In recent years the word playmaker has become more of a descriptive label than a clearly definable role. Playmakers have featured in various positions, ranging from the traditional number 10 position in the hole behind the striker to much more deep-lying positions where they often act as single pivots in three-man midfields.
What all playmakers seem to have in common though is an exceptional passing ability, whether that means playing defence-splitting hollywood passes or reliably and efficiently recycling possession for teammates, even when under pressure. Sporting’s Bruno Fernandes is better known for the former.
Something of a late bloomer at 24 years of age, Fernandes seems to finally be fulfilling, and indeed exceeding, the potential Sporting saw in him to pay Sampdoria €8.5 million for his services in the summer of 2017.
The Portuguese midfielder has taken the Primeira Liga by the scruff of the neck this season, excelling at not just creating chances for teammates, but scoring goals as well.
Goalscorer
In his four seasons in Italy he was never more than an occasional goalscorer. His biggest tally was the five goals he managed for Sampdoria in 2016/17, his final season in Serie A before returning to his native Portugal with Sporting.
In his debut season in the Primeira Liga he notched an impressive 16 goals in all competitions, but it is his goalscoring form in 2018/19 that has caught the attention from a whole host of European clubs.
So far this campaign he has registered a remarkable 28 goals, which is all the more impressive when you consider that his nominal position is on the right-hand side of Marcel Keizer’s three-man midfield. It is also a record goal tally for a midfield player, with the Sporting captain having now overtaken Frank Lampard who previously held the record with 27 goals in a single season.
As can be seen in the image above, Fernandes is not afraid to shoot from distance; his average of 2.3 shots outside the box per game is the highest in the Primeira Liga. Even with plenty of space to run into, he gets a lot of power into his shots with just a short run up. Here even from such a long distance he managed to force the Chaves goalkeeper into a save at his near post. It is this boldness in shooting from range after just one touch that often catches defenders and goalkeepers off guard.
But the ex-Udinese man does not owe his goal tally just to trying his luck from distance. In fact, only three of his 16 league goals have come from outside the box. He makes the most of his obvious technical ability by making well-timed runs into the box. In the image below he lurks outside the area, patiently watching how the attack develops. He avoids the temptation to make a run into the space in front of him that would attract the attention of the opposition defenders.
