A game-changing refereeing mistake in stoppage time proved decisive for the visitors, but were they worthy of their point? In a game so precisely planned out by each coach, defensively speaking, it was hard to separate the two sides, as highlighted by the manner of the two goals. Tactical analysis and match report by Peter […]
In this second leg of the Copa Libertadores semi-final, Grêmio improved their pressing game with a reworked midfield trio. However, Flamengo found several solutions to overcome the press, especially from the boots of Filipe Luis, and ultimately dominated the game. In the second half, one early goal led to Grêmio’s collapse and an avalanche of […]
Dortmund dominated possession in the first half but failed to create dangerous situations, while Inter used their only real chance to take the lead. Dortmund’s good possession game improved even more in the second half and caused Inter serious problems, but eventually their defense was good enough to retain the lead. In the end, a […]
In a game labelled as do-or-die for Zinedine Zidane after only one point in the first two games in the Champions League Group A, Real Madrid managed to escape Istanbul with all three points thanks to an early Toni Kroos goal. The game offered plenty of chances for both sides, but a severe lack of […]
Argentine power houses Boca Juniors and River Plate clashed once again in the second leg of this huge Copa Libertadores semi-final matchup. Boca would need to take control early in their world-famous La Bombonera stadium and grab the goals needed to progress. In the end, Boca proved unable to produce the offensive prowess needed to […]
Two evenly matched sides delivered a high-energy game with few genuine chances. The match was defined by the way both teams pressed and it titled Chelsea’s way late, as Michy Batshuayi scored a late winner. Tactical analysis and match report by Erik Elias. The appointment of Frank Lampard as Chelsea manager was greeted with […]
Atlético Madrid’s stubborn defensive shape frustrated Bayer Leverkusen all evening, as the guests were unable to progress through their buildup play, or establish the lengthy spells of possession they have become accustomed to in the Bundesliga. The staccato nature of the match served Atlético well, as they hunkered down and found a winner through second-half […]
Manchester City were too much for a good, yet, helpless Atalanta Bergamo side, who faced the fourth evolution of the juggernaut Pep Guardiola has been molding for years. The visitors simply could not keep up and now they find themselves in a tough spot in their Champions League debut season. Zero points after three games. […]
Philadelphia were the better team in the first half, but saw themselves 1-3 down at half-time against the efficient Red Bulls. Their attacks became even more direct in the second half, which helped them to dominate the game and prevented New York’s counters to tie the game. The game was finally decided by a deflected […]
Manchester United came into this game with a tactical surprise as Ole Gunnar Solskjær deployed a new 5-2-1-2 system against Liverpool. United’s pressing was able to blunt Liverpool’s attacking play in the first half and they were able to catch the away side on the counterattack to go ahead. In the second half Liverpool made […]