Goalkeepers are becoming a more important outlet against high, aggressive pressing. SC Paderborn’s Nahuel Noll has recently shown the value of finding space behind an advanced defensive line with long distribution.
Key takeaways
- Nahuel Noll has used long passes effectively for Paderborn.
- Goalkeepers can bypass an opponent’s press by playing into the space behind it.
- A German goalkeeper currently leads Europe in the success rate for this type of distribution.
Long passing as a press-breaking tool
Teams pressing high can leave room behind their back line. That has placed more responsibility on goalkeepers to recognise the moment and deliver an accurate longer ball.
Noll has recently succeeded with that approach for Paderborn, turning his distribution into a direct route beyond pressure. The wider European comparison also underlines the trend: a German counterpart currently has the best completion rate in this area.
