Gabriel, a long-range beacon

The Benfica midfielder Gabriel is on the rise in the season. He won a place in the team as of January, already with Bruno Lage at the helm, and his stats show the impact he has the team's attacking and defensive moves.

The statistical platforms Sofascore and Wyscout prove Gabriel's in Benfica’s game, namely through the figures presented in the long passes, tackles, clearances, and interceptions. Playing in the middle, the number 8 has been working as a true beacon for the team, helping it to have balance and to search for the goals.

In all competitions, Gabriel has made 32 appearances, scored a goal (Portuguese Cup Derby at Estádio da Luz) and has played more than 2100 minutes.

According to Sofascore, Gabriel is the midfielder with the highest average of long passes performed every 90 minutes: 5,25. So far, he has racked up 84 long passes in 16 encounters.  He also stands out in the clearances and interceptions. He has 29 interceptions  (an average around two per game) and 27 clearances (1,7 per match).

Another defensive aspect in which Gabriel has been standing out is the tackles. He has 48 in 16 matches in the Championship – average of three per match. He is the second best midfielder when it comes to tackling, only surpassed by his teammate, Fejsa, with 56.

The website Wyscout highlights the left-footed player passing ability, as well as the strength shown in the aerial duels. Being 1,87 meters-tall, Gabriel imposes himself and has 61% efficacy in the aerial duels.

Despite risking a lot on the long pass, the accuracy of the red player with regard to the total passes carried out is 84%; looking only at the long pass accuracy, the percentage drops to 66%, which places him among the best midfielders of the Liga NOS. 

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Archive / SL Benfica