I wrote an article on the Lazio vs. Roma match post-analysis, mentioning “La Salida Lavolpiana.” In this article, I break down La Salida Lavolpiana. How does it give advantages when the ball progresses through the build-up phase, and why is this important now? I also discuss its disadvantages.
What is “La salida Lavolpiana”?
La Salida means “The Exit” in English, and Ricardo La Volpe, the Argentinian coach, invented this style of progressing the ball. The concept focuses on advancing the ball from the build-up phase with a numerical advantage. If any manager wants to bypass the opponent’s pressing with high control, they must progress the ball with numerical superiority. It’s a great tool for advancing play and finding a spare man in positional setups. It is effective when the opposition uses 2 players in the front defensive line. Let’s find out how it works.
Suppose a team in possession is playing a 4-3-3 formation, while their opponent presses in a 4-4-2, a more asymmetric and commonly used pressing style. In this situation, the possession team builds up without relying on the goalkeeper.
When the opponent presses in a 4-4-2 formation, the two strikers apply a combination of pressing and cover marking. One striker presses the ball-carrying center-back, while the other marks the pivot. The pivot is a crucial player for progressing the ball through the middle, so the pressing team aims to disrupt this connection. In possession, the team often plays side-to-side passes, trying to create space or find a free man for their teammates.
As the centre-backs exchange passes, the opposition attempts to press vertically, aiming to trap the ball-carrying centre-back and quickly regain possession for a direct attack. This situation creates a significant risk for the in-possession team, as no extra player is covering the space left vulnerable.
To mitigate these risks, the pivot (defensive midfielder) drops back 10-12 meters—depending on the depth of the opposition striker’s press—to create a 3 vs. 2 numerical advantage. By acting as a third centre-back and forming a triangle, this structure helps the team bypass the opponent’s strikers vertically and horizontally. Two centre-backs are the ball carriers who break the last line of the opposition’s defence.
Overload situation not only in the middle but also in the wide area
You might think that dropping the pivot creates numerical inferiority in the midfield. The answer is no. This is because the No. 8s (LCM and RCM) drop deeper while the wide forwards occupy the spaces between the lines. This adjustment creates a 4 vs.2 scenario in the midfield and a 2 vs. 1 advantage against the opponent’s wide forwards in the wide areas, as the fullbacks (LSB and RSB) push higher to function as wide wingers.
We’ve seen similar tactical adjustments in the era of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, where Sergio Busquets often dropped between the two centre-backs, or during Euro 2024, where Toni Kroos frequently performed this role.
Rest defence advantage
Rest defence in football is a tactical strategy focused on how a team’s deepest defenders position themselves to prevent counterattacks after losing possession.
As a coach, it is essential to consider the build-up phase alongside rest defence. After losing the ball, you cannot suddenly adjust the number of players or change the team’s shape.
Rest defence faces a significant challenge when the possession team loses the ball in those “sky-blue” areas. This is particularly risky because the opponent’s wide attackers (RSM and LSM) are left unmarked. The possession team’s fullbacks, who are primarily responsible for marking these wide players, are positioned too high up the pitch, hard to track back, leaving gaps that the opposition can exploit with counterattacks.
What happens against 5-3-2?
The 5-3-2 formation is a more man-oriented defensive setup, making it particularly interesting to analyze how “La Volpe” reacts against it. This formation makes it challenging to find direct passing lanes, and creating overloads in the middle or wide areas is not as straightforward. However, exploiting the space behind the defence becomes a viable option.
In most cases, the wide centre-backs in a 5-3-2 system follow the players positioned between the lines. This movement often creates space for the attacking fullbacks (LSB, RSB) or wingers to exploit, providing opportunities for progression and attacking play.
“La Volpe” against 5-3-2,Try to exploit the behind of wide centre back
What are the Benefits of Dropping the Pivot?
- The pivot can play progressive passes from deep positions, gaining enough time to make decisions while avoiding intense pressure.
- Dropping the pivot creates numerical advantages across the pitch, enabling better positional play and passing options.
Disadvantages of Dropping the Pivot
- Dropping the pivot may result in losing tempo control in the midfield, as the pivot vacates central areas.
- The pivot is not a natural defender, making it challenging to perform as the third centre-back in defensive transitions.
These limitations are why managers like Pep Guardiola, Gian Piero Gasperini, and Mikel Arteta often implement a three-back system during the build-up phase to enhance defensive solidity and positional balance not using pivot in the deep like 3rd back.
La Salida Lavolpiana with a 4-2-3-1 Formation
The 4-2-3-1 formation is widely used due to its versatility. One of its key advantages in possession is the presence of two pivots. If one pivot drops deep to aid ball progression, the other pivot remains higher up the pitch to control the tempo. This structure combines the benefits of numerical superiority during the build-up with better midfield stability. The attacking 
La Volpe, with 4-2-3-1, mostly uses tactics
midfielder(OMF) roams create overload in the middle and wide area with winger fullbacks and problems for the opposition team. In a controlled build-up, the number of players required heavily depends on the number of opposition players involved in pressing. An attacking midfielder (OMF) can play a versatile role, functioning either as a build-up player to support progression or as a second forward to enhance attacking options.
La Salida Lavolpiana with goalkeeper
Teams often adopt man-marking tactics combined with high pressing, making it difficult to find a free man during the build-up phase. In such situations, utilizing the goalkeeper as a pivot becomes an effective strategy to bypass the opponent’s high press.
The 2019 rule change, allowing goalkeepers to pass the ball within the 18-yard box, has significantly impacted build-up play. This adjustment has increased build-up percentages, as teams now have greater flexibility in starting their attacks.
Goalkeepers often attempt to draw the opponent’s forwards closer to their side, creating space for teammates to exploit. In the post-Cruijffian era, we have seen the rise of modern goalkeepers who excel as passers, such as Ederson and Alisson, revolutionizing the role in build-up play.
Before the build-up starts, the opponent’s marking man-to-man
After the pressing trigger, how the ” La Volpe” in the goalkeeper build-up
When the goalkeeper is involved in the build-up, the possession team gains an 11 vs. 10 numerical advantage. However, pressing triggers, such as inside-to-outside or outside-to-inside movements, can effectively compress space. Before the first pass, it is challenging for the pressing team to predict which side the possession team intends to progress the ball.
In this scenario, the left striker (LCF) initiates an outside-to-inside trigger, cutting off the goalkeeper’s passing option to the right-sided centre-back. This forces the goalkeeper to pass to his left, where the second striker (RCF) is positioned to block the next progression.
The possession team counters this press with a smart tactical adjustment. The left-side pivot moves toward the right striker (RCF), effectively blocking him. This manoeuvre opens up space for the left-sided centre-back to progress the ball into the wide left area, creating a 3 vs. 2 overload opportunity.
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