Player Focus: Key Players in Relegation Battles

As the final day of the season edges ever closer across four of Europe’s top five leagues, so much is still at stake. The Bundesliga schedule may be over but this Sunday sees the final round of matches across England, Spain and Italy, before Ligue 1 winds up on May 20. WhoScored takes a look at three players who have led by example in recent games as their clubs fight to fend off the threat of relegation – on their shoulders hang the hopes and expectations of so many as their respective seasons reach their nail-biting conclusion.

Adel Taarabt - Queens Park Rangers

A look at the Moroccan’s stats since the start of last month highlight just how crucial his contribution has been for Mark Hughes’ side. Taarabt has played five times and helped QPR to three back-to-back home wins, with Swansea, Spurs and Stoke all tasting defeat at Loftus Road. Even prior to that, an assist and a goal in home wins over Liverpool and Arsenal back in late March indicates his contribution as the season heats up.

Over those last five games, Taarabt has markedly improved in the three main attacking categories in the WhoScored statistics. His goal threat is up – Taarabt has averaged 3.6 shots per game compared to his 2011/12 average of 3.3, while his creativity has taken a substantial rise. The left winger has supplied 3.2 key passes per game, up from an average of 2.2, and his ability to beat an opponent has also improved; he’s managed 2.2 successful dribbles per game over the last five, compared to 1.4 over the entire campaign. Taarabt has averaged 7.07 in the WhoScored ratings since the start of April as a result, providing a goal and assist over his five appearances.

His task this weekend couldn’t be harder, however. Taarabt travels to the Etihad with QPR only needing a point to survive but faces up to a Man City side that requires a win to clinch the title. The omens don’t look good; City have dropped two points at home all season and the London outfit have the worst away record in the Premier League, losing their last six in a row. Hughes’ side could still lose and beat the drop if Bolton fail to win at Stoke, though, but if they are to stun their hosts and pull off the shock result of the season, Taarabt looks like the man for the occasion.

Diego Costa - Rayo Vallecano

The Brazilian has been racking up the goals in recent weeks but his side’s poor performances at the back have meant that much of Costa’s good work has gone to waste. Vallecano have lost six of their seven games since the beginning of April, with just a single win affording them hope of survival as they head into the final game of the 2011/12 campaign.

Playing as a lone forward in a 4-2-3-1, Costa’s overall output has been superb this season;  despite his side’s struggles, he has scored 10 times and provided 4 assists over just 15 appearances. He has maintained his impressive attacking output over those last seven matches; a season average of 2.8 shots is almost identical to 2.71 shots per game since the beginning of April. Creatively, too, he’s been steady, with 0.86 key passes of late, compared to an average of 0.9 over the campaign. The Brazilian has shown an improvement in taking on opponents, though, producing 1.71 successful dribbles per game, in comparison to an overall average of 1.3. Over those seven games, then, Costa has had a hand in 50% of his side’s goals, finding the net 4 times and providing an assist, earning a WhoScored rating of 6.83.

Vallecano sit on 40 points, fourth bottom of La Liga but with Sunday’s opponents Granada only two points better off, a win for the home side would seal their survival. Both teams are in poor form, though – the hosts have won once and lost three times in their last four at home, while Granada have lost six and drawn one of their last eight road trips. The difference between the two sides, then, is likely to be Diego Costa.

Alain Traore - Auxerre

Playing in “the hole” in a 4-2-3-1, Traore has played a significant part in his side’s fortunes since the start of April. The playmaker has featured in five of the last six fixtures, with Auxerre picking up a couple of wins in addition to a draw against PSG as they attempt to engineer a climb off the bottom of Ligue 1. With 10 goals in their last three games, there’s still hope, however slim.

Traore’s stats over his last five appearances have been virtually identical to his season average. He has produced 2.6 shots per game since April, compared to an overall average of 2.8, while his creativity has improved slightly. The 23 year old has provided 2 key passes per game over the last five – again, this is in line with 1.8 key passes per game over the entire 2011/12 campaign, while his 0.8 successful dribbles exactly mirror his tally for the season. His overall efficiency, however, has jumped considerably; Traore has produced 2 goals and 2 assists over those five games – he has managed the same attacking returns over a run of 17 matches prior to the start of April. As a result, his WhoScored rating is markedly improved, with an average rating of 7.28 over those games far superior to his season rating of just 6.84.

A look at the Ligue 1 table shows that, with two games still remaining, there are nine teams that could still drop down a division, with only six points separating Auxerre at the bottom from 12th placed Valenciennes. While their fate is out of their own hands, Jean-Guy Wallemme’s side will take solace in the fact that have scored more goals and picked up more points than any side in the bottom eight since the start of April.

This weekend, they travel to last year’s runners-up Marseille, with their hosts in poor form. Marseille’s last six at home have seen them win once, lose three times and pick up a couple of draws – identical to Auxerre’s recent away record. A win, in addition to other results at the bottom going their way, will take Auxerre into the final game of the season with hopes of an escape still intact. The problem is, they will play host to league leaders Montpellier and, depending on results this Sunday, the visitors may well need a point to clinch the Ligue 1 title. With two wins in their last six at home, Auxerre will need Traore’s magic more than ever if they are to stand any chance of survival.