Scout report: Roland Sallai, the versatile linchpin of SC Freiburg's attack, has emerged as one of Bundesliga's prominent talents this season. Playing predominantly as an attacking midfielder but comfortable across the front line, he makes his presence felt in the final third with truly impressive stats. Known for his direct style of play, his deadly goal threat, frequently taking shots and high expected goals (xG) figures - all sit within the top 5% of the league chart.
The Hungarian international thrives when making progressive carries, often bolting forward with the ball and beating his opponents in successful dribbles. His chance creation ability, another strong feature of his game, ranks within the top 25% of his peers, blending well with his decent expected assists (xA) per 90.
But football is a game of two halves, attack and defence. And sadly, it seems Sallai is not as effective without the ball as he is with it. His record for ball recovery and interception rate sits dishearteningly in the lowest 15%, alongside his woeful progressive passing rate that is stuck at the bottom 1%, outlining his struggle in maintaining ball possession. Additionally, his passing accuracy is a sore spot, reflecting another area for potential improvement. Statistical reflections demonstrate his aggressive style of play as well, with a high rate of fouls committed with a corresponding frequency of yellow cards.
While he's undeniably competent in the attacking third, this data suggests Sallai could improve his ball retention and defensive contributions to become a more well-rounded player. The future could still be bright for the 26-year-old, and we look forward to seeing his growth in games ahead.
Roland Sallai Key stats
Roland Sallai Career Trend
Roland Sallai Shot Maps
Roland Sallai Shot Summary
In the 2023-2024 season, Roland Sallai took 56 shots, scoring 3 goals. This output came from an Expected Goals (xG) of 8.37, averaging 0.15 xG per shot.
Right Foot: 1 goals from 30 shots. A 3.33% conversion rate. 0.15 xG per shot.
Left Foot: 1 goals from 16 shots. A 6.25% conversion rate. 0.15 xG per shot.
Headers: 1 goals from 10 headed attempts. A 10.0% conversion rate. 0.14 xG per shot.
