counter and direct possessions.
| type | times | share | ended in a shot | avg passes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 55 | 6%lg 13% | 13%lg 12% | 12.7 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 270 | 31%lg 27% | 11%lg 10% | 5.8 | |
| direct attack | 143 | 16%lg 13% | 1%lg 2% | 1.4 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 192 | 22%lg 23% | 2% | 1.6 |
| the side losing it was in… | times | fast attack | secured | lost straight back | can’t keep it | shot | xG | how it was lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 43 | 19% | 7% | 2% | 63% | 5% | 0.4 | pass cut out 23, long ball lost 7 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 196 | 24% | 11% | 6% | 45% | 8% | 1.0 | pass cut out 102, long ball lost 47 | |
| direct attack | 127 | 30% | 13% | 8% | 35% | 3% | 0.5 | long ball lost 54, pass cut out 46 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 158 | 27% | 9% | 13% | 46% | 9% | 0.9 | pass cut out 74, bad touch 32 | |
| second-ball possession | 111 | 21% | 17% | 10% | 41% | 5% | 0.4 | pass cut out 55, long ball lost 16 | |
| counter / fast transition | 42 | 29% | 12% | 5% | 50% | 2% | 0.1 | pass cut out 26, bad touch 6 | |
| set piece | 23 | 9% | 9% | 0% | 70% | 4% | 0.0 | pass cut out 11, long ball lost 8 |
| mechanism | times | share | led to a shot against | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pass cut out | 337 | 48%lg 48% | 4% | |
| long ball lost | 164 | 23%lg 22% | 4% | |
| bad touch | 98 | 14%lg 14% | 6% | |
| failed dribble | 46 | 7%lg 7% | 11% | |
| tackled / dispossessed | 45 | 6%lg 6% | 11% | |
| error | 6 | 1% | 100% |
| the opponent was in… | times | fast attack | secured | lost straight back | can’t keep it | shot | xG | how it was lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 74 | 11% | 18% | 8% | 51% | 0% | 0.0 | pass cut out 45, bad touch 11 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 201 | 16% | 12% | 9% | 53% | 4% | 0.8 | pass cut out 95, long ball lost 54 | |
| direct attack | 78 | 21% | 21% | 9% | 44% | 1% | 0.1 | long ball lost 31, pass cut out 27 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 160 | 34% | 9% | 6% | 42% | 5% | 0.6 | pass cut out 68, bad touch 33 | |
| second-ball possession | 125 | 15% | 11% | 5% | 63% | 3% | 0.6 | pass cut out 60, long ball lost 27 | |
| counter / fast transition | 43 | 14% | 16% | 7% | 53% | 5% | 0.1 | pass cut out 26, bad touch 7 | |
| set piece | 39 | 18% | 5% | 13% | 54% | 0% | 0.0 | pass cut out 22, long ball lost 6 |
Fast attack = their final third or box reached within 10s. Secured = kept 10s+ or 4+ passes. Lost straight back = controlled, then lost within 5s. Can’t keep it = won the ball but never got it under control (cleared it, headed it away, blocked it or lost it at once).
Each phase split into the situations it is made of, every row with its league median and clips. Shots are their own category: a possession that ends in a shot has finished, it has not lost the ball.
