To confront the leaders, MŠK Žilina used a young team (average age on the field was 21.5). Slovan Bratislava took advantage of two individual errors from the defence to lead by 2 goals. MŠK Žilina struggled to create danger in the final third and lacked precision and relied individual skill for them to infiltrate the final third to attack. Slovan Bratislava were happy to concede possession, attacking mostly in transition to create their best chances. MŠK Žilina reacted at the end of the halves to nearly score, but it was not sufficient to equalise.
Ratings
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, rewatch
- D – Below average in this match
Ján Bernát
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Slovakia
- Age: 19
- Date of birth: 10/01/2001
- Club: MŠK Žilina
- Career: MŠK Žilina
- Position: Attacking Midfield
- Secondary Position: Centre Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
In this 4-3-3 formation, he play on the left of the midfield three, a function who gave him the freedom to influence the game at different stages of play. We mostly find him on the left, this position allowed him to solicit his right foot to break lines with diagonal passes. When he occupies this half space position, he could offer support in building up play on the left to facilitate the possession and the progress of the ball in the opposition half. In the final third, he drives the ball forward with his ability to dribble and open up space. He varies between wide runs or driving the ball inside to be on his strong foot to look for passes or shots. He didn’t hesitate to play with his left foot.
His off the ball movements allowed him to take advantage in the final third, he was a link between the midfield and the attack. He adjusted his position between the lines, offering a solution in support, but also facing goal to receive and run to attack space in the final third to put himself or his teammates in good positions to score. For Patrik Myslovic’s goal he ran in the area and delivered a precise pass to Myslovic to score. He has the ability to exploit the spaces and create danger in different positions with his passing.
He lacked focus on his defensive contribution, but when he had to recover, he showed his capacity in duels to confront his opponent to win back possession to attack. He pressed to recover the ball in high positions and this put him in good position to initiate transitions. He needed to be more present in his defensive contribution to not create unbalanced in the system’s team.
Rating – A2
Patrik Myslovic
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Slovakia
- Age: 19
- Date of birth: 28/05/2001
- Club: MŠK Žilina
- Career: MŠK Žilina
- Position: Attacking Midfield
- Secondary Position: Central Midfield
- Preferred foot: Left
In this 4-3-3 formation, he plays as the right central midfielder joining Miroslav Gono and Jan Bernát in this three man midfield. He mostly played on the right axis, adjusting his position in more or less advanced position to influence in build up play and attack the final third. He formed triangles with Kristian Vallo and David Duris out wide to maintain possession and to attack on right side. This right position on the field put him in a comfortable position to create danger with his left foot. He could control play on the weak side, create dangerous diagonal and vertical passes to progress the ball. He showed his ability to drive the ball forward, attracting defenders and delivering passes in open spaces to bring danger in the final third.
In build up play, he dropped to join the centre backs in the defensive line. This position permits to Kristian Vallo, the right back, to occupy a higher position to bring more vertically in the opposite camp. He adjusted his position between the lines to offer a direct option, but also can occupy a wide position to drive the ball inside to find his strong foot to look for the pass or shot. In middle positions, his shot could lack power to really test the goalkeeper. At the end of the first half time, he reduced the score with a wonderful goal inside the area which was his first goal in Fortuna Liga.
After the second half, he disappeared slowly. He need to be more regular during a game to be able to impact during matches. He was subbed off 15 minutes into the second half.
Rating – A2
Miroslav Gono
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Slovakia
- Age: 19
- Date of birth: 01/11/2000
- Club: MŠK Žilina
- Career: AS Trencin (Y), MŠK Žilina
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Secondary Position: Defensive Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Miroslav Gono was the third player in this 3 man midfield with Patrik Myslovic and Jan Bernát. He mostly played in the deeper position offering more freedom for his teammates of the midfield. With centre backs who take part in build up play, Miroslav Gono was positioned in front of the defence to manage the first line of pressure and to offer more space and time to the centre backs to play forwards. He covers the movement of the full backs and midfield to give them more freedom to attack without creating unbalance.
With the ball he played simply, often to secure the possession, but he could sometimes make imprecise passes when he tried to control play more. He made some good run in the final third to find a shooting position, but he the execution was poor. One of the only times he carried the ball forward, he created one of the best situations in the first half.
His covering position made him able to recover the ball in different areas on the pitch. He mostly defends by reading game to anticipate and to intervene. When Enis Fazlagic was brought on, he played in a higher position, letting him play as a defensive midfielder but he mostly offered a horizontal solution, in this position he should offer more vertical run in his movements to bring danger in the final third.
Rating – B2
Adam Kopas
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Slovakia
- Age: 19
- Date of birth: 16/08/1999
- Club: MŠK Žilina
- Career: MŠK Žilina
- Position: Centre Back
- Secondary Position: Defensive Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Adam Kopas partnered with Jan Minarik as the centre halves. He is a tall centre back (190 cm) and was strong in his aerial duels. In his defensive actions, he showed ability to defend by pressing out to the ball carrier to recover the ball or cutting the passing lane to intercept. However he showed weakness in his tackling, in the second goal of Bratislava, he did not execute his tackle and this error lead to a goal.
In the first stage of play, he takes the responsibility to play vertically, he alternates with short and long passes who break lines for finding attacking players. He made interesting and difficult passes, but sometimes he could missed intelligence and accuracy in his passing game, missing easy passes and exposing the team of attacking transition of the opponents. One of the most surprising things, it was that Adam Kopas was their set piece taker. You’d imagine that his height could offer an advantage to be on the end of set pieces. He has not played a lot this season, so those errors could be explained with this lack of rhythm.
Rating – B2