Zeno Debast trips up team-mate and Sporting improve fourfold | OneFootball

Zeno Debast appears to have gained the upper hand over Eduardo Quaresma in the battle for a place in the heart of Sporting’s defence. The two shared starting duties in the first four matches of the season, but since the Belgian entered the starting eleven in the third round against Alverca, the Lions’ average goals conceded has dropped from two to 0.5 per game.

According to Record, one of the main differences lies in the way both build from the back. Debast is more composed, looks for safe passing lanes and frequently uses the long pass to unsettle opponents, while Quaresma tends to take more risks through ball-carrying and short dribbling.

Opta’s data shows that both have a passing accuracy above 90%, although Debast has already delivered 16 balls into the final third, compared to 11 by Quaresma. The Portuguese defender, on the other hand, has the edge in duels, with 16 won compared to the Belgian’s five, and has also made five shot blocks, showing a more aggressive profile in direct confrontation.

Miguel Garcia therefore believes that the two centre-backs offer different characteristics to Sporting. “Debast provides build-up play through quality passing. He also has a different level of maturity now because of the experience he has gained with the Belgium national team,” he explained, before highlighting Quaresma’s ability “to bring the ball out through short dribbling with close control.”

After two seasons marked by physical problems and several appearances in midfield, Debast is now looking to establish himself definitively in central defence. The muscle-strengthening work carried out after his return from the World Cup seems to be paying off and, if he maintains his current level, it will be difficult for Rui Borges to take him out of the starting eleven again.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.