Week 5 of the Brasileirão is over and we bring you some of the highlights of this week. If you would like a more detailed explanation of the graphs used, please see this text here. Let’s check out the matches!
[translations to the charts will be available in the near future]
Internacional 2 x 0 CSA
- Inter was efficient and beat CSA. It is worth highlighting Iago’s performance, he was the main creator of the chances of the Inter. In addition, Nonato and Edenílson played very well, filling the midfield and popping up in attack. Goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba was very safe when required.
- Despite the defeat, CSA had some good chances against Inter. The team from Alagoas created their main chances on the left side, with Carlinhos and Matheus Sávio. The defense gave away little space for the Inter attackers, and Jordi made good saves.
- Expected Goals (xG):
- Internacional = 1.06
- CSA = 0.64
Atlético MG 2 x 1 Flamengo
- Atlético MG could not shoot and pass much against Flamengo, especially after the Elias red card. Even so, the team got the win. Cazares, recovered from an injury, had an excellent match and shot well. The Ecuadorian will help the Atlético side a lot in the rest of the year.
- Flamengo good shot volume in this match. The result was not good, but the offensive formation with Bruno Henrique (the best of the team until this moment) on the left and Éverton Ribeiro on the right worked well. Good results should come if the club maintains this style of play and is able to play more calmly.
- Expected Goals (xG):
- Atlético MG = 0.72
- Flamengo = 1.98
Palmeiras 4 x 0 Santos
- Palmeiras won the derby against Santos and keeps on showing the more and more that they have a well defined style of play. Palmeiras is a very direct, they are the team the had the smalles pass per shot ratio this week (11.6 passes/shot). Dudu is a pillar of this style and has been superb.
- Santos’s scheme against Palmeiras did not work. Sampaoli managed to populate the midfield and have the ball, but its main creators (such Pituca and Jean Lucas) did not have spaces to explore. Lucas Veríssimo, a centre back that played on the right, was the player who had the most ball, but with little efficiency.
- Expected Goals (xG):
- Palmeiras = 1.63
- Santos = 0.57
São Paulo 0 x 0 Bahia
- São Paulo produced little and drew with Bahia. The right side of the SPFC, usually the most creative with Antony, produced little in the game. Most of the plays came from the left, with Toró finishing. Few finishes within the penalty area and dangerous spots for a team playing at home.
- Bahia shot more on the left side against SPFC. The team bet on counter attacks led by Artur Victor, Elber and Elton to try to score goals, but they lacked shot accuracy. Elton had an interesting performance, with 3 passes to shots.
- Expected Goals (xG):
- São Paulo = 0.4
- Bahia = 0.65
Fluminense 4 x 1 Cruzeiro
- Fluminense had an excellent performance against Cruzeiro. Fernando Diniz’s team is a chance creating, and was the team that shot the most this week round (22 shots). The team is creating an interesting repertoire, and has different players creating and finishing.
- Cruzeiro had a worrying performance against Flu. The Minas Gerais team was the one that shot the least, only 4 times (Fred, the main striker, did not shoot a single time). The team did not overcome Fluminense’s pressure and only managed to pass in their field of defense.
- Expected Goals (xG):
- Fluminense = 1.89
- Cruzeiro = 0.3
Chapecoense 1 x 3 Fortaleza
- Chapecoense shot a lot against the Fortaleza, but few shots were on target. Rildo was the main name of the team, and appeared often in the middle. The defensive system had a lot of work dealing with Fortaleza’s wingers: Edinho and Marcinho.
- Fortaleza had great shot locations, all of them in central zones, in which the goal probability is larger. Edinho and Marcinho were the engines of the team: they took the ball by the wings, they created goal chances by through passes and also appeared in the box to shoot.
- Expected Goals (xG):
- Chapecoense = 1.05
- Fortaleza = 1.14
Goiás 1 x 0 Botafogo
- Goiás beat Botafogo and already shows a style of play very efficient: few passes, speed and many shots. The youngster Michael is essential in the scheme, he has speed and can dribble. The team will likely stay in the top division if it maintains the standard of play and key players.
- Botafogo had difficulties against Goiás. Despite passes the ball frequently, the team did not manage to create great chances. The attack men had little space, and Bochecha tried to appear in the box as a surprise element, without any success.
- Expected Goals (xG):
- Goiás = 1.48
- Botafogo = 0.48
Athletico PR 0 x 2 Corinthians
- Athletico Paranaense’s reserves lost to Corinthians, but the team maintained the tactical standard and showed they have good options in the squad (like experienced Marcelo Cirino and Márcio Azevedo). The team created a lot of chances, but the lacked the accuracy of the typical starting XI.
- Corinthians won important points against Athletico. The team had few very opportunities, but a lot of efficiency, taking advantage of the chances created. The defense, however, had difficulties in holding Athletico’s and depended on a great performance by goalkeeper Cássio to come back with the win.
- Expected Goals (xG):
- Athletico PR = 1.19
- Corinthians = 0.49
Ceará 2 x 0 Grêmio
- Ceará, playing at home, did not have the ball as much against Grêmio and bet on counter against attacks. When they attacked, the Vozão (Ceará’s nickname) mainly explored the players on the right side of the field, especially Thiago Galhardo, Samuel Xavier and Leandro Carvalho.
- Grêmio had good chances against Ceará, but the offensive performance must still improve. André dropped back in order to help the midfield, but passing is not his main strength. Maybe it’s time to use another tactical, without a man of referene and more mobility.
- Expected Goals (xG):
- Ceará = 0.26
- Grêmio = 1.38
Vasco 1 x 1 Avaí
- Vasco drew with Avaí and it was already possible to see some playing style ideas that Luxemburgo (the new head coach) will try to implement. In that game, for example, Andrey often stepped back to help in the ball, releasing the fullbacks Pikachu and Henrique to assist in the middle and the attack.
- Avaí was visiting team with the most shots in this week (18 shots). The team shot more than in previous matches, but many of the finishes were from far away and without any real danger. Avaí players should improve their decision making on the pitch. The team had an interesting movement on the left with João Paulo, Igor and Gegê.
- Expected Goals (xG):
- Vasco = 0.89
- Avaí = 0.7
Algolritmo's founder. I have a bachelor's in Computer Science and a master's in Analytics. My goal is to bring a new perspective into Brazilian football. I'm particularly interested in communicating complex ideas through simple data visualizations.
I graduated in Computer Science and Business Administration at the University of Southern California and got a masters degree in Analytics at the same institution. I have worked as a Data Science intern at companies such as Facebook, Itaú and Looqbox.