Sofie Junge-Pedersen 2019/20: Paris Saint-Germain Feminine midfield options

Last week I posted the first scout report of the series about Paris Saint-Germain Feminine’s midfield conundrum. This is in an extended series between Gavin Robertson and I identifying and understanding PSG and their flaws. Using this analysis, we sought to find transfer targets that could help alleviate their issues. I initially used data analysis to understand and narrow down a list of potential targets who could replace the veteran midfielder, Formiga. After using a cluster of 14 targets, we had narrowed down our search to three potential players Sandie Toletti, Sofie Junge-Pedersen, and Lindsay Horan. I analysed Toletti as a player and how she could potentially affect and fit into a strong PSG side in a tactical sense. Having covered Toletti last week, this tactical analysis will focus around the Juventus Women midfielder, Junge-Pedersen.

Sofie Junge-Pedersen & Juventus Womens play style

As we mentioned earlier, Paris Saint-Germain Feminine require a new central defensive midfield option with Formiga entering the final stages of her career. Her lack of mobility is a real issue that requires PSG to have more mobile central midfielders around her. Scouting targets that can alleviate this issue and bring the same if not better level of passing and defensive discipline will go a long way in helping PSG and closing the gap with Olympique Lyon.

It’s worth looking at how Junge-Pedersen fits in to Juventus Womens tactics for us to completely understand her role. Juventus often set up in a 4-3-3 (41%) or 4-2-3-1 (25%) formation. While they start off in the aforementioned positions, the team are quite fluid and flexible in their movements and shape with players interchanging positions all whilst remaining defensively compact in midfield. The team looks to play passes between the centre-backs and full-backs trying to find their way into the wide areas. Their main goal is to find the two inside forwards either through direct passes from the centre-backs or full-backs. Junge-Pedersen acts as a passing option from her defensive midfield position.

This is where Junge-Pedersen is crucial due to her ability to play between thirds and cover large distances. She can pick up possession from deep areas and transition them between the thirds to ensure the ball has progressed to the final third. More often than not the Dane uses her late runs to pull players away and always give her teammates passing options and tracks back to provide defensive support.

Sofie Junge-Pedersen 2019/20: Paris Saint-Germain Feminine midfield options - scout report tactical analysis tactics — A tactical representation of Juventus Womens average setup [Credit: tactical board.com]

Junge-Pedersen can be considered a deep-lying box-to-box midfielder or a ‘Segundo Volante’. Being one of the most complete roles in world football today, it is a demanding role that expects a lot from the player’s proficiency as an offensive and defensive midfielder. The player is essentially a hook between attack and defence, being able to transition between the thirds whilst contributing to both ends of the pitch.

A dynamo, the Danish international plays in a similar fashion for Juventus Women with her starting position deep, and depending on the phase of play, will make runs into the final third. Now that we have a better understanding of Junge-Pedersen’s position and role within the team, we can now look at the same two metrics we analysed Toletti in our last scout report.

Defensive capacity

Being a natural defensive midfielder, Junge-Pedersen is a proficient defensive player. Using her positional awareness and intelligence, the Danish international is able to effectively win back possession. Whether it’s by putting off the opposition player by forcing a misplaced pass or winning back the ball directly, Junge-Pedersen is very capable in a defensive capacity.