Liverpool brought their usual pressing aggression into this game and kept Arsenal pinned into their own half. However, on one of the few occasions where Arsenal were able to play through the press, they went 1-0 up. This did not last long though, as Liverpool continued to dominate after equalizing quickly via Sadio Mané. Andrew […]
With Ronald Koeman at the managerial helm, this was the beginning of a new Barcelona chapter. A dazzling Fati performance highlighted the cohesive left flank of Barcelona’s 4-2-3-1 formation. From the support from Alba and De Jong to the central connections being constantly available, Barcelona’s left caused plenty of danger. Villarreal failed to deal with […]
A strong defense from Roma was met by Juve’s issues in possession, turning the game into an uncontrollable event eventually settled by moments of individual quality. The visitors, after a promising start in the Serie A, left Rome with a reality check. Against Roma it seemed that, in their 3-5-2 shape, a consistent buildup through […]
Hoffenheim’s 5-3-2 low to medium block stymied Bayern’s wing progressions, while their commitment to the long ball negated Bayern’s pressing dominance and in the process robbed the guests of a key facet of their game. Stubborn finishing made matters worse for Flick’s side, as Hoffenheim romped to a lavish victory. Tactical analysis and match report […]
The start of the game was promising for Manchester City, as they went ahead early through a spectacular Riyad Mahrez strike and continued to dominate possession and territory for much of the first half. However, some undisciplined defending allowed Leicester to equalize before half-time. This theme would continue in the second half, as City conceded […]
Neither side looked convincing in possession and as a result this match became one based largely in transition play. Rennes opted for a flat back four in their 4-1-4-1 formation, which restricted ASSE’s dynamic wing play, but also limited their offense. Ghastly defensive errors proved the difference with the young Saint-Étienne side showing their age […]
A world-class performance by Franck Ribéry was not enough to give Fiorentina the win in a match that fully represented the beauty and emotion football can produce. Antonio Conte returned to his 3-4-1-2 formation with the intention to take full advantage of Eriksen’s potential, but experienced an overall problematic performance by his team. A combination […]
Catch your breath if you can in this one: red cards, penalties, goals, own goals, tactical adjustments and everything a fan can hope for came into play for this quite sensational five-goal thriller, which really could have tipped so much further in the visitor’s direction. Tactical analysis and match report by Peter Munnelly. Entering the ring […]
Manchester United picked up their first three points of the season, but not in the style they would have wanted. Brighton and Hove Albion’s possession structure gave them the control, smashing the woodwork on numerous occasions. Just when they thought they grabbed a deserved point, a penalty awarded after the full-time whistle, gave United the […]
A fast-paced affair at the BayArena ended in a draw as neither side was able to create a lot of chances. Julian Nagelsmann’s touchline theatrics laid bare his frustrations, as Leipzig’s lack of offensive prowess threatened to cast a pall on the manager’s sophomore season. Tactical analysis and match report by Manasvin Andra. With both […]