JavaScript is disabled! Why you want to do so? Please enable JavaScript in your web browser!
In the world of football, certain victories cause concern, while draws can fuel hope for a promising future. Without falling into excessive optimism, the point taken by Raja de Casablanca against the Meknes Omnisports Club (0-0) is encouraging for the rest of the season.
This meeting, played on the lawn of the Larbi Zaouli stadium in Casablanca during the 9th day of the Botola Pro, Saturday November 2, highlighted the progress made by the reigning champions under the direction of Ricardo Sa Pinto, both physically and tactically.
Certainly, Yousri Bouzouk’s teammates have still not won a match in the league since their victory (2-0) against Renaissance Club Athletic Zemamra, almost a month ago. Worse, they have not managed to shake the opposing nets for 290 minutes of play, including additional time.
However, their recent performance against CODM revealed real progress which should allow them to reverse the trend after a hectic summer and a change of coach after two months of competition, following the dismissal of the Serb, Rusmir Cviko, at the end of September.
23 shots, 2.42 xG and a found Yousri Bouzok
As it approaches its entry into the Champions League on Tuesday, November 25 against the FAR of Rabat, Raja of Casablanca continues its transformation. From an accounting point of view, the results are insufficient (3 points), but among the four meetings led by Ricardo Sa Pinto, the last is the most accomplished in content.
Despite a lack of precision against the opposing cages (less than one shot on target in three), which remains their main downside, the Greens created a plethora of clear chances. In fact, the Raja had never achieved such a high xG score since the arrival of Sa Pinto (2.42).
The attackers, including Yousri Bouzouk who is returning to his form from last season but has yet to adjust his sights, constantly threatened the opposing goal throughout the match, with 23 shots, a total equal to their attempts in both games precedents combined. Raja could have lost this match if Anas Zniti had not brilliantly saved Adnan Berdad’s penalty just before half-time.
On the other hand, with a little more precision, Mohamed Boulacsoute (6′), Yousri Bouzouk (28′, 47′) and Abdellah Khafifi (64′), whose shot from the penalty spot was returned by the opposing right post, could have opened the scoring and given good momentum to their team. Ricardo Sa Pinto, very expressive on the sidelines, must have appreciated the performance of his players.
The former Portuguese international is starting to put his stamp on a team weakened by the departures of Mohamed Al Makahasi, part of Al Wehda (Arabic Saoudite) and Al Mehdi Maouhoub, transferred this summer to Dinamo Moscow (Russia) for 18.1 million dirhams.
Axial support and bypass of the defense by the wings
Raja de Casablanca is the 16th club of Sa Pinto’s coaching career. A journey launched within the Sporting Lisbon Academy, before taking the reins of the first team between February and October 2012. A globetrotter, he has coached on almost every continent, notably in Brazil (Vasco De Gama), Saudi Arabia (Al Fateh) and Belgium (Standard de Liège).
From these experiences, he will keep three titles, including the Belgian Cup, while developing a playing philosophy focused on tactical flexibility to adapt to its players and opponents. In four games at the helm of Raja, he deployed his team around two different playing systems: 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3. Regarding animation, the guideline is to find axial support, before bypassing the defense from the sides, whether during placed attacks or on the counter.
It is no coincidence that the Greens managed to endanger the CODM from these areas of the field. Even if the fact of not having won the match to escape from the soft underbelly of the ranking (10th) does not encourage excessive optimism, it is undeniable that the Raja of Casablanca had almost total control over this meeting for the first time this season, which bodes well for the future.
Do you have a real estate project in mind? Yakeey & Médias24 help you make it happen!
© Media24. Any reproduction prohibited, in any form whatsoever, without written authorization from the Société des Nouveaux Médias. This content is protected by law and in particular law 88-13 relating to the press and publishing as well as laws 66.19 and 2-00 relating to copyright and related rights.
Related News :