Pizzi Scout Report
In this scout report, we're diving deep into the performance of the seasoned Portuguese maestro, Pizzi. Operating primarily as an attacking midfielder for Braga in the Primeira Liga, Pizzi is a creative force. His chance creation and progressive passing metrics rank him in the top 10% of attacking midfielders in the league. He tends to have the ball at his feet often and uses this skill to lethal effect, consistently threading killer passes to his teammates and racking up impressive xA per 90 and assist stats, landing in the top tiers for the league.
Interestingly, while Pizzi is often the orchestrator, he's not shied away from the goal himself. Despite his age, he sits in the top 50% for goals per 90, with his goal threat ranking much higher, sitting in the upper 80%. His shots per 90 and xG per 90 echo his offensive prowess, showcasing that Pizzi can turn from provider to a threat in a blink.
However, his possession stats paint a picture of a player who prefers playing in the opposition's half, with few involvements in the defensive third or defensive penalty area. Pizzi's weakness, though, lies in his defensive work - ball recovery and duel win percentages sit alarmingly low. His lacklustre interception stats show he's not the most proactive in winning back the ball and, given his low fouls and yellow cards stats, it's evident that he does not assert defensively.
In essence, Pizzi is a player with the technique to control the pace of play and vision to unlock the opposition. Although not your ideal player in a foot race, he compensates by being in the right place at the right time. His truly low values in defensive stats - a result of either his playstyle or ageing legs – are certainly a point for improvement. Amidst the pressing, all-action style of modern football, Pizzi reminds us of the timeless nature of class and creativity.