In this match report we will lend our eyes to the talents of Real Sociedad. Real Sociedad had a very good year, finishing second before Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid – meaning they will UWCL next season. In the game against Deportivo Alaves they won 6-1, but our analysis will focus on Manuele Vanegas and Nerea Eizagirre.
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, re-watch
- D – Below average in this match
Manuela Vanegas
Player Profile
- Nationality: Colombian
- Age: 21
- Date of Birth: 09/11/2000
- Current Club: Real Sociedad
- Career: Espanyol, Real Sociedad
- Position: Centre Back
- Secondary position: Defensive Midfielder
Manuela Vargas played as a left central defender in a back four, in the 4-3-3 Sociedad employed against Alaves. She also managed to score against the opposition, which is always an interesting thing for a defender to do.
Vargas is good in the defence as she makes corrective actions in terms of sliding tackles and interceptions. This indicates she can be both a proactive and reactive defender, pending on the situation. She is an asset in defensive situations, especially in the air. That also makes her instrumental in defending set pieces. However, she is not very strong or quick – something the opposition can use to harm them.
Going forward and on the ball she is rather well developed. She isn’t exactly a ball-playing central defender in the modern sense. She doesn’t carry the ball into the middle third and pass from there, but her passing from the back is good and reached the progression that is intended.
The difficult thing about her passing is that she takes risks that are unnecessary and when she makes mistakes, her confidence is tainted. Then she won’t try it again and remains conservative in her passing, but also in the defensive actions.
Rating: B1
Nerea Eizagirre
Player Profile
- Nationality: Spanish
- Age: 22
- Date of Birth: 04/01/2000
- Current Club: Real Sociedad
- Career: Real Sociedad
- Position: Left Wing
- Secondary position: Attacking Midfielder / Right Wing
Nerea Eizagirre is a midfielder for Real Sociedad who can play as a right attacking midfielder, left attacking midfielder, or in the winger role with progressive thoughts. In the 4-3-3 as employed by Sociedad in this game against Alaves, she even played on the left wing and was successful: she scored twice.
With the ball, she is very good. She is strong on the ball, agile, and versatile. She can move in any direction with the ball without losing focus on control. She is good in the dribbles and can beat her opponent in a 1v1, but also looks for a link-up with her striker and after that tries to come in the box to provide a cross or shoot on goal.
Her passing is of a relatively high level. Her crossing is good, but when she inverts and plays more centrally she can spot runners and find them with a through pass or give a diagonal ball to keep the play wide.
Her attacking movement and awareness is above average, but she can be caught in a position to high up the pitch. This leaves problems in transition and she has to make a tackle to correct it. Her defensive positioning isn’t great and that’s where she needs to improve, because her duels aren’t that positive either.
Rating: A2