| type | times | share | got out | reached the box | lost in build-up | shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| from the keeper / goal kick, played out short | 48 | 25%lg 18% | 73% | 27% | 25% | 8% | |
| from the keeper / goal kick, went long (bypass) | 21 | 11%lg 12% | 38% | 14% | 62% | 10% | |
| from the keeper / goal kick, stuck / recycled | 10 | 5% | 0% | 0% | 50% | 0% | |
| from the back line, played out short | 16 | 8%lg 10% | 50% | 12% | 31% | 12% | |
| from the back line, went long (bypass) | 11 | 6%lg 5% | 36% | 0% | 55% | 0% | |
| from the back line, stuck / recycled | 6 | 3% | 0% | 0% | 33% | 0% | |
| from a throw-in, played out short | 6 | 3%lg 5% | 67% | 0% | 33% | 0% | |
| from a throw-in, went long (bypass) | 5 | 3%lg 3% | 0% | 0% | 80% | 0% | |
| straight after winning it, played out short | 30 | 16%lg 17% | 70% | 20% | 27% | 3% | |
| straight after winning it, went long (bypass) | 22 | 12%lg 10% | 32% | 9% | 55% | 0% | |
| straight after winning it, stuck / recycled | 13 | 7% | 0% | 23% | 46% | 15% |
| outcome | times | share | opponent shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| won it high | 24 | 11%lg 9% | 0% | |
| forced long, then won it back | 44 | 20%lg 23% | 0% | |
| forced long, they kept it | 7 | 3%lg 5% | 14% | |
| they played through short | 84 | 39%lg 37% | 18% | |
| kept them stuck (recycled back) | 59 | 27%lg 26% | 3% |
Won high = the ball won in the opponent's own third. Forced long = the opponent left its third with a long ball (then either lost it in that possession, or kept it).
| created by | shots | share of open play | xG | xG per shot | goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cross | 15 | 15%lg 6% | 1.8 | 0.12lg 0.11 | 1 | |
| cutback | 3 | 3%lg 7% | 0.3 | 0.09lg 0.10 | 0 | |
| through ball | 1 | 1%lg 4% | 0.2 | 0.18lg 0.25 | 1 | |
| short pass / combination | 44 | 45%lg 54% | 4.2 | 0.09lg 0.08 | 6 | |
| long ball | 4 | 4%lg 5% | 0.2 | 0.06lg 0.07 | 1 | |
| individual (dribble / self-made) | 13 | 13%lg 11% | 1.0 | 0.08lg 0.09 | 0 | |
| rebound / second ball | 17 | 18%lg 8% | 1.3 | 0.08lg 0.09 | 1 | |
| corner (set piece) | 10 | – | 0.6 | 0.06 | 0 | |
| free kick (indirect) (set piece) | 10 | – | 0.9 | 0.09 | 1 | |
| direct free kick (set piece) | 6 | – | 0.2 | 0.04 | 0 | |
| throw-in (set piece) | 2 | – | 0.2 | 0.11 | 0 |
| created by | shots | share | xG | xG per shot | goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cross | 7 | 8%lg 11% | 1.0 | 0.14 | 1 | |
| cutback | 3 | 3%lg 7% | 0.5 | 0.15 | 0 | |
| through ball | 7 | 8%lg 4% | 1.3 | 0.19 | 2 | |
| short pass / combination | 54 | 61%lg 53% | 3.9 | 0.07 | 6 | |
| individual (dribble / self-made) | 11 | 12%lg 10% | 0.8 | 0.07 | 1 | |
| rebound / second ball | 7 | 8%lg 9% | 1.3 | 0.18 | 1 | |
| corner (set piece) | 23 | – | 2.7 | 0.12 | 1 | |
| free kick (indirect) (set piece) | 15 | – | 1.0 | 0.07 | 1 | |
| direct free kick (set piece) | 8 | – | 0.2 | 0.03 | 0 | |
| throw-in (set piece) | 6 | – | 0.4 | 0.07 | 1 |
| ending | shots | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| goal | 11 | 9%lg 9% | |
| keeper held it | 9 | 7%lg 11% | |
| keeper parried it | 12 | 10%lg 13% | |
| blocked | 38 | 30%lg 25% | |
| off target | 53 | 42%lg 39% | |
| hit the woodwork | 2 | 2% |
Penalties excluded. A "save" by an outfield player is a block.
After their keeper held a shot (17), median release 11s; league share turned into a fast attack 14%:
| their keeper held it, then… | times | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| keeper released fast -> fast attack | 6 | 35% | |
| keeper released quickly, no fast attack | 2 | 12% | |
| keeper slowed the game | 9 | 53% |
After their own shot was held by the opponent keeper (9); league share broken against fast 18%:
| the opponent keeper held it, then… | times | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| keeper released fast -> fast attack | 0 | 0% | |
| keeper released quickly, no fast attack | 1 | 11% | |
| keeper slowed the game | 8 | 89% |
Fast = the keeper's side reached its final third within 15s of the save. Quick = first pass within 6s.
