Mamadou Sangaré delivered nine defensive contributions, three tackles and three interceptions as Brentford drew 1–1 with Leeds. Deduction analyses a hard-working Round 2 performance that contrasted with his standout opening-week display.

Nine Defensive Contributions Define the Performance

The clearest indicator of Sangaré's influence was his defensive output.

He registered:

9 defensive contributions

including:

3 interceptions

3/4 tackles won

1 clearance

1 blocked shot

5 recoveries

That is a significant volume of defensive activity for a midfielder.

It suggests Sangaré was repeatedly involved in disrupting Leeds' possession and helping Brentford regain control.

75% Tackle Success

Sangaré attempted four tackles and won three.

3/4 — 75%

That is an efficient return.

Combined with his three interceptions, it demonstrates that he contributed both reactively and positionally.

Tackles represent direct contests for the ball.

Interceptions often reflect anticipation and positioning.

Sangaré produced both.

Five Recoveries Added to His Midfield Work

He also recovered possession:

5 times

That contributes to the picture of a midfielder heavily involved in second balls and transitions.

His Round 2 role was therefore less about supplying a decisive final pass and more about helping Brentford survive and reset possession.

11.4km Covered

Perhaps the best physical indicator of Sangaré's workload was:

11.4 kilometres covered

He also recorded:

8 sprints

and reached:

29.7 km/h

Those numbers support the defensive data.

This was not a passive midfield performance.

Sangaré was covering significant ground across 90 minutes, repeatedly moving between defensive and attacking phases.

Attacking Involvement Without the End Product

Sangaré still made a contribution going forward.

He recorded:

3 shots

0.21 xG

2 key passes

0.03 xA

The two key passes are encouraging.

But the low xA figure suggests those passes did not create particularly high-value opportunities.

That distinction matters.

A key pass tells us a pass led directly to a shot.

Expected assists tell us how likely that resulting shot was to become a goal.

So Sangaré created shooting opportunities, but not especially dangerous ones.

Three Shots, None on Target

Sangaré attempted:

3 shots

but:

0 were on target

Two were blocked.

His total xG was:

0.21

This suggests his chances were relatively modest overall.

For a central midfielder, three shots demonstrate attacking intent.

But failing to test the goalkeeper limited their value.

Passing Was Less Secure

One of the biggest differences from his opening-week performance was his passing.

Against Leeds:

42/56 passes — 75%

In Brentford's own half:

14/17 — 82%

In Leeds' half:

28/39 — 72%

That is respectable, but not particularly efficient.

His long distribution was a clear weakness:

2/7 long balls — 29%

This contributed to:

20 possession losses

from 81 touches.

That is a relatively high turnover count.

Why the 20 Possession Losses Matter

Sangaré lost possession:

20 times

This was one of the main factors limiting his overall rating.

Not every turnover carries the same significance.

Players attempting forward passes and longer distribution naturally lose the ball more often.

But when one player accounts for 20 possession losses, it becomes significant enough to examine.

His seven long-ball attempts were particularly inefficient, with only two finding their target.

That suggests some of Brentford's attempts to progress quickly through Sangaré broke down.

Progression Was Moderate

Sangaré registered:

13 carries

102.1m total carrying distance

1 progressive carry

59.3m total progression

32.4m progressive carrying distance

These are solid rather than exceptional figures.

Unlike some of Deduction's standout carrying performances this season, Sangaré's influence against Leeds was not built primarily through carrying the ball.

Instead, his strongest contribution came through:

ball winning

interceptions

recoveries

and

work rate.

Duel Success Was Mixed

Sangaré won:

5/11 ground duels — 45%

and:

1/3 aerial duels — 33%

Those percentages are less convincing than his tackle statistics.

This distinction is important.

He was efficient when making actual tackle attempts, but across the broader range of physical contests, Leeds had more success competing with him.

Round 1 vs Round 2

The contrast between Sangaré's opening two matches is particularly interesting.

Round 1 vs Tottenham

Rating: 7.3

1 assist

0.33 xA

1 big chance created

2 key passes

7 recoveries

6 defensive contributions

Round 2 vs Leeds

Rating: 6.6

0 assists

0.03 xA

2 key passes

5 recoveries

9 defensive contributions

The role remained all-action.

The outcome changed.

Against Tottenham, Sangaré's defensive work was combined with decisive attacking output.

Against Leeds, the defensive work remained strong, but the attacking quality dropped.

That difference helps explain the fall from 7.3 to 6.6.

More Defensive Influence, Less Attacking Efficiency

In some respects, Sangaré actually became more active defensively in Round 2.

His defensive contributions increased from:

6 → 9

But his xA fell from:

0.33 → 0.03

and he no longer had the assist or big chance creation that elevated his opening performance.

This is an important example of why ratings should not be read in isolation.

The 6.6 does not mean Sangaré suddenly played poorly.

It means the type of contribution changed.

Early Two-Match Profile

Across Brentford's opening two league games, a pattern is already emerging.

Sangaré is showing himself as a midfielder capable of contributing in several phases:

ball recovery

interceptions

tackling

chance creation

carrying

and

high work-rate coverage

His opening performance demonstrated what happens when those defensive contributions are combined with direct attacking production.

The Leeds match demonstrated his value when Brentford instead needed him to compete and recover possession repeatedly.

Deduction Player Analysis

Mamadou Sangaré 🇲🇱 — Brentford

Match Rating: 6.6

Standout numbers:

🛡️ 9 defensive contributions

⚔️ 3/4 tackles won

🧠 3 interceptions

♻️ 5 recoveries

🎯 2 key passes

🏃 11.4km covered

📈 59.3m total progression

But:

❌ 20 possession losses

🎯 2/7 long balls

⚽ 0/3 shots on target

📉 0.03 xA

Deduction Verdict

Mamadou Sangaré's second Premier League appearance was less eye-catching than his excellent Round 1 performance against Tottenham, but it still revealed substantial value.

His 9 defensive contributions, three interceptions, three successful tackles and five recoveries demonstrate how heavily involved he was in Brentford's midfield battle.

The main limitations came in possession.

He lost the ball 20 times, completed only two of seven long passes and failed to hit the target with any of his three shots.

That combination helps explain the 6.6 rating.

The broader early-season picture, however, remains encouraging.

Across two matches, Sangaré has already demonstrated two different sides of his game.

Against Tottenham, he combined defensive work with creativity and an assist.

Against Leeds, he provided more defensive volume but less attacking efficiency.

Final Score

Leeds United 1–1 Brentford

African Player Rating

🇲🇱 Mamadou Sangaré — 6.6

Deduction Key Metric

9 defensive contributions | 3 interceptions | 3/4 tackles won

Round 1 showed Sangaré's attacking influence. Round 2 showed the midfielder underneath it.

Deduction Football Intelligence — Tracking African Players Across the Globe.