Liga NOS: Tondela's X-Ray

Benfica go to Estádio João Cardoso, Sunday, at 5:30 pm, to play the Matchday 10 of Liga NOS. Before the clash, the Official Website shows you Tondela's 2018/19 version.

The eagles’ opponent is, currently, in the 13^th position of the National Championship, with nine points in nine matches (two victories, three draws and four losses). Scored 11 goals and conceded the same portion. The coach, Pepa, was prevented of counting with 20 players of the last season’s squad and welcomed 12 new athletes.

The first win in Liga NOS came only in Matchday 5, at home, against Moreirense. António Xavier scored twice and gave the three points to the team commanded by Pepa. Between Matchday 6 and 8, two losses and a draw: 1-0 against FC Porto, 1-1 versus Nacional (goal by David Bruno) and 1-2 against V. Setúbal (goal by Tomané).

The success returned in the last match, in Santa Maria da Feira. Against Feirense, with one of the cleanest defensive sheets, Tondela won 2-4. Bruno Monteiro, Tomané, Jhon Murillo and Juan Delgado scored the goals.

The usual starting eleven has three new signings (bold): Cláudio Ramos; Joãozinho, Ícaro, Ricardo Costa, David Bruno; Hélder Tavares, Bruno Monteiro, Sérgio Peña, Jhon Murillo; António Xavier and Tomané.

In addition to Liga NOS, Tondela are playing the League Cup Group Stage where started with the wrong foot (2-1) against SC Braga; in the 3^rd Round of the Portuguese Cup they achieved the qualification only after the penalty shoot-out (3-4) after a final 1-1, against Estoril.

Counter-attacks, corners and free-kicks to reach the goal

The Tondela’s stats introduced by Wyscout shows us a team which bet more on the counter-attack than on the positional attack, taking advantage of the forwards’ speed. The Tondelenses complete, on average, 21 positional attacks against 28 of the opponents and four counter-attacks against one.

Tondela have, in 2018/19, an average of 10 shots per match (36% with the opposite goal direction).

In what concerns to passing and ball possession, Tondela are used to pass less than the opponents and have less ball possession (46%).

They pass the ball 296 times per match against an average of 400 by the rivals. In order to create quick offensive moves, Tondela bet on the long pass (about 50 per match) with a 55% efficiency. 

To finish the analysis, 60% of the corners and 45% of the free-kicks result in shots.

Transfers at Tondela

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Liga Portugal