AEK has a problem in the air



[ad_1]

AEK passed through Tripoli 2-1 and Massimo Carrera’s team found the victory and tranquility they were looking for after the defeat at home to Zoria in the Europa League group.

ADVERTISING

To get all three points, the Union needed the executive ability of Karim Ansarifard. The Iranian was the one who finished off the beautiful effort of AEK and took advantage of the excellent pass with one of Sajov.

AEK had gotten involved before, after Barrales’s head “nullified” Livagia’s goal and sent both teams to the locker room at 1-1. And this head made us look in the air for this year’s performance of the Union.

FROM THE FIRST PLACE TO THE LAST

What we find in Opta’s statistics is very interesting. Let’s start with a look at last season. In the first graph we have the hit rate that each one had in the aerial duels of the last Super League Interwetten.

The success rate of teams in aerial duels in the Interwetten Super League 2019-20

AEK is easily in first place, as Union was victorious in 57% of aerial duels in the regular season and in the play-offs. Let’s see what happens this year, what the teams are doing on the air so far in the league.

The success rate of teams in aerial duels in the 2020-21 Interwetten Super League

Day and night. AEK is not only not in first place, but it is second to last. Since last year 57% this year the Union has fallen to the tragic 44%. Only Volos performs worse of the Carrera team.

The vertical drop has evidently affected every match the Union wins in the air. Last year AEK won 16.4 aerial duels per game, this year they win 11.6: only OFI and Atromitos earn less.

THE TERRIBLE PERCENTAGE OF VRANIES

What could be the reason for this great fall? The first thought is the changes in the list and there we find an answer immediately.

Vranies will not play for AEK this year. Don’t be too quick to think that it is not possible for a player who has only played in half the league to make such a big difference, because we are not talking about a simple player.

The Bosnian was the undisputed king of the air last year, winning 101 of the 120 aerial duels he gave, a performance that gave him a staggering 84% success rate. Needless to say, he was by far the first player in the league.

A single player cannot be everywhere, it is not possible for him to attend all air claims. However, with such a large percentage, when you win 84% of the matches, it is a fact that you increase the overall performance of the team.

THE TWO AREAS AND THE BATTLE IN THE CENTER

Someone will say that “okay, the percentage in the air is not that important”. Not exactly like that. The effectiveness of a team in the air is an unrecognized skill.

Not only does it give effectiveness in both areas, in threat and interception with the head, but it also affects the battle of the center. A duel won in the air and a partner on the second ball give each team a new possession.

To focus on AEK, the Union last year he conceded four head goals throughout the season, in the 36 games he gave. This year, the Carrera team has already conceded three head goals in the eight fights he’s given so far.

DZIGRINSKI AND THE REST

So is Czigrinski to blame? No, we are not doing all this talk to throw at the Ukrainian. He lost the duel with Barrales, but that’s why we have Opta numbers.

Not drawing a conclusion from a phase, especially when it is against the top four in the league in the air.

Czigrinski was defeated in the air by the Argentine, but it is not a wound for AEK in the air. The Ukrainian has taken this year 11 of the 15 aerial duels, he has an excellent 73%.

But Czigrinski may be tall, but he is not the one who likes to go to all duels, chase down the opponent attacker in each battle in the center.

This role has traditionally been played by Vranies, so it is important to see what the other plugs in the Union are doing.

Behind Czigrinski follows Hnid, who is 15/22 in the air and 68%. The difference with 84% who had Vranies was huge, Hnid is close to 69% who had Oikonomou last year.

THE Nedelcearou is 6/13 and only 46% (!) in aerial duels, while the Σβάρνας it is even less. The youngster has won just three of his 13 in-air matches this year. has only 23% (!), while last year it had 69% “honest”.

The blocks are not the only ones who claim the ball in the air, they do not “fix” the percentage of a team, but they are the ones who do not easily “forgive” the bad percentage with the ball high.

It is not easy to come across blocks that do not get even half of the air claims, so Nedelcearou and Svarnas will have to immediately “correct” their performance.



[ad_2]