In modern football, the difference between a good player and a great one often lies in the smallest details — a movement made half a second too late, a body position that closes the passing lane, or a reaction that changes the outcome of a duel.
At the Baskonia Alavés Academy, helping players identify and master these details is a core part of our development model. And one of the most powerful tools we use for this is video analysis.
Every month, our players sit down with the club’s analyst team to review games, understand decisions, and break down moments that happened too quickly to process during the match. The goal is simple: to help each athlete become more aware, more intelligent, and more prepared for the next challenge.
Seeing the Game From a New Angle
For defenders like Gray Anongu, video analysis has been essential to understanding his role more deeply. After playing his first matches with the Academy, he entered the analysis room eager to break down his performance:
“We looked at what I did well and what I did wrong so I can improve. We had a plan, objectives… they want to help us become professional footballers.”
On the pitch, actions happen in seconds. But on video, players can pause, rewind, and understand situations with clarity. For Gray, this means analyzing defensive positioning, communication with teammates, marking responsibilities, and how he supports play from the back.
He also highlights something essential:
A coach’s trained eye sees what a young player might miss.
“If you’re not a footballer or don’t understand the game deeply, you don’t see these details. A lot depends on your position, and as a centre-back I have many responsibilities.”
These sessions prepare him not only for matches against players his age, but also for facing older, more experienced opponents — a key step in accelerating his development.
How We Break Down a Match: The Analyst’s Perspective
According to Darío Pando Moro, analyst for the Baskonia Alavés Academy, video analysis is no longer optional in player development — it’s essential.
“Video analysis helps us focus on small details that can easily go unnoticed but make a big difference in how a player improves.”
Matches are recorded live. Key plays are tagged — both positive actions and moments for improvement. Once the footage is uploaded, the analyst staff reviews the full game again and divides clips into five core areas:
- With the ball
- Without the ball
- Offensive transition
- Defensive transition
- Set pieces
This structure allows players to understand the game holistically, not just their isolated actions.
But what truly distinguishes our method is how sessions are conducted:
“Instead of telling them what they did right or wrong, I prefer to ask them: ‘What did you see here?’ ‘What could you have done?’ This guided approach helps them learn more effectively.”
Players learn to analyze themselves — a skill that stays with them long after they leave the session.
From the bird’s-eye view of the camera, they finally see the full pitch: the distances, the spaces, the positioning of teammates and opponents. Many discover things they couldn’t possibly notice during a fast, intense match.
Adapting Faster to Football in the Basque Country
The Basque football context is demanding — high tempo, high intensity, and physically strong opponents. For international players arriving from different parts of the world, early adaptation is crucial.
“All of these details help them adapt faster to the context they’re going to face,” Darío explains.
“Video allows them to understand the rhythm, the spaces, and the decisions they need to make.”
The combination of live match experience + video analysis accelerates learning dramatically.
A Tool That Shapes Professionals
At the Baskonia Alavés Academy, video analysis is more than reviewing clips.
It is a conversation, a guided reflection, and one of the most effective tools for helping players grow.
Every month, our players walk out of the analysis room with clearer ideas, better habits, and renewed confidence — ready to apply what they’ve learned in training and upcoming matches.
For players like Gray, these sessions are essential:
“We all want to improve every day. These details help me become stronger, smarter, and closer to where I want to be.”
And that is ultimately the purpose of the Academy: to give young athletes the tools, knowledge, and support they need to become better footballers — and better professionals.