Milutin Osmajic has become an influential player for Vizela since arriving on loan from Cadiz CF last summer. The Montenegro international has been gaining prominence in Liga Portugal after taking up the role of leading the Vizela attack. The 23-year-old forward’s market value has been rising as he is experiencing an impressive first campaign in the Portuguese top flight. The young player has become an integral member of Vizela’s first team with six goals under his belt thus far. With Vizela ranked ninth in the standings and vying for a top-half finish, his contributions are proving key as the team tends to win when he scores. Below are some stats from the current season to gauge the player’s contributions to his team.
Milutin Osmajic features as a centre-forward for Vizela and has played 21 matches in Liga Portugal 2022-23, starting 16 times. The above viz shows the percentile rank of the player’s stats compared to other centre-forwards in Liga Portugal. It can be observed that Osmajic has performed well in the attacking and possession departments with respect to metrics like expected goal contribution, progressive passes, shots, and dangerous passes. He also contributes to defence with his ability to contest aerial duels and win them.
Attacking gameplay
The above viz illustrates the forward’s heat map from Liga Portugal 2022-23. It can be observed that Milutin Osmajic shows high intensity in the final and middle thirds and remains active inside the opposition penalty box. He makes a lot of movement in the opposition’s half, more towards the left side, but also tracks back into his own half when required. Osmajic contests 21.43 duels per match and wins 31.6%, of which 6.11 are offensive duels. On average, he receives around ten passes and has 2.83 touches in the penalty area.
Milutin Osmajic is Vizela’s top scorer this season, netting six goals out of the 26 scored by his team. He has taken 31 shots thus far and accumulated a total of 6.59 xG, with a 0.21 xG value for each shot. The shot map shows that most of the attempts came from the centre of the penalty area and in and around the six-yard box. He has also shown the capability of shooting accurately from a distance, with one long-distance strike and another from the edge of the box. He averages 2.04 shots per 90 minutes in Liga Portugal, with an accuracy rate of 45.2%. Osmajic’s tall stature and physicality help him to contest aerial duels, particularly inside the opposition box. He averages as many as 8.74 aerial duels with a 33.1% success rate.
The centre-forward also helps his team by drawing fouls in the attacking half. He has been fouled 18 times by the opposition inside their half and has also won one penalty. With players like Samu in the team, these free-kick deliveries from the final third can prove effective in creating scoring opportunities. On average, Osmajic suffers 1.18 fouls per match.
Passing attributes and ball progression
In addition to his attacking prowess, the 23-year-old drops into midfield to play short passes and link-up plays. Osmajic’s overall passing gameplay has room for improvement as he attempts a low number of 12.5 passes per match with 73.7% accuracy. Of these passes, 2.16 are in the forward direction, and nearly three are directed backwards. While he brings a counterattacking threat, he has to do more in terms of holding onto the ball and helping his team progress forward.
Milutin Osmajic is a mobile forward who performs dribbles and progressive runs to stretch opposition lines and burst forward. According to the visualisation above, the striker attempts the majority of the dribbles in the final third and executes these actions with success in and around the penalty box. He also tries a few dribbles inside his half to beat opposing lines and advance forward, along with some progressive runs towards the opposition box. Currently, he averages 1.97 dribbles with a 46.7% success rate and nearly 1.38 progressive runs per match.
In conclusion, Milutin Osmajic has proven his significance for Vizela in the current Liga Portugal campaign. He has netted crucial goals for the team, which have helped them rise to the top half. Besides, he helps his team with his attributes on and off the ball. Now, it remains to be seen if Vizela manages to retain this favourable position in Liga Portugal, as the Montenegrin striker will have to ensure consistency in front of goal for the remainder of the season.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine