After a troubling five-year spell in the Spanish Segunda Division, Las Palmas gained automatic promotion back to the top flight in the 2022/23 season.
While most pundits have predicted their relegation, García Pimienta’s side has appeared to be one of the more eye-opening teams with its tactics and playstyle this LaLiga campaign.
Sitting comfortably in 10th after the winter break, many of their star players have been placed under the microscope- with larger sides looking to poach those who have impressed thus far.
Since the start of the season, Sergi Cardona has been an essential part of this Las Palmas squad, ever-present in the defensive setup.
However, with his contract ending this summer, it has appeared increasingly likely that he will take his talents elsewhere and look to further his footballing development.
Interest in the 24-year-old’s services has increased as we approach the January window, with Atlético Madrid and Villarreal monitoring his progress.
This scout report and tactical analysis will begin to highlight how valuable Cardona has been in Las Palmas’ efforts to avoid the drop and remain resolute.
We will also provide some analysis of how the Spaniard may slot into the system and tactics of one of their LaLiga competitors, with elite managers such as Diego Simeone looking to utilise the young full-back.
Las Palmas style of play Under Garcia Pimienta Tactics
Throughout the 2023/24 season, we have seen Garcia Pimienta‘s men line up in the 4-5-1, with key emphasis placed on a midfield overload in order to retain possession.
A testament to their dominance of the ball would be their season average of 58.5% possession, bested only by Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid (59.4%) and Barcelona (64.7%).
Las Palmas enjoy a slower and more intricate style of play, sacrificing a more direct and fast-paced approach in order to keep hold of the ball and sustain larger passing sequences.
This has translated well into the highest level, with their style closely emulating that of Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid.
While they remain composed on the ball, should they lose possession, Las Palmas is proactive and looks to stifle opposing counterattacks and build up play.
With a 3rd best 10.1 PPDA (passes per defensive action) in LaLiga, this would suggest that their pressing style has successfully forced the opposition into mistakes and allowed them to continue controlling games.
Despite their success in keeping the ball, it would appear that this has failed to translate into effective output in the final third.
Having a league-lowest 12.14 xG (expected goals) is particularly damning and potentially one of the reasons why they are currently not in contention for European places despite their ball dominance.
Sergi Cardona Position
Whilst the majority of this Las Palmas team deserves significant credit for their current efforts, Sergi Cardona has been critical.
He represents a key contributor in this stout defensive unit that has only conceded 15 league goals all season, four fewer than league leaders Real Madrid.
Cardona has operated on the left-hand side of Pimienta’s back four all year, slotting nicely into the full-back role and having a fundamental impact on both sides of the ball.
He has had to shoulder the majority of the defensive responsibility on the left flank, with creative maestro Alberto Moleiro often placing more focus on his attacking duties and looking to invert, linking play with the rest of the midfield.
Despite Las Palmas’ dependency on Cardona, they communicate well, and the interchanging of roles and formation is vital to their defensive solidity.
In times of need, Manchester City loanee Maximo Perrone can be observed shuttling between defence and midfield, slotting between the two central defenders to create a 5-4-1 when out of possession.
Cardona can maintain his width and accurately defend against opposing wingers, using his covering speed and defensive adeptness to stifle players of varying styles and skill sets.
Cardona is also important in their build-up play and progress in the final third, sometimes taking up more advanced positions on the left flank.
His partnership with Alberto Moleiro in left midfield is significant.
Positional variation in the final third causes problems for opposing defences.
Should Moleiro invert, as previously mentioned, Cardona has the freedom of the wing, often flying up the pitch to create a valuable passing outlet or draw attention from opposing defenders.
Whilst his attacking output is quite minimal, Cardona has been shown to make overlapping runs on the flank to occupy space higher up the pitch and look to cross into the penalty area.
Alternatively, in moments when Moleiro has maintained his width, we have seen Cardona situated in the left half-space, looking to link play and for quick passing sequences with the rest of the midfield.
As shown in the image below, this has also resulted in underlapping movements attracting covering defenders, creating space centrally for his teammates to exploit through ball-carrying or crosses.
However, this has shown to be more costly in transition, with Cardona often being caught high up the pitch should Las Palmas lose the ball in central areas.
With their defensive-minded star unable to effectively defend the counter, left-footed Mika Marmol often slides across to cover the space at left-back, creating areas of momentary weakness through the middle of the pitch.
Sergi Cardona strengths
One of Sergi Cardona’s biggest strengths would be his physical presence and ability to contest in the air.
Standing at 6’1″, Cardona’s vertical stature is unique compared to that of most full-backs in European football.
An exemplification of this would be his 1.83 aerial duels per 90 and 68.3% aerial duel success, highlighting his success when challenging for the ball.
His skill set is particularly important when combatting larger attackers and when protecting his box from set-piece deliveries.
Additionally, his aerial presence plays into his side’s desire to win possession effectively, with Cardona often winning the ball from longer switches of play or direct distribution from the opposing goalkeeper.
Not only is Sergi Cardona proficient in winning the ball in the air, but he is also an incredibly well-rounded defender who possesses high levels of football intelligence.
One key reason for Las Palmas’ defensive achievements is Cardona’s ability to protect his goal and negate the opposition’s threat.
Having successfully completed 5.31 tackles and interceptions per 90, he finds himself placed within the top 2% of all LaLiga full-backs.
His defensive contribution is particularly notable in a time when the offensive-minded wing backs were often given the highest praise and defensive actions were minimal.
Sergi Cardona weaknesses
For all of Cardona’s defensive prowess, one element in particular highlights some of his frailties.
His one-on-one defending leaves much to be desired at times. He often struggles to match the pace of true speedster wingers, which has magnified his poor defensive discipline as a result.
Having picked up six yellow cards so far this season with 1.57 fouls committed per 90, Cardona often finds himself having to stop the opposing counterattack with a foul abruptly.
Another interesting aspect of this would be his intent on winning the ball and the subsequent need to regain proper positioning should he overcommit.
While Las Palmas has succeeded in its proactive pressing style, Cardona can lose focus and overextend in the challenge, allowing wingers to have increased space and freedom.
This then leaves him on the back foot, with the rest of his teammates having to work quickly to regain defensive shape and deny offensive progression whilst Cardona can assume his proper position again.
Another one of Cardona’s weaker aspects is his attacking output, which has minimal success in creating and scoring chances in the final third.
Despite his advanced positioning, Cardona sometimes fails to convert this into any sort of goal threat.
For example, with only 0.39 crosses into the area per 90, this does not remedy Las Palmas’s troubles in front of goal.
For all his possessions, most of Cardona’s shot-creating actions result from defensive contributions.
Whilst this is an apparent weakness, the young defender still has time to develop his offensive output and contend with the elite full-backs in the division.
Where could he possibly end up?
With Cardona’s future in question, it is particularly interesting to highlight the potential destinations he could find himself this summer once his Las Palmas contract expires.
If recent reports are accurate, it is increasingly likely that we will see him swap the yellow of Las Palmas for that of Villarreal.
Despite the Yellow Submarine currently having both Alfonso Pedraza and Alberto Moreno on their books, Sergi Cardona would bring a much-needed profile and add variety to their play.
Even though he lacks offensive proficiency, Cardona represents much more of a comfortable figure in the defensive line.
He will also be familiar with occupying the sort of positions displayed by Pedraza in the image below, providing support for a side that has struggled to concede goals.
Another potential club that Cardona may be attracting would be Atlético Madrid.
With discussions earlier in the season regarding the full-back, he would certainly fill a role in which Diego Simeone has been concerned with this campaign.
Whilst he may not be able to effectively attack the wings, his defensive output resembles Reinildo Mandava‘s playstyle.
However, with the Mozambique international only just returning from a lengthy injury absence, Cardona could resemble a youthful alternative for Simeone to mould for the future.
Conclusion
With his future in the balance, Sergi Cardona will surely have an exciting summer with the possibility of a new chapter in his football career.
Having impressed thus far, he will be sure to kick on in this new year and reach the heights no one would have imagined for this Las Palmas team, with a European dream in reach should they figure out their issues in the final third.
Despite his key weaknesses, he still has the opportunity to experience more top-flight football and develop his game- to become one of the best defenders in Spain.
