Misleading Early Pressure

[vadois]

At the start of a match, one team dominated possession and territory, which made them look like the obvious choice. As the game progressed, it became clear that most of the pressure was harmless and led to very few real chances. The opponent stayed calm and waited for mistakes. How do you tell the difference between real dominance and empty pressure?

 

[barotron]

Telling the difference between real dominance and the illusion of control can be tricky, especially when one team holds 70% possession without a single shot on target. If you visit the Bizbet official site, you'll see how much live odds shift based on possession, even though it’s often just "sterile" passing. I always look at the intensity of entries into the penalty area and the number of through balls. If a team is just moving the ball around midfield, it's usually a sign that the opponent has intentionally given up initiative while waiting for a counter-attack.