Lukas Penxa is a 20-year-old Czech player who plays for Sparta Prague. Penxa most often plays for the B-team of Sparta Prague in the FNL, but he has been jumping in and out the first team. But the B-team frequently rotates players and systems, primarily playing with three or five defenders at the back. Penxa has been used mostly as a left wing-back but he demonstrates qualities that could see him in a higher, more attacking role as a left midfielder or even as a winger. Penxa has also played multiple games at an international level with the U20 Czech team in the U20 Elite League.
Standing at 170 cm, Penxa compensates for his lack of real strength with good fitness. His stamina allows him to cover ground throughout the match, consistently running and pressing opponents. His acceleration is quite good, and his top speed, is solid. Penxa is capable of quick bursts of sprints, making him effective in overlapping runs and transitional play. He has quite good abilities in aerial duels, which is impressive for his height. His jumping reach is definitely very good. In ground duels, he mostly uses his agility to fight off the opponent and keep or take the possession of the ball.
Penxa’s greatest strengths are in his offensive qualities. He is a ball carrier who like to progress the ball at his feet. His dribbling ability is good. He can beat defenders both on the inside and outside. Penxa can keep possession under pressure, and he has shown flashes of good playmaking potential. Passing wise, Penxa prefers short to medium-ranged passes, which he executes well, even with his weaker left foot. Although he doesn’t utilize his left foot often, it is reliable when needed. He often avoids long, high passes and crosses, which are not his strongest part of the game. Penxa’s positioning offensively is fluid; he often cuts inside into a central position rather than staying wide. He often goes forward with the attack, providing as an additional option in the final third. But he is aware of his positioning, and he quickly retreats back when possession has been lost. Penxa can also be dangerous in front of the goal. He scored 5 goals in the FNL this season, equaling his number from last season in half of the games.
Defensively, Penxa has clear weaknesses. He struggles in 1v1 situations, where he can be easily beaten or pushed aside by stronger opponents. His lack of physical strength and mistimed defensive interventions often attackers to get past him, creating space behind his position for a pass. He can occasionally shift too far centrally or go out of position while pressing an opponent, creating gaps of space on the left flank. His defensive positioning is quite decent, but just inconsistent. Penxa’s tendency to move forward and involve himself higher up the pitch is showing that his abilities may be better suited in a more advanced role.
Lukas Penxa is a player with significant offensive promise, definitely in his dribbling and playmaking abilities. But meanwhile his defensive shortcomings hinder his effectiveness as a wing-back. In my opinion he would look better as a left midfielder or even as a winger. Last matches he has been sitting on the bench for the first team of Sparta Prague. In my opinion he should look for a possibility to move elsewhere and just get good minutes at another team. He is good enough to be a starter at a decent team.
Target Scouting 
1 comment