FC Barcelona scouting report before the "La Liga" game 22 against Levante Unión Deportiva (2015/16 season).

1. SCOUTING REPORT
Fútbol Club Barcelona
Season 2015/16

2. GENERAL INFORMATION
Game 22. FC Barcelona - Levante FC. Season 2015/16
CONTENT OF THE SCOUTING REPORT
INDEX
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
PRESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
Generic Statistics
DEFENDING ORGANISATION
DEFENDING TRANSTION
DEFENDING SET PIECES
PLAYERS
ATACKING ORGANISATION
ATACKING TRANSITION
ATACKING SET PIECES
LAST LINES UP
STRONG POINTS, WEAK POINTS, AND PROBABLY LINE UP

3. GENERIC STATISTICS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Ath.Bilbao 1-2 Barcelona
20 Malaga 1-2 Barcelona
Barcelona 3-1 Ath.Bilbao
21 Barcelona 2-1 At.Madrid
Barcelona 7-0 Valencia
22 Levante Barcelona
Valencia Barcelona
Previous Meetings Statistics
Standings

4. 1-Begin of press:
•FCB transform its formation 1-4-3-3 in a 1-4-1-4-1 in begin of press. With a high block pressing,
high defending intensity, and high tactical intensity. Looking for dominate the active ball zone
with a pressure in block, and with the objective of a quick ball recovery.
•STC press the opponent center defenders, both MC move forward their position to avoid
middle line pass. DM (Busquets) keeps his position between the defenders line and midfielder
line in case of long ball. The defenders line move forward their position to reduce the space.
•The STC makes invitational pressing to the side, to corner the player in possession with the
ball in one flanks, forcing the long ball or the mistake.
•Both DC are good in the aerial duels, but fairly slow in balls behind them. DR/DL are fast
players but fairly weak in aerial duels.
•When the rival team overcomes the pressing, and penetrate in FCB half field. FCB return in
block to his formation (1-4-3-3) dropping in block their positions, until to have 7 players
behind the ball.
•The three forward stay up in case of DEF-ATK transition. The AM from the ball flank helps to
recover the ball, and the STC move his position to the ball flank to avoid passes to the
opponent DC.
•The distant between lines is very reduced to avoid the opponent game between lines, and
favoring an DEF-ATK Transition. FCB leaves alone the passive ball flank, and gathering all the
players in the active ball flank, and in the middle.
•FCB is weak avoiding offside, because the defenders line make positioning mistakes (they are
not in a same line).
2-Block:
3-Protecting the goal:
•FCB protecting the goal with 7 players (STC,AML, and AMR stay in transition zone).
• Good coverage from DM, and MC in intensive shifting diagonally oriented to the flank .
Avoiding 1v1 situations, or gap creates for DC movement out his position. In crossing
situations, both DC stay covering the middle of the box, and the DR/DL from the passive ball
flank come to help, covering second post.
•STC,AML, and AMR(Messi,Neymar,Suarez) keep up their positions, waiting for DEF-ATK
transition.
DEFENDING ORGANISATION
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
FORMATION: 1-4-3-3
Passive Ball Zone
Active Ball Zone

5. •The FCB defensive reorganization is based on intense organized pressure
when the ball loss is in the opposite’s half. Avoiding the opponent’s ball
progression, and looking for direct attack when they recover the ball after a
lose ball, being very effective in this aspect.
•DM (Busquest) has a important role during the defending reorganization. He
is in charge to avoid the opponent ball progression, letting to his teammates
return to their positions.
•Weakness of FCB is the depth and amplitude that the DR/DR plays in
attacking phase. This provoke big gap in the flanks when there is a ATK-DEF
transition.
Defending Reorganization:
Defending Counter Attack:
•In defensive counter attack situation, FCB focus on defend the middle
zone.
•DM drops his position until be between both DC, creating a line of three
players in the middle zone. Thus, FCB can timing the opponent progression
letting the repositioning form their teammates.
•FCB Weakness is the mistakes in the defenders positioning, they are not in
the same line, avoiding offside.
DEFENDING TRANSITION
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
FORMATION: 1-4-3-3

6. DEFENDING SET PIECES
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
Defensive Lateral Free Kick:
Defensive Frontal Free Kick:
Defensive Corner Kick:

7. •FCB uses a 1-4-3-3 formation in attacking phase with a game model of long possession, positioning play
(high mobility off ball), mattering the tempo with the ball, and trying to have the possession in the
opposition’s half.
•The ball progression in zone 1 and zone 2 is slow through a short passes, with the objective to attract
the opponent, and make them shift across the field. Thus, FCB creates gaps in opponent shifting
mistakes.
•The Goalkeeper is active part during this phase. Both CB has the initiators of the FCB build up, they
move little wide. Pique,Mascherano,Mathieu,Bartra, and Vermalen possess the enough technique to
risk with this kind of build up.
•Both AML/AMR stay wide, DM and both CM stay in their position being pass supports to the defensive
line. Very important players keep their position without invade a teammates zones (positioning play).
Thus, FCB creates a net of “rondos” for all its half. The team move forward in block at the same time
that the ball is progresing on the pitch.
•FCB positions all its players in opponent’s half thank to its combinative play. High intensity and speed
in the possession when the ball arrive to zone 4. With high mobility and uncheck to behind defends.
•There is a rational positioning in zone 4, DM move forward leaving at both CB behind, one MC drop
his position until create a line of two players (MC,DM) in second play zone (Iniesta,Busquets in the
picture). The another MC incorporates to the attack in the box.
•AML/AMR/STC has freedom to change their positions, creating a high mobility in attack. Creation of
dangerous with dribbles from out to inside. DL/DR move forward to incorporate in the attack, or to
take exterior zone in case of second plays.
•When the ball arrives to zone 3, DM (Busquest) drop his position between both CB. Leaving
space in the middle for both MC.
•The three attacking players (AML,AMR,STC) plus both MC start to have high mobility in the
middle (freedom of movement), creating and tacking space. Example; MC runs into the space,
AMR takes the space create for MC.
•RB/LB move forward their positions, creating depth and amplitude in the FCB play.
•Both DC are active part in this phase, moving forward their position close to zone 4, and
being dangerous with long balls to behind opponent defends (looking for DR/DL).
•FCB gathers all their players in opponent’s half, creating a attacking surveillance system to
press in case they would lose the ball. High percent of FCB goals come from this pressing,
looking for direct attack when they recover after a losing ball during this phase.
2-Creation:
3-Finishing:
1-Build Up:
ATACKING ORGANISATION
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
FORMATION: 1-4-3-3
Active Ball Zone

8. •When FCB recovers the ball in its half. FCB looks for the amplitude in its play.
•The AML/AMR move forward and wide to create space for the LB/RB.
•DR/DL move forward occupying the space created for the AML/AMR.
•Both DC start to move wide to support their teammates.
•DM takes middle zone, making pass support. Both MC move forward to the
middle zone to make pass support, and making a rational positioning of the
space to favor the ball possession.
•When FCB recovers the ball in the opponent’s half, fast transition, looking for
verticality and fast goal opportunity. Taking advantage of the opponent tactical
disorganized, and being very dangerous during this situations because FCB
elaborate play with long tempo with the ball lets them to gather all their players
in opponent’s half, creating a good attacking surveillance system, and facilitating
a future pressing.
Counterattack:
•FCB counter attack is a variant that Luis Enriquez introduced in Barcelona game model.
The good FCB shifting system during the defensive phase, having the lines together,
provoking that the opponent defender line has big space behind them.
•Thus, when FCB recovers the ball with the opponent defend in advanced position takes
advantage of the high mobility from its forwards (Messi,Neymar,Suarez,Munir) and the
good long balls from its players in defensive line(Pique,Mascherano), and midfielder line
(Busquets,Rakitic,Arda) to gets the behind opponent defend.
•The players in charge of the counter attack are the three attacking players
(AML/AMR/STC).
Attacking Reorganization:
ATTACKING TRANSITION
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
FORMATION: 1-4-3-3

9. ATTACKING SET PIECES
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
Attacking Goal Kick:
Attacking Corner Kick:
Attacking Corner Kick II:
FCB tends to play short in Attacking Goal Kick. But if they cannot
do it, they use this variant.

