Mathias Kvistgaarden vs Lyngby BK - Match Report

Brondby IF 3 - 0 Lyngby BK | Danish Superliga 2023-24 | Written November 28, 2023

Player Information:

Name: Mathias Kvistgaarden

Club: Brondby IF

Nationality: Denmark

Age: 21 (Born 2002)

Position in match: Striker (right), winger (right)

Preferred foot: Right

Height: 1.73m

Match Stats (via FotMob):

Minutes played: 84

Touches: 39

Shots: 3

Goals: 1

Expected Goals: 0.16

Assists: 0

Expected Assists: 0.17

Passes 20/22

Pass Accuracy: 91%

Successful Dribbles: 0/2

Match Summary

Brondby entered their fourth match of the season off the back of two consecutive defeats, which included a home defeat to Odense via a 95th-minute winner. On the other hand, Lyngby had completed an impressive 4-1 victory over ten-man Midtjylland, their first of the season.

Brondby lined up in a 3-4-1-2 which was countered by Lyngby’s 3-5-2.

Brondby had the majority share of possession throughout the first half. Lyngby’s lack of pressure was very obvious, as Brondby were easily able to enter the second phase of play and set up in their 3-2-5, with their line of five matching Lyngby’s five (three centre-backs + two wingbacks dropping deep). Brondby’s play in this shape was patient, with their goal being to access the halfspace and send in out-swinging crosses towards the back post. They would also try to get access the halfspace via underlaps to get into the ‘cutback area’. They were eventually able to capitalize on their first half through Nicolai Vallys’ nice finish into the bottom right corner. In the 49th minute, Finnsson of Lyngby received a silly second yellow for kicking the ball away after the whistle had blown. From this moment on, the game was one way traffic coming from Brondby’s direction with the occasional break from Lyngby that did not end up amounting to much. The hosts were able to pile on the pressure, generating 2.61 xG (via Fotmob). This pressure eventually became too much for Lyngby, who ended up conceding two late goals that sealed a well-deserved win for Brondby.

Player Analysis:

Technical:

• Has a solid first touch, does not kill the ball dead

  • Touch is soft, a yard or two in front of him - setting him up for next action

  • Good amount of his touches were when receiving the ball in space

  • When receiving to feet with back to goal or in tight spaces, his first touch did not complicate his next action

• Good passing technique, but not much variety

  • Most passes seemed to be < 10 yards, but passes were solid with proper weight, into teammate’s feet

  • Only attempted one long ball (unsuccessful)

  • Only attempted one pass into space/through ball, was unsuccessful (too much weight on pass)

• Looks to have clean ball-striking technique, only attempted two shots with feet

  • Had a good ‘quick-release’ shot (a shot taken within two steps of beating defender in 1v1)

  • Volley attempt was cleanly struck but blocked within 2 yards of being hit

• Not many opportunities to dribble/carry

  • Looked to take small touches with small strides, fast acceleration

• Generally looked calm/comfortable/composed on the ball when receiving under pressure or in tight spaces

Tactical:

• Top quality off-ball movement

  • Was constantly in space between centre centreback/wide centreback or space between wide centreback/wingback

  • Would make in-to-out runs, especially from the middle of the pitch into the halfspace or from the halfspace in to the wide areas

  • Was caught offside twice this match but timing of these runs was generally excellent

    • Scans space ahead of him very early so that when the eventual passer receives the ball, Kvistgaarden already knows where to go, can get ahead of defender

  

  • Due to his high positioning, he had plenty of opportunities to drop and receive the ball

    • When dropping with back to goal, he checked his shoulder before receiving to see if he had the opportunity to do a one-time flick past oncoming defender (tried this a couple of times)

    • If turn wasn’t on, he was able to move the ball in 1-2 touches, either a layoff to a third man or a pass back where it came from

    • If he received with enough time to turn, he looked very calm and composed on the ball

  • There were a few occasions where he would fail to recognize space to drop into and receive, putting his teammates in sub-optimal situations or stunting progress in build-up

    

  • 11v10 game script forced him to be in the box for large parts of the game

    • Box movement was good, constantly on the move trying to create separation from defender

  • Timing of runs when ball is being crossed from wide areas was also good

    • Waited until crosser raised kicking foot to start run

• Not much out-of-possession work for the Brondby forwards in this game

  • Brondby matched Lyngby’s 3-2 build-up base and forced the opponent to go long on several occasions, but the press was not aggressive

  • Kvistgaarden curved his run when appropriate to block passing lanes for the opponent

Physical

• Very fast initial burst over first 5-10 yards, reminds me of Timo Werner

  • Allows him to start runs a couple of yards behind back line

• Energetic pressing and running

  • Pressed when needed to but was also constantly doing work off the ball when Brondby had possession - always making runs into space ahead, dragging defenders, chasing overhit passes into wide channels

• Strong jumper, had a very good leap, reminds me of Diogo Jota

  • Overall movement/way he runs/dribbles reminds me of Jota in general