Morata is (half) wrong when he says he plays better outside of Spain: this is what the data says

Alvaro Moratain front of Atlético de Madrid and the Spanish National Team, he is one of those footballers who is overlooked. This was observed during his long career, during which he played for some of the best clubs in the world. Real Madrid, Juventus, Chelsea, Atlético… It also happens with the National Team. As a reference for ‘la Roja’, he is often singled out, despite his remarkable performance. His 35 goals put him as Spain’s fourth all-time top scorer alongside David Silva. And he reached Fernando Torres. But it didn’t seem to be enough. The episode at the Santiago Bernabéu, where he was whistled in a friendly against Brazil, hurt him. “I think I play better in the National Team when we’re not playing in Spain, to be honest,” he commented.

Morata He feels watched and criticized. “Many times my children, who are five years old, do not understand why so many people have this hatred for their father,” he declared in ‘El Larguero de la SER’. Is Morata right when he says that he plays better outside of Spain with the National Team? Not so much. An analysis of his career with the national team shows that he scored more points in the stadiums of Spain defending Spain than himself, although there is a fact that makes him more productive (or somewhat more productive) even when competing in other countries. Morata is wrong… half.

Morata He played 73 games with the National Team, including Euro Cup, World Cup, Nations League, qualifiers and friendlies. Of those 73 matches, 33 coincided on national soil, while 40 took place in other countries. The Madrid forward scored 17 goals in 1,878 minutes in the 33 games he played in Spain with the National Team, while he scored 18, another, in 2,544 minutes and 40 duels abroad. Morata’s scoring average in Spain is 0.81 goals per 90 minutes; The average dropped to 0.64 goals per 90 minutes away from home. La Cartuja were especially good here, with four goals at the Sevillian venue. Morata’s absolute average without home location difference is 0.71 goals.

That can’t be disputed Morata mark more than Spain before. Always at relative levels, because the Madrid native didn’t play much at home. It should be considered that there is a collective part where the National Team performs better in the stadiums of Spain than when you have to travel. This is a common occurrence for any block.

There is one fact that supports the theory of the Atlético attacker: the six assists he signed Morata In his international career he gave them games that ‘la Roja’ did not play in fields in the Spanish geography. The striker attended against South Korea, a clash that took place at Red Bull Arena, England (Wembley), Liechtenstein (Rheinpark Stadion), Netherlands (Johan Cruyff Arena), Kosovo (Fadil Vokrri Stadium) and Costa Rica (Al Thumama Stadium). Luis de la Fuente’s ‘7’ did not provide assists in Spain matches in national stadiums. This means Morata’s overall offensive contribution, including goals and assists, is slightly higher away from Spain, averaging 0.85 goals per 90 minutes. At home, it stayed at the aforementioned 0.81 as it didn’t provide any help.

Morata mark more than Spain, but he can say he’s a little more offensive if the assists are added when he has to perform in rival territory. In Germany, he will have the chance, however, to continue making history for ‘la Roja’: if he scores three goals, he will equal Torres as the third best scorer in the history of the Spanish National Team, with 38 that purpose.