How Sturm Graz have been so creative from near post corner routines this season – set-piece analysis

Sturm Graz currently sit in second place in the Austrian Bundesliga, 4 points off league leaders RB Salzburg in the closing stages of the season with a final in the OFB Cup on the horizon. Sturm Graz have displayed their excellent qualities to the whole of Europe, after an unforgettable UEFA Europa League group stage, with fellow group members Feyenoord, Lazio and Midtjylland all finishing on an equal number of points, only separated by goal difference.

From set-pieces, Sturm Graz have been able to create many goalscoring chances, but a lack of consistency in the accuracy of crosses has prevented them from being a consistent threat from dead balls. They have only scored goals in 4 separate games from corners, but the goals have been decisive and a key reason why they are on course for a UEFA Champions League spot.

In this??tactical analysis, we will look into the tactics used by Sturm Graz, with an in-depth analysis of how they have been able to use several different routines to create high-quality chances in their variations of corners. This set-piece analysis will look at the reasons behind the different routines used and how the specific use of decoy runners has been extremely effective.

Near post routines

Die Schwoazn have attempted to make the most of the open space at the edge of the six-yard box, from where they can either redirect the ball goal wards or flick the ball towards the back post for a second phase opportunity. The target area (pictured in black below) has been targeted in numerous ways, which will be detailed below.

Firstly, the most direct method of getting the ball into the target area has been utilised when no zonal markers protect the near side of the six-yard box. In these scenarios, teams usually have a number of man markers, with the task of tracking any potential runners who attempt to get in front of the deeper zonal markers. In such cases, Sturm Graz have used players attacking the ball from the blind side of the man markers, which usually means having the attacker start inside the goal.

When an attacker starts inside the goal, it becomes extremely difficult for a defender to have both the ball and the player in their view, unless they start behind them. If the defender does have both in his line of view, it would mean they arent able to be goalside and so it becomes easy for the attacker to get the separation from the defender by sprinting away into the space, or for the ball to simply directly be crossed into the attacker.

In instances like the one pictured below, where the defender is blocking the direct cross, it means the defender has to scan in order to know the attackers position. As a result, during the defenders scans when he rotates his head, the attacker is able to stay in his blind spot and create separation to attack the target area.

In most corners, defending teams set up with a zonal marker to prevent the direct cross into the available space. Sturm Graz have utilised a number of methods to create space in the target zone described earlier. One way in which this has been made possible has been through the use of a decoy run, dragging the zonal marker away from his original position. An early run (blue line) is made before the corner is taken, which the nearest zonal marker has to follow, in case the corner is aimed for the blue player, who can then flick the ball but from a tighter angle which can lead to a dangerous second phase.