Sporting CP lost one of their best performers, Bruno Fernandes, in 2020, and there was doubt whether the team would be able to find a suitable replacement who could support the team’s attacking actions successfully.
Months after reaching an agreement with Manchester United for Fernandes, the club secured the signature of Pedro Gonçalves – Pote from Famalicão.
The then 22-year-old attacking midfielder didn’t falter under the high expectations and had a perfect start to his career with the Leões, scoring 23 goals and assisting five more in his first season with them, which led them to the league title.
The following year was equally as successful, although he was used more consistently as a winger, which resulted in him providing 14 assists and scoring 15 goals.
In 2022/23, Pote has already established himself as one of their best performers, although the team had a rough start to the campaign and is currently fifth in the Primeira Liga, struggling defensively and being knocked out of the UEFA Champions League where Tottenham topped the group.
His versatility has allowed the manager, Rúben Amorim, to use him in different roles and positions in his favoured 3-4-3 formation.
The player’s technical abilities and movement are the main creative force for the team in the oppositions half, and his actions often result in creating goalscoring opportunities.
In this Pedro Gonçalves scout report, we use tactical analysis to examine Pote’s contribution to Sporting’s tactics and explain how he replaced his predecessor.
Sporting CP attacking strategy
Sporting are an attack-minded team that likes to control the game in the opposition half and expose their opponents through a lot of movement, especially on the flanks.
The team rely on having more possession (63.8%) and dominating the opposing teams.
And while they do try to create as many goalscoring opportunities as possible, their overcommitment to crossing sometimes makes it difficult for them to use their creativity.
The team highly relies on gaining control in wide areas, where they often opt for link-up play to progress the ball, which later results in a high number of crossing attempts (19.73 per 90).
They manage to balance out both flanks by bombarding the box with crosses from both sides, although their completion rate is far from satisfactory, which detracts from their attacking explosiveness.
Their ability to score from different methods makes them successful upfront, having scored with headers, from corners, and from outside the box on multiple occasions.
Sporting’s successful ball progression is a result of the players’ individual skills and their dribbling abilities in particular.
Many of them use their composure to take on opposing players and distribute the ball to the advanced areas.
Amorim’s side are actually first in terms of dribbling frequency and their success in 1v1 situations allows them to hold on to the ball for longer, which respectively results in their high possession rate.
The players’ ability to retain possession in the opposition half is impressive, and it directly affects their defensive performance.
The team generates the fewest ball losses per 90, resulting in an average of 6.96 shots conceded.
However, the areas from which these shots are allowed, as well as some individual errors, often make the difference despite the overall solid performance.
Pedro Gonçalves Style Of Play
With his ever-changing position, Pote demonstrates his versatility and supports the team in various aspects.
This season, he has been used as a left central midfielder (LCMF) and left-wing forward (LWF), as well as a central forward.
Amorim is trying to use him to his strengths and employ him wherever he feels he can be most dangerous.
Thats why Gonçalves covers quite wide areas and, despite his left-sided position, can be found all over the opposition half, trying to link up play and expose their opponents through his movement.
Pedro Gonçalves Heat Map
Potes heatmap above shows his constant movement all over the opposing half, as well as his tendency to drop back behind the central line to pick up the ball and support the build-up play.
His strong positional sense sets him apart and allows his teammates to find him in a goalscoring position no matter how they have decided to attack.
Pedro Gonçalves movement
