Set Piece Analysis

Fiorentina met Real Betis for the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals second leg on Thursday. The game ended with a 2-2 draw, which meant Real Betis qualified for the Europa Conference League final with a final score of 3-4 on aggregate. Although this result is disappointing for ACF Fiorentina and...

Derby County managed to stay up by the skin of their teeth, securing safety in the EFL Championship with a 0-0 draw on the season's final day. In one of the more surprising moves of the campaign, John Eustace left promotion-chasing Blackburn Rovers in February to take over at Derby...

You can now listen to this article on the TFA Podcast! Subscribe for free on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or via RSS. Barcelona Recent Weakness At Defending Corners  On Wednesday, the world's attention turns to the UEFA Champions League semi-final match between Barcelona and Inter Milan. In a challenging match like...

Hamburger SV are on the horizon of a return to the Bundesliga, a league in which they were a founding member and the only club to have remained in the top tier for its entire history, until 2018. Every season since, HSV have flirted with promotion, finishing either third or...

We have all observed how Declan Rice scored two goals from direct free kicks to facilitate Arsenal's victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. It is widely recognised that direct free kicks can be decisive in football, particularly when a team possesses skilled...

The world’s attention is now fixed on the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals as we draw ever closer to a series of thrilling and captivating matches. The UEFA Champions League quarter-finals high-profile clashes: Bayern Munich take on Inter Milan, Arsenal host Real Madrid, Barcelona face Borussia Dortmund, and Paris Saint-Germain meet...

AGF are one of the best-performing sides in the Danish Superliga. Currently sitting in third, they are battling for a spot in European competitions. They have an outside chance of competing for the top spot, with FC Midtjylland and FC Copenhagen dropping points recently. Aarhus GF are second in the league on xPTS, showing...

After two thrilling legs in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals, Germany advanced to the next stage, overcoming Italy 5-4 on aggregate. As we all witnessed, the tactical battle between Luciano Spalletti and Julian Nagelsmann was intense throughout both matches, making it the exciting encounter we anticipated. However, there was another tactical...

The competition intensifies on all fronts in the Premier League over time as we gradually approach the finish line. The competition we're referring to is not only for the title or relegation but also for qualification to European competitions. It’s enough to know that the gap between fourth place and...

After 23 league matches, Puszcza Niepołomice have managed just 21 goals—but set pieces have been their lifeline. An incredible 38% (8/21) of their goals have come from long throw-ins, with six scored directly (29%) and two resulting from penalties (9%). Another 19% (4/21) have come from free kicks and corners,...

Crystal Palace are 12th in the Premier League with 36 points after 27 matches, having won, drawn, and lost nine matches each. With a balanced performance and statistics, Oliver Glasner's side have scored 35 goals and conceded 33. While these figures may seem average at first glance, a closer look reveals that...

Last Tuesday, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid played an exciting match in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Both teams delivered an exciting match that resulted in eight goals. The game ended in a four-four draw, taking scores level heading into the second leg. It was very clear...

Palermo FC have emerged as one of the most intriguing set-piece threats in European football, as their efficiency from corners has become impossible to ignore. Paramount to this threat is Filippo Ranocchia, whose average of 0.196 set-play xA per 90 minutes ranks as the second-highest in the world—trailing only Miro...

Welcome to part five of Total Football Analysis’s throw-in series. In the previous four parts, we have presented all the variables necessary to understand the unique nature of throw-ins and the factors that influence throw-in strategies for different teams and coaches. We have also conducted a two-part interview with the expert throw-in coach, Thomas...

Blackburn caught the attention of all set-piece enthusiasts in recent weeks with their unique and unusual corner kick routines. With five goals in the league from set plays, they do not seem like an immediate set-piece threat, but their creativity in the design of their dead balls means that the...

Liverpool are nearly the best in everything in the Premier League. They are in first place in the table with 53 points, six above Arsenal, who have 47 points, knowing that the Reds played one less game. In the UEFA Champions League, the situation is nearly the same, holding the...

CD Castellón's recent change in ownership has given them the economic potential for growth as a club to return to the top flight of Spanish football after an absence of more than 30 years. Prior to owner Bob Voulgaris' takeover of the club in 2022, 'Los Orelluts' had spent nine...

The competition is intensifying in Serie A. Napoli top the table with 50 points after 21 matches, just three points ahead of Inter Milan, who have 47 points and played one less match. Atalanta and Lazio follow them, with 43 and 39 points in third and fourth place, respectively. Napoli...

The competition is intensifying in La Liga, with Atlético Madrid leading the table with 44 points after 19 matches, just one point ahead of Real Madrid, who have 43 points.  Barcelona and Athletic Club follow them, with 38 and 36 points, respectively, in third and fourth place. When the competition...

Bournemouth have been producing outstanding performances lately, putting them in seventh place in the Premier League, just three points below Chelsea in fourth place. Given that the competition is intense and closely contested, the details may determine the outcome, and among these details, set pieces are undoubtedly crucial. Recently, Bournemouth...