10. Name: Ter Stegen
Height: 1.87 m
Position: GK
Name: Claudio Bravo
Height: 1.84 m
Position: GK
Name: Ivan Rakitic
Height: 1.84 m
Position:AMC/MC/DM
Name: Gerard Piqué
Height: 1.93 m
Position: DC
• Either Only Footed
• Great abilities with the ball
at his feet, being important
part in the ball distribution.
• Good reflexes.
• Weak positioning.
• Right footed
• Great reflexes and aerial
ability.
• Good kicking with the ball.
• Transmit security.
• Weak one on ones
situations.
• Right footed
• Great play distribution,
aerial game, and
positioning.
• Fairly slow player.
• Right footed
• Great pass technique and
game vision .
• Technique player.
• Weak defensive abilities.
PLAYERS
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION

11. Name: Daniel Alves
Height: 1.72 m
Position: RD
Name: Arda Turan
Height: 1.78 m
Position: AMC/MC
Name: Andres Iniesta
Height: 1.71 m
Position: MC/AML
Name: Sergio Busquets
Height: 1.89 m
Position: DM
• Right Footed
• Consistent performer.
• Great pass technique with
good vision of the play.
• Important player for team
balance in transitions.
• Right footed
• High work rate on the pitch.
• Aggressive players.
• Great acceleration, and move
off the ball.
• Takes bad decisions with the
ball.
• Right footed
• Incredible technique and
dribbling.
• Skilful player.
• Good vision of the game.
• Weak defending abilities,
with few defensive work rate.
• Right footed
• Incredible technique, and
passing abilities.
• Skilful player.
• Weak long shots.
• Weak defending abilities, and
aerial game.
PLAYERS
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION

12. • Right Footed
• High work rate on the pitch.
• Aggressive player.
• Skilful player.
• Good movement off the ball, and
first touch.
• Intelligence player with a great
vision.
Name: Lionel Messi
Height: 1.70 m
Position: STC/AML/AMR
Name: Neymar Da Silva
Height: 1.74 m
Position: AML/AMR/STC
Name: J. Mascherano
Height: 1.74 m
Position: DC/DM
• Left footed
• Dangerous with the ball at his feet.
• Consistent performer.
• Incredible technique, and agility
• Skilfull player.
• Great acceleration, and move off the ball.
• Weak aerial game.
• Very dangerous ins 1v1 attacking
situations.
• Either footed
• Possesses a great pace and
acceleration.
• Skilful player.
• Incredible dribbling, and technique.
• Intelligence move off ball, and first
touch.
• Weak aerial game, and selfish
player.
• Very dangerous in 1v1 attacking
situations.
• Right footed
• Aggressive player.
• Consistent performer.
• Great defending abilities,
with a good work rate on
the pitch.
Name: Luis Suarez
Height: 1.82 m
Position: STC/AMR/AML
PLAYERS
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION

13. Name: Sergi Roberto
Height: 1.78 m
Position: MC/AMC/DR
Name: Munir el Haddadi
Height: 1.75 m
Position: AML/AMR/STC
Name: Jordi Alba
Height: 1.70 m
Position: DL
• Right footed.
• Great positioning on the
pitch, and aerial game.
• Consistent performer.
• Fairly slow player.
• Very weak in aerial game.
• Left footed.
• Skilful player.
• Great technique, and
movement off the ball.
• Low work rate, and weak
aerial game.
• Left footed
• Possesses a great
acceleration, and pace.
• High work rate on the pitch.
• Great move off ball.
• Consistent performer.
• Weak aerial game.
• Right footed
• Polyvalent player.
• Consistent performer.
• High work rate on the pitch.
• Great passing technique.
• Lacks of any strength hinders
his physical presence on the
pitch.
Name: Marc Bartra
Height: 1.83 m
Position:DC
PLAYERS
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION

14. Name: T. Vermaelen
Height: 1.83 m
Position: DC
• Either Footed
• Polyvalent player.
• Consistent performer.
• Fairly fast player.
• Weak aerial game.
• Left footed
• High work rate on the
pitch.
• Great aerial game, and
strong tackling abilities.
• Slow player.
Name: Adriano Correia
Height: 1.73 m
Position: DL/DR
Name: Aleix Vidal
Height: 1.78 m
Position: AMR/DR
• Right footed
• Fast player.
• Good technique, and agility
with the ball.
• Lack of any strength
hinders his physical
presence on the pitch.
Name: Jeremy Mathieu
Height: 1.89 m
Position: DC/DL
• Left footed
• High work rate on the pitch.
• Really good in the air.
• Polyvalent player.
• Great positioning, and
tackling abilities.
• Fairly slow player.
• Clumsy with the ball at his
feet.
PLAYERS
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION

15. LAST LINES UP
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
Vs Valencia (Home) Vs At.Madrid(Away)
Vs Málaga(Away) Vs At.Bilbao(HOME)

16. STRONG POINTS, WEAK POINTS, AND PROBABLE LINE UP
PRESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
Strong Points Weak Points
Probable Line Up