Celta Vigo currently sit in 16th position in La Liga after a poor start to the season. This club has flirted with relegation in previous seasons, and this season it also seems like a real possibility. Carlos Carvalhal has come into the club just before the FIFA World Cup to try to help them retain their spot in the top tier of Spanish football, but their leaky defence will need a lot of work if fortunes are to change.
From set pieces, Celta Vigo have conceded 8 goals in the season up until now, and with that being nearly 30% of all goals theyve conceded, it looks to be one of the key reasons for their poor season.
In this tactical analysis, we will delve into the tactics used by Celta Vigo when they are defending set pieces, with an analysis of why things have gone so wrong for them. This set-piece analysis will look at the different defensive methods theyve used when defending both free kicks and corners and where they will need to improve to stop being so leaky from such scenarios in the future.
Man Marking Approach
At the start of the season, Celta Vigo opted for a man-marking defensive system, giving each defensive player responsibility for an attacker, trusting in them to win the individual 1v1 battles. Below we can see their set-up, with six-man markers (yellow) and two zonal markers (blue). One player stayed on the edge of the box to pick up any clearances while one player stayed high for an opportunity to counterattack.
While this system can work, when each defender prevents the attacker from creating separation and reaching the ball, it is extremely difficult to perfect, and so mistakes often appear. This is the case, especially amongst players with poorer concentration, who lose track of either their player or the ball, leaving them lost and almost in no mans land.
The defenders job is extremely difficult. A defender must track the runner, to disrupt their run and prevent them from reaching the ball. However, a defender also has to track the flight of the ball in order to help them predict the run of the attacker and to attack the ball should it come towards them. If a defender only focuses on the ball, they could easily lose their marker who could break free into a dangerous position. If a defender only focuses on the attacker, they risk giving away a penalty and will be unable to clear the ball even if it comes directly towards them. It is a difficult role to play and not one that just any player can fill in.
This example below s
