Djurgårdens 2023: Analysing Allsvenskan’s most devastating attacking corner routines – set-piece analysis

Djurgårdens are fourth in the Allsvenskan with 40 points from 22 matches — eight behind the leaders, IF Elfsborg, with 48 points.

One of Djurgårdens most notable features is their exceptional use of corner kicks. They are the team that scores the most corner kicks in Allsvenskan with seven goals, tied with Häcken. However, what distinguishes Djurgårdens from Häcken is that they have scored seven goals from corner kicks out of a total of 31 goals, which is about 22%. Häcken scored seven goals from corner kicks out of 52 goals, which is about 13%. This reflects the significant impact of corner kicks on Djurgårdens offence.

This tactical analysis will discuss Djurgårdens attacking tactics in corner kicks, which emphasises their significant reliance on set pieces to threaten their opponents’ goal.

Marcus Danielsons dismarking

We wont start with a specific routine or tactic, but we will start with the one on whom most of these routines depend. Marcus Danielson is incredibly good at escaping from his man-marker because he has all the necessities for dismarking; he is strong physically to push his marker away from him, intelligent, quick at his movements to deceive his marker with fake movements and finally, very good at jumping from a steady state.

In the first photo below, when the taker, in red, raises his hand, Danielson, highlighted in green, starts to move towards the near post, dragging his marker with him., but in the second photo, the taker starts to move and now Danielson changes the direction of his movement to the left, so when the taker, in red, touches the ball, in the third photo, the marker loses contact with the ball because he turns back following Danielson to the far post.

In the fourth photo, it is clear that he cant follow the ball and Danielson at the same time, so when the ball becomes closer, he turns his head to see the ball losing contact with Danielson.

Now, in the first photo below, the ball is in the air, highlighted in red, while the marker gives his back to Danielson, in green, with the help of his mates small push between them, in yellow, so he can get the ball, as shown in the second photo, because he is also very good at jumping from a steady state using his hands to push opponents downward.

At the same time, two players, highlighted in yellow, are waiting for Danielsons headed pass to the far post at the defenders blind side so one of them can easily get the ball, as shown in the third photo, and the result is a goal, as shown in the fourth photo.