Bala Analytics

Relebohile Mofokeng is 100th percentile for chances created in Belgium. And 94th for goals. Cassius Mailula is 93rd and 99th in the PSL. Two tens, basically the same shape, and Pitso has both 🇿🇦 PITSO SELECTS, part seven: the attacking midfielders. Follow for the rest of the squad.

Pitso Mosimane called Siyanda Ndlovu "a little bit of a duplicate" of Thapelo Maseko. You can see the resemblance: two right wingers who love to cut inside. Ndlovu goes inside on 80% of his wide carries, Maseko on 71%.

Sunderland and Brentford are rumoured to be watching Olwethu Makhanya. Even with his numbers adjusted for possession, he outranks both clubs LCBs among EPL centre-backs for tackles won (97th percentile), long balls (89th) and interceptions (75th).

Makhanya offers Rangers far more than defending. From centre-back, he drifts across to create overloads, combines quickly in tight spaces and can switch the play with a long pass over the top. He's just as happy carrying the ball himself, stepping into space down the left before releasing a teammate. He's a centre-back comfortable starting attacks, whether short or long

Olwethu Makhanya is setting the standard at Rangers. The South African leads all Scottish Premiership defenders on ball recoveries, tackle success and passing combined: 7.00 recoveries per 90 and 14 of his 15 tackles won.

Pitso Mosimanes strikers for the Kenya qualifiers, compared. Iqraam Rayners ranks top among PSL forwards for chance volume and box presence, with four league goals in 272 minutes. Lyle Foster offers a different profile: aerial strength, physicality and secure possession.

The pass before the assist. Simphiwe Masilela and Lehlogonolo Matlou lead the Betway Premiership with three second assists each, with Masilelas coming in just 440 minutes. Eight players are tied on two, including Siyanda Ndlovu and Athini Maqokolo.

Siyanda Hlangabeza is becoming one of the league's most formidable midfielder The 24-year-old leads AmaZulu in final-third passes (56) and has 41 line-breaking passes this season. He screens the defence, wins the ball back (6.6 recoveries per 90) and drives AmaZulu forward.

Kaizer Chiefs are adding depth on the right wing, giving them more options in that position. Here's how Elias Mokwana compares with Mfundo Vilakazi, Asenele Velebayi and Faiz Abrahams across six winger metrics. #Amakhosi4Life

Where Thapelo Mokobodi gets on the ball: Stellenbosch last season v Orlando Pirates this season. At Stellenbosch he played as a right-sided attacking midfielder. At Pirates he's a deeper centre-left playmaker, on the ball more and setting play up from midfield. One player, two different roles #UpTheBucs

Which Sundowns attacker presses best? Siyanda Ndlovu tops the Pressing Index (58). Rayners leads Sundowns centre forwards (52), ahead of Mailula (44) and Leon (12), and Sundowns win the ball high 29% more often in his games(team lift) #BetwayPrem #Masandawana

Hotto, a left-footer at right-back, shut Pirates' right side in the first half vs Chiefs. Mmodi waited to counter, Mako won every long ball, and everything went down the left. Moving Hotto to left-back and bringing on Lungu gave Pirates a build-up option on the right to bring a much better attacking balance #UpTheBucs #Amakhosi4Life

Kaizer Chiefs press set the tone in the first half. They trapped Pirates on the touchline, shut off the inside pass and won the ball back near halfway. The transition did the rest. With Hotto caught behind the play, Pirates' right side was left open, and Duba attacked the space before Pirates could recover. This occurred several times during the first half. Next will go the magic board to showcase this in much detail

After today's fixtures, Nkosikhona Radebe leads the PSL in assists with 5 for AmaZulu. Thapelo Mokobodi moved level with Tashreeq Matthews on 4 after his two in the Soweto Derby. Siyanda Ndlovu has the highest expected assists (2.12) #BetwayPrem

Thapelo Mokobodi was the best player on the pitch in the Soweto Derby. 2 assists
4 key passes (most in the match)
32/42 passes
7 defensive actions He set up Mbuthuma's opener with a long ball, then carried into the box to set up Moremi's winner. #SowetoDerby

Big games are often decided by set pieces, and Kaizer Chiefs will need to be careful at corners. Orlando Pirates have scored the most corner goals in the league (3). 46% of their corners land between the six-yard box and the spot. Watch the short ones too: 15% are played short. #UpTheBucs #Amakhosi4Life #SowetoDerby