Alvaro Morata continued his top form, netting two of Spain’s eight goals against Liechtenstein. His performance showed the potential he has to link up with Chelsea’s new signing Davide Zappacosta.
Alvaro Morata scored a brace for Spain in their final World Cup qualifier of the international break. He came within inches of scoring two more, which would have included a hat trick of headers. He powered a header off the crossbar in the second half, and Iago Aspas mopped up the rebound for another Spain goal. Shortly after, Liechtenstein keeper Peter Jehle put his fingertips to another Morata header, denying Morata his third.
Andres Iniesta set up Morata’s first goal from the right side of the box at the end of a well-worked one-two. Pedro assisted on the second with a much longer cross – the kind he rarely delivers at Chelsea – from the right side straight to Morata on the six-yard line.
Morata has already proven himself to be the target man, true No. 9 Diego Costa never was. He provides an instinctive aerial threat in front of the goal, as well as being able to run onto a through ball as he did for his second against Liechtenstein.
Now that Chelsea have a striker like Morata, they need players who can give him service from all directions. Cesc Fabregas will continue to provide the long vertical and diagonal passes, and the quick balls into the box. David Zappacosta on the right flank complements Marcos Alonso on the left, meaning Morata can find a worthy pass coming to him from every direction.
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Zappacosta led Torino with 1.7 accurate crosses per game last season. He attempted an additional 4.1 per game. Cesc Fabregas led the Blues with 1.5 accurate crosses per game last year, despite playing centrally. Marcos Alonso averaged only .7 successes.
Cesar Azpilicueta will enhance Zappacosta’s threat on the right as he overlaps on attack. Azpilicueta assisted on Morata’s goal against Everton with a cross from the right. Azpilicueta showed increasing comfort and ability joining the attack as last season progressed, lining up more passes into the centre. Unfortunately, as with most of Chelsea’s passes from the flank, Diego Costa did little to finish the move.
Davide Zappacosta’s passing ability will enable Cesc Fabregas to stay central, scouting the perfect long balls and through-balls as a deep-lying playmaker. Zappacosta will balance Chelsea’s chance creation on the flanks. And by running overlaps with Azpilicueta he will make the right flank harder to defend while allowing Chelsea’s wingers to play closer to the box. This will create second- and third-ball chances if Morata does not convert the initial shot, as Iago Aspas demonstrated against Liechtenstein.
One of Victor Moses’ greatest liabilities is his inability to get a cross past the first defender. Once Davide Zappacosta attains Antonio Conte’s requisite levels of fitness and tactical acumen he will provide stiff competition for Moses. A series of strong crosses with a few leading to goals against Qarabag or in the Carabao Cup could see him to the Premier League XI.
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Zappacosta, Fabregas and Alonso give Chelsea three axes of attack to Morata in the air. Fabregas and Chelsea’s wingers will serve Morata on the ground. Alvaro Morata and Davide Zappacosta are not marquee signings like other clubs made this summer. But in true Antonio Conte style, they may prove to be ideal partners in a well-built squad.