Less than a week remains until Serie A resumes, and there’s still time to analyze the most interesting data from the first five matchdays.
Now let’s look at the players who carry the ball the most at their feet, separating those who do it “well” from those who, perhaps, should pass it more often.
The numbers for chances, shots, goals and assists listed here are not the total figures, but only those generated through ball-carrying progressions.
TOP 3ASSANE DIAO
The Como winger is comfortably in 1st place for chances created through ball-carrying progressions: as many as 12 chances, along with 3 shots and 1 assist. Diao is also the 3rd player overall for total meters covered with the ball at his feet: a truly self-sufficient footballer, capable of sparking attacks whenever he wants.
PAULO DYBALA
Dybala makes even more runs with the ball than Diao but, on average, carries it for fewer meters: more quality in tight spaces and certainly less speed over distance. The quality of his plays, however, is clearly higher, and the numbers prove it: 6 chances created, 2 shots and as many as 2 assists from his progressions.
GIORGI KVERNADZE
Kvernadze is 1st overall for meters covered with the ball at his feet (1.15 km) and is also 1st for shots produced: 9. The dangerous chances created from his runs are 6, including 1 goal. His other league goals, in fact, have come from different game situations.
FLOP 3 (with at least 20 ball-carrying progressions)RANDAL KOLO MUANI
Apart from the latest match against Atalanta, Kolo Muani’s ball-carrying progressions have led to few results: 1 chance created, 0 goals, 0 assists and 1 shot.
What makes these numbers especially negative is the average number of meters covered with the ball at his feet: 14.7 meters, the 5th-highest in Serie A. This means that Kolo Muani can carry the ball for long distances, but struggles to turn his progression into a concrete chance.
ROBERTO PICCOLI
The total number of ball-carrying runs made by Piccoli is clearly lower than Kolo Muani’s, but what does not change is their effectiveness: 1 chance created, 0 goals, 0 assists and 1 shot.
On the other hand, Piccoli when he decides to drive forward keeps the ball for more meters (15.2) without managing to create a shot.
EL BILAL TOURÉ
With 23 ball-carrying progressions at an average of 12.1 meters (among the top 15 forwards in this stat), El Bilal Touré has produced “0” across the board with his runs: no shots, no assists, no goals, and no dangerous chances.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.