The other half of each phase above. Their own phases break down when they lose the ball (real turnovers only); their press and block break down when the opponent gets through. Each card: how often, how, where, who is involved, and what it costs them.
178 balls lost in 605 build-up phases (29%)
giveaways per 10 build-up phases: 2.7/10 · league 2.4/10
What it costs: 37% turned into a fast attack · 42% the opponent can’t keep · 8% led to a shot · 1.1 xG
232 balls lost in 769 middle-third phases (30%)
giveaways per 10 middle-third phases: 2.6/10 · league 2.8/10
What it costs: 27% turned into a fast attack · 35% the opponent can’t keep · 7% led to a shot · 1.6 xG
251 balls lost in 548 final-third phases (46%)
deliveries into the box that fail to arrive: 57% · league 57%
What it costs: 12% turned into a fast attack · 56% the opponent can’t keep · 3% led to a shot · 0.5 xG
79 deliveries into the box did not arrive
42 of 58 counter-attacks lost (72%)
attacking transitions that produce a shot: 13% · league 17%
What it costs: 29% turned into a fast attack · 50% the opponent can’t keep · 2% led to a shot · 0.1 xG
58 counters: 9 ended in a shot, 42 were lost, 7 slowed down or went out
100 of 188 opponent build-ups got out (53%)
opponent build-ups that get out cleanly: 53% · league 50%
What it costs: 38% reached the final third · 14% led to a shot · 1.0 xG
Sides are their own: "down the left" = down their left.
151 box entries in 576 opponent final-third phases (26%)
opponent final-third phases that create: 48% · league 48%
What it costs: 42% led to a shot · 8.4 xG
Sides are their own.
23 set pieces lost in open play
What it costs: 9% turned into a fast attack · 70% the opponent can’t keep · 4% led to a shot · 0.0 xG
Their corners and free kicks that were lost in open play, and what the opponent did next.
Takers: Edu Expósito (14), Javi Hernández (3), Quilindschy Hartman (3)
First contact in the box: Leandro Cabrera (5), Unai Núñez (1), Pere Milla (1), Roberto Fernández (1), Pol Lozano (1)
What each player does in the phases, counted over the window. Only lines that clear a minimum count are shown.
The comparison behind the report: each behaviour as a rate per opportunity, ranked among the 20 La Liga clubs' full seasons, with how many of the 10 matches sat on the same side of the league median. "Style" is never a verdict.
| behaviour | Espanyol | league median | rank | matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style | cut inside per 100 final third phases | 0.2/100 | 2.0/100 | 20 / 20 | 10/10 | |
| style | final-third entries played by a forward / AM / winger | 17% | 30% | 20 / 20 | 9/10 | |
| style | final-third entries through the centre | 7% | 13% | 20 / 20 | 7/10 | |
| style | overload to isolate per 100 progression phases | 0.0/100 | 0.8/100 | 20 / 20 | 10/10 | |
| style | final-third entries played by a midfielder (DM/CM) | 38% | 26% | 2 / 20 | 8/10 | |
| weakness | lost balls the opponent can't keep | 45% | 49% | 19 / 20 | 7/10 | |
| style | build-up exits played by a centre-back | 47% | 37% | 1 / 20 | 8/10 | |
| style | switch of play per 100 progression phases | 2.2/100 | 4.3/100 | 19 / 20 | 9/10 | |
| style | turnovers lost in midfield | 29% | 25% | 2 / 20 | 7/10 | |
| weakness | balls won in midfield that produced a shot | 2% | 7% | 19 / 20 | 8/10 | |
| style | build-ups from the keeper played out short | 25% | 18% | 2 / 20 | 7/10 | |
| style | open-play shots conceded from long balls | 0% | 6% | 20 / 20 | 10/10 |
| phase | route | times | shot | their average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final third | ST gets it into the box with a carry from the centre | 12 | 67% | 44% |
| split | behaviour | a | b | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | final-third phases that created (box entry or key pass) | 43% | 53% | 0.0247 | |
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | build-up exits with a long ball | 46% | 28% | 0.0266 | |
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | final-third entries through the centre | 2% | 11% | 0.0306 | |
