Set piecessuch as corner kicks, throw-ins, fouls and penalties, have acquired a crucial importance in modern football. For many teams, they represent a clear opportunity to create danger against the rivalwithout having to resort to creating positional play or long passing sequences. In a sport where matches are often defined by small details, a good set piece scheme can make the difference between victory and defeat. Teams in all leagues seek to maximize these situations, training specific movements that exploit the opponent’s defensive weaknesses.
For the most modest teamswho often face opponents with greater offensive power and technical ability, strategy plays are an essential tool to balance the forces. In many cases, differences in game dominance may be evident for much of the match, but a goal from a corner or a well-executed free kick can neutralize the efforts of larger teams. These actions allow small teams to take advantage of precision and tactical organization, compensating for the lack of resources that often separates them from the most powerful clubs.
In fact, statistics support the relevance of set pieces in the success of the most modest teams. Around 30% of goals in important competitions come from this type of playwhich highlights his ability to influence the outcome of a match. Small teams invest time and resources in training these moments, knowing that, in a match where scoring opportunities are scarce, a good strategy in set pieces can be their best opportunity to score, and even to defeat giants. of football. And one of them is Getafe.
Madrid, Bayer, Stuttgart… and Getafe
If we look at absolute values, Real Madrid is the one that has scored the most goals from set pieces so far this season in the big leagues. But this has a ‘trap’, because five of them have been penalties. The ideal way to better evaluate the performance of these types of actions is to eliminate them from the equation and leave only situations that allow us to truly see which teams work best on them. Therefore, If we count only those that occur in corners, direct free kicks, indirect free kicks and throw-insthose who have scored the most goals are two Germans: Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart, with six.
But of course, it is logical to think that if you are a team with a lot of offensive power, you will score goals in many ways. Therefore, another important consideration is the quota of goals from set pieces with respect to the total. Thus, we determine which teams make the most of these actions. And there is no other like the Bordalás team. The azulones have not yet scored a goal in play or, what is the same, they have all achieved them in strategic actions. A total of five, counting penalties, three are excluded. 100%.
Apart from the two penaltiestransformed by Borja Mayoral and Milla, of the have arrived in corner kicks materialized by Uche y Arambarri. The Uruguayan also scored another direct foul.
Fiorentina, next
There is no other in the same situation in the five major leagues. The one that comes closest is Fiorentinawhich has noted seven goals in total and six have been from set pieces, which is 86% (four without counting penalties, which is 80%). For example, returning to Leverkusen, having scored seven in play, their share is reduced to 46% of the total.
In Spain We have already pointed out that Real Madrid has had eight penalties. Without putting them into the equation, the one that has marked the most is Villarreal, with five (three from corners and two from indirect free kicks). But by quota, it is Valencia, 40% (two strategy goals of the five scored in total).
Therefore, Getafe is a clear example of how set pieces can become the pillar of a team to compete at the highest level. And for now they have served to add
