Benjamin Pavard left Bayern Munich to join Italian giants Inter Milan in the summer of 2023. The Frenchman left the club after four years of service. However, there were now worrying signs in the camp, as they already had a replacement for the player.
Noussair Mazraoui was brought from Ajax on a free transfer in 2022, and the player spent the whole last season at Bayern Munich. He settled well into the team and got limited game time. Now, Tuchel is left with Mazraoui and Bouna Sarr for the right-back role. The Moroccan is the favourite to take the role, and here are the stats that show why he is likely to remain the number-one choice.
Mazraoui vs Pavard in 2022-23
Benjamin Pavard was the main right-back in the team and started in 30 matches. The Moroccan international, on the other hand, featured in only 19 games and made 11 starts. The above viz shows the percentile rank of both players and compares them.
It can be observed that Pavard was more defensively sound, and Mazraoui created more chances while going forward. The passing ability of both players was decent. The Frenchman had a little extra edge over his former teammate.
Decent start to the 2023-24 campaign
The 25-year-old finally got a chance to regularly play for the club in the current campaign. He has started in the first three matches for the defending champions and has been responsible for a perfect start. The player likes to run up and down the flank.
Noussair Mazraoui’s defensive performances still have room for improvement. His defensive duels win percentage is a bit low at 27.3%. The player’s aerial ability is decent, and he has won 55.6% of his duels. The 25-year-old has made nine crucial interceptions and is adding something to his defensive traits.
Contributions to the attack
Bayern Munich have been dominant in the Bundesliga over the last decade. They dominate possession and keep the ball in the attacking half. Players like Mazraoui, who like to attack, benefit from such a style.
The above viz shows the box penetration carries made by the player for Bayern Munich in both campaigns. He is not a player who likes to go wide. Instead, the player tries to attempt passes and penetrate the box by coming a bit inside.
The 25-year-old averages around 60 passes per 90 minutes and has an accuracy rate of around 87% for Bayern Munich.
The creativity of the player has added two assists to his name at Bayern. Noussair Mazraoui provided these two passes in the last campaign. Most of these passes have been attempted at the near post. With Harry Kane in the side, the player will look to add more assists to his name.
Bayern Munich are eyeing the UEFA Champions League this term. They have been dominant in the league and have set their eyes on the biggest prize. The former Ajax full-back will look to contribute more to Bayern’s success this season and cement his place for the next two-to-three seasons.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