| when leading vs when level | build-up exits played by the goalkeeper | 4% | 18% | 0.038 | |
| when leading vs when level | final-third entries down the right | 27% | 49% | 0.0463 | |
| when trailing vs when level | chance-creation phases that produced a shot | 39% | 21% | 0.0047 | |
| when trailing vs when level | middle-third phases that progressed into the final third | 80% | 62% | 0.0063 | |
| when trailing vs when level | build-up giveaways that led to an opponent shot within 15s | 14% | 3% | 0.0236 | |
| second half vs first half | middle-third phases that progressed into the final third | 74% | 57% | 0.0045 | |
| second half vs first half | build-up exits by carrying it out | 12% | 3% | 0.0317 |
| date | opponent | result | npxG | opponent press | what happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-16 | vs Levante | W 3-0 | 1.7–0.2 | sat deep / passive | Won 3-0, chances 1.69 v 0.20 xG. Levante defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 18.5, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: giveaways regained within 5s (counter-press) 31%, far above their usual 22%. |
| 2026-08-22 | vs Real Madrid | L 1-2 | 0.8–2.6 | pressed aggressively | Lost 1-2 and the chances agreed (0.76 v 2.55 xG). Real Madrid pressed harder than a typical La Liga side does (strict PPDA 11.6, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: build-up exits down the right 20%, far below their usual 41%. |
| 2026-08-29 | at Real Sociedad | L 1-2 | 0.7–1.9 | pressed aggressively | Lost 1-2 and the chances agreed (0.69 v 1.88 xG). Real Sociedad pressed harder than a typical La Liga side does (strict PPDA 10.9, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: chance-creation phases that produced a shot 75%, far above their usual 31%. |
| 2026-09-06 | vs Sevilla | D 1-1 | 1.2–0.4 | pressed aggressively | Drew 1-1 (1.18 v 0.35 xG). Sevilla pressed harder than a typical La Liga side does (strict PPDA 12.4, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: build-up exits down the left 10%, far below their usual 35%. |
| 2026-09-12 | at Osasuna | W 2-0 | 1.2–0.8 | pressed aggressively | Won 2-0, chances 1.16 v 0.76 xG. Osasuna pressed harder than a typical La Liga side does (strict PPDA 12.0, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: counter-attacks 2.0/match, far below their usual 5.0/match. |
| 2026-09-15 | at Rayo Vallecano | L 1-2 | 1.7–1.5 | mid-intensity press | Lost 1-2 and the chances agreed (1.71 v 1.53 xG). Rayo Vallecano pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 17.2, league median 14.6) and went long on 50% of their own build-ups. Biggest departure from their norm: opponent build-ups that got out cleanly 28%, far below their usual 54%. |
| 2026-09-18 | vs Elche | L 1-3 | 1.2–0.8 | sat deep / passive | Lost 1-3 and the chances agreed (1.22 v 0.83 xG). Elche defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 26.4, league median 14.6) and went long on 58% of their own build-ups. Biggest departure from their norm: ball given away during build-up 3.0/match, far below their usual 16.3/match. |
| 2026-10-09 | at Malaga | D 1-1 | 1.2–0.8 | mid-intensity press | Drew 1-1 (1.21 v 0.79 xG). Malaga pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 13.9, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: box entries with a cross 0%, far below their usual 12%. |
| 2026-10-17 | vs Atletico | L 0-1 | 0.6–1.3 | pressed aggressively | Lost 0-1 and the chances agreed (0.61 v 1.31 xG). Atletico pressed harder than a typical La Liga side does (strict PPDA 11.3, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: PPDA, strict (opponent passes in their own 60% per committed ball-winning action) 27.4, far above their usual 15.8. |
| 2026-10-24 | at Racing Santander | L 1-2 | 0.6–3.0 | mid-intensity press | Lost 1-2 and the chances agreed (0.63 v 2.96 xG). Racing Santander pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 18.2, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: opponent final-third phases that created 63%, far above their usual 47%. |