In their almost identical three-at-the-back shapes, the onus was on Atlético to breach a stubborn Granada as the hosts ceded ball control. There was promise in their possession, especially with Koke in full control, but It would be second-half positional changes which would prompt the difference in the final third. Simeone’s men found the edge […]
Liverpool set out like a side with a point to prove. A mix of intensity and guile put the visitors in a firm position of control, cutting through the hosts’ 4-4-2 setup. But on taking a deserved lead, a familiar narrative emerged to turn the game on its head in a frantic seven minute spell. […]
Gennaro Gattuso’s buildup ideas combined with a sloppy Juventus press helped Napoli start the match better and create some important chances. In the second half, Juventus’ press became more intense as Napoli started finding less and less solutions. The periods of Juventus’ dominance were characterized by wing play and lots of crosses that did not […]
Protracted and substandard. This wasn’t your usual Guardiola and Mourinho matchup, yet the alarming ease in which Manchester City brushed past Tottenham Hotspur made this a big talking point in each other’s seasons. City were able to play on autopilot, with rehearsed movements getting them past the block, whilst Spurs looked clueless and deprived of […]