Talleres Córdoba 2023: Analysing their efficient and diverse corner routines – set-piece analysis

Talleres Córdoba occupied second place in the first phase of the Argentine Primera División, scoring 42 goals as the second strongest attacking line after River Plate, who scored 50 goals.

After playing five matches in the second phase, they scored the most goals from corner kicks over the Argentinian league season (Primera División and Copa de la Liga Profesional), scoring eight goals from corner kicks, equal with Tigre.

What distinguishes them in set-pieces in general and the corners, in particular, is the extent of the diversity of their tactics, their difference according to the opponent, their good use of their strengths, and the capabilities of their excellent defenders in aerial duels, especially, Matías Catalán.

In this tactical analysis, we will discuss their diverse tactics in corner kicks: curved runs, Man-marker or second-zone fence, Exploiting Matías Catalán, floated crosses, The far-post followers, short corners and direct passes to the rebound.

Curved runs

Against man-marking defending teams,  their target player uses a curved run to the back to escape from his marker while his next mate tries to do a screen by blocking the targeted players marker, as we will explain.

In the first photo, the opponent defends by man-marking defending system, leaving only two players defending on zonal-marking defending. The targeted player targets the black area while his next mate is ready to do the screen.

In the second photo, the attackers leave the targeted area dragging their markers, which is called deloading. At the same time, the screen is clear, in red, so the targeted player gets the ball easily, but the headed shot is a little weak, so the goalkeeper catches it, as shown in the third and fourth photos.

Acting as a Fence

They also use a common trick against teams who defend in a hybrid system. They use some players to act as a fence blocking the man-markers or the second-zone players, if exist, to free the space for a late runner jumping without marking.

In the first photo, three man-markers are inside the black circle, so three attackers go to block them, forming a fence to the late player, highlighted in blue.

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