Joao Palhinha proves his worth for Tottenham as excellent stats emerge in win vs Slavia Prague
Joao Palhinha delivered yet another assured display in Tottenham’s much-needed 3-0 win over Slavia Prague on Tuesday.
A David Zima own goal was followed by penalties from Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons to ensure Spurs won twice at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in four days.
Palhinha joined Spurs on a loan deal from Bayern Munich, which included an option to buy the midfielder for £26million.
This season, he has made 23 appearances in all competitions for the Lilywhites and is now an integral part of their midfield under Thomas Frank.
Against Slavia Prague in the Champions League on 9 December, Palhinha produced another fantastic performance, and he was particularly faultless in the air.
Joao Palhinha perfect in the air again for Tottenham
Palhinha’s performance against Man City was excellent earlier in the season, and that has set the standards high for his future in N17.
Since his emergence at Sporting during the early part of his career, Palhinha has always been known as a midfielder who is aggressive and tenacious.
According to FotMob, Palhinha won 100 per cent of his aerial duels (4/4) and 67 per cent of his ground duels (4/6) on Tuesday.
| Stat | Palhinha |
| Touches | 47 |
| Pass accuracy | 89% |
| Passes into final third | 8 |
| Recoveries | 5 |
| Clearances | 6 |
In the Premier League, the 30-year-old has made 61 tackles in 14 matches, which is more than any other player.
Palhinha has been a standout for Tottenham, and he has become one of the first names on the team sheet under Frank, despite facing scrutiny.
He has been criticised for not being a creative force on the ball, although the onus isn’t on him to provide chances for the attackers.
However, the Portugal international is clearly one of the best defensive midfielders in the top flight, and his numbers prove that he is indispensable in the Tottenham starting lineup.
Often overlooked by Frank at times, Archie Gray has also flourished whenever he has been chosen to play in midfield alongside Palhinha.
Playing alongside Joao Palhinha suited Archie Gray vs Slavia Prague
However, Frank is desperate for a midfielder who can break up play efficiently, and in Palhinha, he has one of the very best in the world who can release those around him.
Gray is one of those who has benefited, and the 19-year-old has started four of the last five matches.
Against Slavia Prague, Gray had a pass accuracy of 94 per cent and looked incredibly composed for such a young player playing in a Champions League game.
Palhinha’s experience can help the likes of Gray and Lucas Bergvall develop into unbelievable midfielders, and he certainly showed that he’s still improving his game at the latter stages of his career.
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