After a furious start, Lille failed to convert one of their big chances in the first fifteen minutes. It was Bordeaux that scored the only goal of the game in this period and managed to shut down their opponents’ offense afterwards. Lille’s manager Christophe Galtier did not try anything to improve their dysfunctional offense for […]
Internazionale completed a fine week of results despite repeatedly showing vulnerabilities. ACF Fiorentina put them under sustained pressure and was sold short in the final result. Goals were only loosely connected to the tactical story on display, which revolved around Inter finding ways around Fiorentina’s high central pressing. Inter came into this Serie A match […]
Olympique Lyon capped off a tremendous week in style as they beat rivals Olympique Marseille at home in le Choc des Olympiques. The game was more entertaining and end-to-end than it was high quality. Brilliant individual performances and a clear difference in offensive efficiency set the two teams apart. Lyon set up in the 4-4-1-1 […]
Eusebio Sacristán knows Barcelona both as an opponent and from within, having spent part of his own coaching journey with the club’s B team. While managing Real Sociedad, he had plenty of success against the Barça, especially at Anoeta, with his high press and technical midfield always a combination that caused Barça plenty of problems. […]
Arsenal controlled the ball, but Everton was the more threatening team. That was until Alexandre Lacazette’s quality finish and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal from an offside position decided the game for an Arsenal team that otherwise struggled to create. Arsenal recovered from a tough start to the season, with losses to Manchester City and Chelsea, by […]
Real Madrid dominated the first half thanks to Julen Lopetegui’s increasingly familiar possession-based strategy and assured performances from his midfielders. This changed in the second period, as Lopetegui made second half substitutions that lost them control of the game and allowed Espanyol chances to equalize the final 1-0 scoreline. Espanyol manager Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia, […]
Manchester United dominated possession and defended well against Wolverhampton Wanderers’ main threats, but struggled to create goal-scoring opportunities. Man United controlled the first half, but João Moutinho’s equalizer brought the game back to where United is uncomfortable. Wolves ended up close to stealing a win. Manchester United reacted from two straight defeats with three away […]
Internazionale looked like being held to a goalless stalemate away at UC Sampdoria had it not been for Marcelo Brozović’s superb last-gasp winner. The home side began strong, but it was Inter’s sustained pressure and tactical tweaks that arguably sealed the win for Luciano Spalletti’s men. Marco Giampaolo’s Sampdoria has found their feet in the […]
Domenico Tedesco’s plans for an upset against Bayern were crushed by an early goal from James Rodríguez. Thanks to excellent fullback play by Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba, Bayern nullified the Schalke press and cruised to victory. This season, Domenico Tedesco’s Schalke 04 is still without a win in the Bundesliga. Not a great time […]
Football is not fair and sometimes the ‘Football Gods’ like to remind us of that fact. The point with which Dortmund left Hoffenheim can be seen as such a reminder. How talent can make up for faulty tactics. Julian Nagelsmann’s final season as manager of Hoffenheim, before he takes over the reigns at RB Leipzig […]