Meet Matheus Cunha, Hertha Berlin’s very own Roberto Firmino

Timo Werner and Kai Havertz may have, perhaps rightly, stolen the show since the Bundesliga returned. The RB Leipzig forward has added four goals to his tally in the four matches he’s appeared in while his compatriot, the Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid, has struck five times in four matches to continue his fine 2020 form. 

However, while all eyes have been on the German duo, Matheus Cunha has quietly been going about his business in the shadows. The 21-year-old moved to Hertha Berlin in January having found it difficult to break into Julian Nagelsmann’s Leipzig side. Up until the move to the German capital, the Brazilian was without a goal this term. He’s notched four times in his last five starts, including two in three since football returned. In the game he failed to score, a 2-2 draw with Die Roten Bullen, Cunha won the penalty which Hertha scored from to equalise late on.

Since the switch to the Olympiastadion, Cunha has averaged 0.66 goals per 90 from an expected goals average of 0.42. He’s quickly settled into life with Die Alte Dame.

Reports have recently emerged to suggest Internazionale are keen to add the former FC Sion forward to their ranks whenever the transfer window reopens. If his current form becomes the norm, the Serie A side won’t be the only team looking to pry him away from Berlin. 

You see, there’s a touch of Roberto Firmino about him. While perhaps not at first glance, when you scratch beneath the surface the comparison begins to make sense. Brazilian forwards used to be viewed as luxury players. They’d come alive when attacking but weren’t known to pull their weight defensively. That opinion may have changed over recent years, though you’d be forgiven for thinking Cunha was something of a throwback. There’s an arrogance to his game in the sense he’s a scorer of great goals but not necessarily a great goalscorer. 

The eye test paints him as a player who frustrates. But when you delve into his numbers you start to build a proper picture of him. Using Twenty3’s Content Toolbox, I was able to profile Cunha in a way to show how much he brings to the team all over the pitch, not just the final third.

Firstly, the Brazilian Under-23 international is an out ball for Bruno Labbadia’s side. You can see in the graphic above that Cunha attempts, by zone, a higher number of dribbles in his own half. He’s press-resistant, too, completing 77 per cent of all dribbles that he attempts. 

Wide forwards are often happy to isolate a full-back in the final third. Few, however, will take on the responsibility of helping their team build from the back. The Hertha No.26 is confident and comfortable enough on the ball to do that, and the team are happy enough to allow him the freedom to do it.

But it’s not only his on-ball ability that is proving invaluable for the team. Defensively, he’s relentless. Since Labbadia’s appointment, Hertha have increased their possession regains in the middle third and Cunha has been instrumental in that. As you can see from his Defensive Actions map above, the former RB Leipzig forward is highly active on and around the half-way line. Importantly though, he’s not just busy, but also very successful at regaining possession. In summary, Cunha is a nuisance for the opposition both with and without the ball. 

He’s far from the finished product though and his shot map shows that.

The greyed out circles are shots that didn’t land on target. What is noteworthy is that a large number of the Brazilian’s efforts come from outside the penalty area. These are usually low-value attempts and elite forwards tend to take the majority of their shots inside the box, increasing their chances of finding the back of the net. 

There’s a naivety to Cunha’s approach when in the final third, but that is likely due to his age. This is further evidenced by the fact he’s only had six shots on target from inside the six-yard area since the switch to Hertha. It’s definitely something he needs to work on if he’s to be a prolific scorer. 

However, if the 21-year-old isn’t the main goal threat, improving his finishing doesn’t need to be a priority. If he is to be more of a supplementary forward, like Firmino, then a few subtle tweaks to his game around the penalty area would see him be an ideal support act. And teams are always on the lookout for that sort of player. While Werner and Havertz will likely top wish lists when the transfer window opens, Cunha could be a transformative signing for many a team throughout Europe.