Mikel Arteta went for the same formula that got the best of Manchester City last season: some pressing, some great buildup play and a whole lot of defending in a deep 5-4-1 formation. Though losing a final is never a good thing, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp might be even more worried about how easy Arsenal […]
In a match eventually dominated by Olympique Lyonnais, Dijon managed to take the lead and sit back, presenting the hosts with the challenge of breaking down a compact defensive block. Lyon manager Rudi Garcia had prepared his team well for this occasion but still needed a penalty and a few moments of genius by Memphis […]
After keeping Bayern at bay with some smart pressing, PSG missed the chances they created in the first half. The second half was a lot more even and eventually tilted Bayern’s way, as PSG could never recover from a Kingsley Coman header, meaning Hansi Flick’s machine continued their remarkable run and won the biggest prize […]
In a match in which both managers fumbled the selection of their starting eleven and two red cards were handed out, it took until halfway through the second stanza before the fixture took flight. The introduction of teenage sensation Eduardo Camavinga in the sixty-fourth minute changed the complexion of the game and overshadowed the debut […]
As the world yearns for a sense of “normality”, Sevilla getting their hands on the Europa League is the closest we have got so far. After neatly exploiting Internazionale’s pressing structure, Sevilla would constantly evade pressure and produce smart combinations within their buildup. In the end, the game would not be defined by oozing moves […]
Olympique Lyon looked the brighter of the two sides in the opening minutes, but a superb strike from Serge Gnabry initiated a period of Bavarian domination that rarely looked in danger of being stopped. Lyon had plenty of half-chances including a few excellent opportunities to reflect their performance in this game, but wayward finishing from […]
Leipzig took up a relatively passive defensive scheme which helped PSG to take the initiative from the start. PSG’s own possession play was strong, as they were able to outplay Leipzig in deeper areas and find suitable roles for the front three. PSG were 2-0 up by half-time, and the more aggressive setup taken by […]
A dominance of possession came to nothing as structural issues in attack surfaced for Shakhtar Donetsk. Inter’s stern 5-3-2 defensive block proved to be impenetrable for the toiling Shakhtar outfit. Inter’s high press caused Shakhtar into buildup errors which the Italians ruthlessly capitalized on, to claim a win that never looked under threat. Tactical analysis […]
Impressive fluidity during the buildup combined with world-class performances from Éver Banega, Joan Jordán and Yassine Bounou sent Sevilla to their sixth Europa League final. Ole Gunnar Solskjær did not have an answer to every single tactical problem that his Spanish counterpart presented him, but could have still left as a winner if his defenders […]
An over-conservative approach by Pep Guardiola prevented City from having the necessary impact his strategy required, eventually crumbling to a mix of individual mistakes, structural dilemmas, and Lyon’s clinical finishing. Tactical analysis and match report by Kareem Bianchi. After convincingly knocking out Real Madrid in the Round of Sixteen, Manchester City were given the luxury […]