Tactical Analysis – Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis and why they are so entertaining
A Thread 🧵
A Thread 🧵
INTRODUCTION
Real Betis have been on a meteoric rise in the last 2 seasons. At the end of the 19/20 season they sat at 15th, a measly 5 points away from relegation.
On the other side of the story, Manuel Pellegrini led West Ham to a 16th place finish and also sat 5 points above relegation.
On the other side of the story, Manuel Pellegrini led West Ham to a 16th place finish and also sat 5 points above relegation.
It really does seem like a match made in heaven.
2 years later, Pellegrini’s Betis have transformed into one of the best sides in La Liga.
On top of that, they also play some of the most entertaining football out of any team in the top 5 leagues.
On top of that, they also play some of the most entertaining football out of any team in the top 5 leagues.
Peculiarly, nobody knows why. Everyone watches Betis and talks about how fun it is to watch them, yet nobody can really point out why.
Following this, I decided that i would make a tactical analysis on them, to give everyone a better insight into this team.
Following this, I decided that i would make a tactical analysis on them, to give everyone a better insight into this team.
TOC:
Welcome back to another article. I apologise for my long break and I have decided to release a new article every 2nd Monday from here on out.
As always, I‘ll break down this article into 3 pieces
1: The basics
2: The front 4
3: Weaknesses
Let’s get into it!
As always, I‘ll break down this article into 3 pieces
1: The basics
2: The front 4
3: Weaknesses
Let’s get into it!
THE BASICS:
Real Betis play a 4–2–3–1. In Build up their full backs stretch out very wide in line with the double pivot.
This makes it easy to switch the ball to create a imbalance in the oppositions defence or to simulate a counter attack.
This makes it easy to switch the ball to create a imbalance in the oppositions defence or to simulate a counter attack.
Even though Real Betis are not a Positional Play team, they do have some elements of Positional Play implemented.
One example I have is in the Barcelona game. In other teams the full back would probably come closer to the intervention zone to become a better passing option.
In Pellegrini‘s teams and many other positional play teams the players are instead instructed to stay wide.
In Pellegrini‘s teams and many other positional play teams the players are instead instructed to stay wide.
If they are being heavily pressed, Guido (a player from the double pivot) is often seen dropping deep into the back 3 (picture from TotalFootballAnalysis).
On top of that, one of the front 4 will drop deep to recreate a double pivot.
On top of that, one of the front 4 will drop deep to recreate a double pivot.
By overloading the build up area consistently, teams get frustrated when they keep getting outplayed and start to press less so they can stay more stable.
When Real Betis have a lead, this essentially takes out the opponents threat of starting a comeback and keeps them at bay.
When Real Betis have a lead, this essentially takes out the opponents threat of starting a comeback and keeps them at bay.
If they are still being outnumbered or consistently backed in a corner, they will indeed invite the oppositions players to press.
However they only do this so they can launch the ball forward to the attackers in the hope that they win the 2nd ball and can attack the last line.
However they only do this so they can launch the ball forward to the attackers in the hope that they win the 2nd ball and can attack the last line.
In Defense, Pellegrini is very similar to Marcelo Bielsa. He instructs his players to stay very man to man and usually stay in a 4–4–2.
This is due to the fact that the 4-4-2 has the best defensive shape in football and can easily shift between a 4–4–2 and a 4–2–3–1.
This is due to the fact that the 4-4-2 has the best defensive shape in football and can easily shift between a 4–4–2 and a 4–2–3–1.
However, staying Man-To-Man is more important for Pellegrini than the formation. If players have to step out of line to stay with their man, then it‘s worth ruining the formation’s structure.
As you see from the example below, the left center mid drops deep out of the line.
As you see from the example below, the left center mid drops deep out of the line.
Now that you understand the basics of how Pellegrini‘s Betis, let‘s cover why they are so entertaining:
FRONT 4:
This is the x-factor of the team and the main reason why Real betis are so entertaining. That front 4 of Iglesias, Fekir, Juanmi and Canales is a joy to watch and it‘s no accident.
Their offensive unpredictability and efficiency comes from the fact that they are completely fluid.
Their offensive unpredictability and efficiency comes from the fact that they are completely fluid.
Sure, the front 4 have roles, but it doesn‘t matter who takes them up.
The front 4 is mainly divided into 2 parts. The extremely narrow and constantly Fluid middle 3 and the 1 up top.
The front 4 is mainly divided into 2 parts. The extremely narrow and constantly Fluid middle 3 and the 1 up top.
In Build up, the center attacking midfielder stays in the middle while the 2 wingers push up to make a 4–2–1–3. This pins back their back 4 and allows Fekir to roam around and make runs to support the full backs and double pivot.
If the ball progresses quickly or they simulate a counter, the 2 wingers and the striker will try to receive a pass behind the defensive line.
In the creating phase, Fekir becomes a sort of a relay player. The Wingers and the full backs will try to link up on the sidelines to get the cross in.
If they can‘t do that or are outnumbered, Fekir will position himself in the half space to support those 2.
If they can‘t do that or are outnumbered, Fekir will position himself in the half space to support those 2.
This lets them play out of the situation and circulate the ball through the back before restarting an attack. On top of that Fekir can turn around and attempt a half space cross, which can be very effective if weighted correctly at the far post.
Overall the tempo in this Real Betis team is high and the pressure being constantly sustained is entertaining to watch.
WEAKNESSES:
The main weakness in this team is their defensive style. A aggressive, man-to-man pressing 4–4–2 has some very serious downsides.
First off it completely opens up the possibility of qualitative superiority. Unless every single one of their players are clearly better than their opposition, this will be their ceiling. If they face a team who is physically or technically better than them, they likely will lose
Another weakness is that a man marking system is exhausting. This means that Real Betis are very prone to errors late in the game and sometimes find it hard to keep up the intensity in the final minutes.
On top of that, they become very vulnerable to symmetric rotations.
For those who aren‘t familiar with rotations, a symmetric rotation is a rotation where each player replaces their teammates position in a rotation.
For those who aren‘t familiar with rotations, a symmetric rotation is a rotation where each player replaces their teammates position in a rotation.
It is not done to create positional superiority over the opponent, instead its meant to speed up play and dismantle a man-to-man opposition by making them lose their marker.
As you see below, in a zonal system it wouldn‘t do anything, as they would simply run into another marker.
In a man-to-man system however, it sends the man markers chasing after their opponents, even thoug they wouldn’t need to.
In a man-to-man system however, it sends the man markers chasing after their opponents, even thoug they wouldn’t need to.
Conclusion:
Real Betis are a very interesting side and seem to be on a good track currently. If they keep making these smart moves and their coach keeps adapting their play style they can hopefully be a dominant force in La Liga for years to come.
Real Betis are a very interesting side and seem to be on a good track currently. If they keep making these smart moves and their coach keeps adapting their play style they can hopefully be a dominant force in La Liga for years to come.
Thanks for reading!
Likes and rts appreciated
Likes and rts appreciated
Extended version available here:
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