Victor Muñoz: Scout Report

A new series for the season, the scout report. We take a more in-depth look at some of the Europe's finest players.

A World cup winner. Osasuna’s light in a pretty dark season, Victor Muñoz is a Liverpudlian now. The 23-year-old arrives on Merseyside after making quite the name for himself in Spain, following stints at Real Madrid and Osasuna.

Position - LW / RW
Preferred foot - Right, but comfortable on both feet
Age - 23

Signing from Osasuna for a fee of around 40 million euros.

Who is Muñoz?

Predominantly a left winger, Victor Muñoz boasts a host of talents. Being able to play across a front 3 is one of his key attributes. He has featured a few times for Osasuna on the right and as a striker, but mainly on the left wing, where last season he posted a return of 6 goals and 2 assists. It isn’t bad, when you consider the Osasuna side he was apart of finished 17th in La Liga, surviving the drop on the final day of the season.

He arrives in Liverpool as one of Spain’s most promising talents. Unfortunately we weren’t able to see what he can do in this years World Cup due to injury, but I’m sure he’ll find his feet pretty quickly in his new surroundings on Merseyside.

The Catalonian joins the reds with plenty of admirers, one of them being me. So let’s get into it, and go through what Liverpool fans can expect from their new 40 million man.

Style of play

A direct winger, who carries the ball better than most you’re going to see. Seriously forward thinking attacker, who is always up for the challenge of taking on full back and anyone else who stands in his way.

An Impressive 1v1 player / 1v2 player, there have been occasions we’ve seen Victor at a disadvantage in possession, up against 2/3 defenders and he has came away with the ball, something I will show you below.

He sticks out on the flanks like a traditional winger, pulling the full back over to him to stretch and unsettle defensive shapes. This is something that we’ve seen time and again during his time at Osasuna.

1v2 situation in favour of defence

Here is Victor Muñoz seemingly in a bit of a sticky situation in the attacking third of the pitch. Due to sheer explosiveness and determination, he blasts past both defensive players.

Muñoz breezes past 1v2 situation

Quick body movement and pace, he’s gone and good luck catching him. It’s almost unplayable at times. It’s definitely something that I can see being a massive asset in the Premier League, especially under his new boss Andoni Iraola.

Another example of Muñoz’s agility, power and determination. Showcasing low centre of gravity, acceleration and genuine 1v1 dominance, well 1v3. This time against his old employers, Real Madrid.

Muñoz vs Real Madrid

Here he is again, in that position mentioned above, on the flank dragging players over to him, displaying solid hold up play against one of Spain’s greatest right backs Dani Carvajal.

Muñoz runs inside against Real

The hold up, spin away from Carvajal and a flick past him for that extra bit of humiliation, sprinting into the attacking third of the pitch. His ability to hold onto the ball, and hold off defenders with his body all in one motion and then progress the play, is why he has attracted such a big move to England.

Rather than recycling possession, Muñoz likes to link play and progress the attack further up the pitch, this is something that has definitely featured heavily whilst playing more in Primera.

Pass into Muñoz’s feet

Usually I think, what we’ve became used to with wingers is recycling possession, keeping hold of the ball so other players can join the attack. With Muñoz it’s constantly progressive I absolutely love it, it’s pure confidence in his own game and it’s admirable, a real throwback player.

Progressive football leads to chances

He plays a flick around the corner, gets the ball back from his teammate and suddenly in this phase of play Osasuna are in a 3v2 situation in their favour. All due to Victor’s presence of mind and willingness to be progressive in an area of the pitch that many would hold and recycle.

Victor Muñoz Biggest strengths

• Ball carrying

• Determination

• Pace

• Agility

• 1v1 situations

• Progressive carries

Defensive contributions

Victor doesn’t tend to go to sleep out of possession. Which has been worth it’s weight in gold, especially for a side like Osasuna. They’ve relied on players like Muñoz to counter press. When possession was lost, his tenacity was mainly a reason as to why they would regain it so quickly, and then be able to create situations where Osasuna could counter attack.

He is relentless in winning the ball back in defensive phases of play, a perfect fit for Iraola and Liverpool.

Muñoz ready to go

High pressing, it’s just what he does. Looking at the screenshot, theres a squeeze in the corner. As soon as that ball is recovered Muñoz is ready to turn out on his right, and as we know with that ball carrying ability it spells serious danger for the opposition, he is at the spearhead of the counter every time.

Victor Muñoz stats 25/26

Muñoz leaves defenders for dead, this is reflected in some of his numbers I’ve managed to pull up. I have taken these statistics from The Transfer Flow.

Transfer Flow statistics

He is up there with some of La Liga’s best in these categories. Crossing, 1v1 dribbling and progressive runs.

It’s no surprise that he is featuring near the top in some of them categories really is it? Given some of the things we’ve gone through in the article so far. 1v1 he’s a beast, the way he brings the attack forward with him is fantastic, it’s eye catching and most certainly brave.

Judging by some of these numbers, it’s easy to see why Liverpool and many other teams across Europe were keen on acquiring Muñoz. And explains why Spain manager Luis de la Fuente was so keen to integrate him into the Spanish national side so quickly.

Patience is key with Muñoz

He’s 23. Of course are there things he needs to work on. His creative output will be a talking point.

Victor Muñoz has a very high ceiling, depending on what the game situation requires at the time he can play many different positions. Having said this, it could slow his progression down into evolving into a full time left winger for Liverpool. I can see scenarios where he comes off the bench for Iraola’s side perhaps chasing a goal and being deployed anywhere across that front line.

DataMB Stats of Victor Muñoz

Now this could be a touch outlandish, but why not it’s my scout report. He has slight similarities to Sadio Mane. The pace, the aggression on the ball, confidence and just pure determination to beat a player. Now is he actually the next Sadio Mane? Well, no he isn’t, but there are certainly traits that are similar.

I hope to do many more of these Scout Reports throughout this season. How do you think Victor Muñoz will do in the Premier League?

Thank you all so much for reading