Brasileirão’s week 14 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!
São Paulo 3 x 2 Santos
- São Paulo won the regional clash with an efficient high pressure that disrupted Santos’s style of play. The tricolor had less possession but was more “vertical” and direct (most passes directed towards the goal). Pato and Reinaldo performed very well on the left and were active in the attack.
- Santos were pressuring during play build up and could not get their traditional high offensive volume. Pituca and Sánchez had little space to find passes and the ball did not reach at the wingers Soteldo and Derlis. Sasha was the one who participated most in the attack.
- Expected Goals:
- São Paulo = 1.17
- Santos = 0.87
Flamengo 3 x 1 Grêmio
- Flamengo had great a performance against Grêmio, and created many scoring opportunities on the left side of attack, where Arrascaeta played. Bruno Henrique has acted as center forward, but the #27 moves well and adds extra speed to Flamengo’s attack. Gerson and Arão performed well in the middle.
- Grêmio utilized an alternative squad another time, and produced very little offensively. The tricolor gaúcho finished only 4 times, and none of them reached the opposing goal. The team was cornered by Flamengo and spent most of the game trying to defend themselves.
- Expected Goals:
- Flamengo = 1.56
- Grêmio = 0.51
Ceará 4 x 1 Chapecoense
- Ceará had few shots but was very efficient against Chapecoense. Felippe Cardoso worked well as a target man, and managed to make passes to Thiago Galhardo, who had great performance. The midfielder played almost as a second striker and converted all of his shots.
- Chapecoense remains defensively vulnerable and needs to improve overall performance to escape relegation. In attack, the team managed to create more chances than Ceará but missed Everaldo’s finishing skills.
- Expected Goals:
- Ceará = 0.46
- Chapecoense = 0.84
Botafogo 2 x 1 Athletico PR
- Botafogo created most of their chances on the left side, with Luiz Fernando had 3 shots. Cícero retreated to the back line to assist with the play build up and the team was very present on the attacking pitch.
- Athletico rested players against Botafogo but managed to create some good chances playing away. Thonny Anderson was the center forward and received passes from almost all his teammates. Tomas Andrade also played well, playing a role similar to that the typical starter Nikão.
- Expected Goals:
- Botafogo = 1.42
- Athletico = 1.62
Atlético MG 2 x 1 Fluminense
- Atlético MG was able to exploit Fluminense’s defensive problems and won the game with a high press on the opposing defense. Ricardo Oliveira had his best game in the tournament, finishing 4 times. Vinicius played in a central position, with Chará and Cazares forward.
- Fluminense avoids long ball launches and likes to play with shorts passes, but they has not been effective against teams that press high. Offensively, the team has good players who can create chances like Ganso, Danielzinho and Caio Henrique (who combines passes with everyone in midfield).
- Expected Goals:
- Atlético MG = 1.67
- Fluminense = 1.04
Internacional 0 x 0 Corinthians
- Internacional passed the ball more frequently on the left side against Corinthians but had few shots in the game. Sóbis, Guerrero and D’Alessandro formed an attacking trio that helped play build up.
- Corinthians also took few shots in the game, and had Vagner Love well marked and little participative. Clayson would constantly move towards the center of the midfield and failed to exploit the left wing. The player who managed shoot the most was Everaldo, who was subbed in during the second half.
- Expected Goals:
- Internacional = 0.42
- Corinthians = 0.55
Avaí 2 x 2 Cruzeiro
- Avaí attacked with wide players supported by central midfielders: Lourenço, L Morais and R Franco on the right; B Savio, Paulinho and João Paulo on the left. Most of the Santa Catarina team’s shots happened on the right side, with very narrow angles.
- Cruzeiro had Robinho as the playmaker with P Rocha wide on the left and M Gabriel on the right. The trio accounted for most of the shots. Most finished were from mid/long distance, and the team was able to convert chances created within the penalty box.
- Expected Goals:
- Avaí = 0.65
- Cruzeiro = 1.27
Palmeiras 2 x 2 Bahia
- Palmeiras had a good offensive volume this weekend (performed at the same level as the pre-Copa America break). Dudu and Scarpa were very participative up front. The team was effective with its direct game style and conceded few spaces to Bahia on open play, but gave away 2 penalty goals.
- Bahia played without important players like Artur Victor and Juninho, who could not play due to contractual terms with Palmeiras. The team could not create much and had trouble containing the Palmeiras attack, but got a good result.
- Expected Goals:
- Palmeiras = 2.88
- Bahia = 0.52
CSA 0 x 2 Fortaleza
- CSA attacked mainly from the right side, and the team from Alagoas managed to create 5 chances for Alecsandro to finish. Despite the defeat, the team had a good offensive volume. However, CSA’s defensive performance has some red flags: when Fortaleza was able to attack, most shots were very dangerous.
- Fortaleza had few shots, but was efficient and won an important match. The team still has the style of Rogério Ceni (former coach who is now working at Cruzeiro), with the wingers Edinho and Romarinho very active and Juninho organizing the midfield. It will be interesting to see how the team changes with the departure of the coach.
- Expected Goals:
- CSA = 1.34
- Fortaleza = 0.66
Goiás 0 x 1 Vasco
- Goiás started the plays on the left (with Jefferson) and finished on the right with Michael. Léo Sena and Giovanni Augusto were the responsible midfielders for “change of play side”. On attack, Kayke had no room to finish but managed to make 3 passes for shots.
- At Vasco, Richard has been an important midfield player. The defensive midfielder is mainly responsible starting offensive transitions and directing the side of plays. He is one of the players who touches the ball the most. In front, Talles Magno, Pikachu and Marcos Junior were the most dangerous players.
- Expected Goals:
- Vasco = 1.17
- Goiás = 0.82
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.