Bayern Munich have once again dominated Germany and Europe regardless of the opposition, but there are chinks in the armor that Bo Svensson’s Mainz sought to exploit. The result was a fascinating chess match where Mainz’s Plan A almost neutralized Bayern, before Jamal Musiala came through to deliver the win. Tactical analysis and match report […]
Tweaks to the buildup shape and solid defensive organization helped RB Leipzig overwhelm Borussia Mönchengladbach in the first half, which set the stage for new manager Domenico Tedesco to claim victory on his debut. On the other hand, counterpart Adi Hütter may just feel his seat getting warmer, as Gladbach slumped to a third consecutive defeat […]
As a kid, the first time you see a magnet, it just fully grabs your attention. An object that immediately pulls another object without any tangible connection in between. Magic! Just like Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on their day. Written by Ahmed Walid. As you grow older, you learn about magnetic forces and magnetic fields. […]
The final act of the Champions League group stage would feature at Bergamo, the home of the divine. But, falling to a hefty deficit, Atalanta could not conjure up an otherworldly outcome as Villarreal’s crafty frontline stole the show in a thrilling five goal encounter. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. Villarreal’s trip […]
At the beginning of the season, not even the biggest skeptic would have suggested that falling into the Europa League was within the range of potential outcomes that awaited Barcelona this side of the Lionel Messi era. Yet that is precisely the future that Xavi’s group now faces, as Bayern Munich picked up where they […]
Amid a busy schedule, two of Serie A’s main draws came to a head. In matching Atalanta’s formation, Napoli pulled the usual manoeuvres, to varying success, to try to exploit Atalanta’s man-marking. But it was some of the usual suspects who popped up to give Atalanta the edge in a battle where isolated moments were […]
Twenty seven minutes marked 27 years of disappointment for Everton, but more than a decade of decay for Arsenal has been enough to last a lifetime. Project Youth may have lost the magic in the final third that was a hallmark of the team from the past, yet the tradition of gifting teams in crisis […]
It was a dominant performance from Real Madrid, as they made light work of La Real at both ends of the pitch. The Karim Benzema-less attack still succeeded through goals from Luka Jović and Vinícius Junior, while Éder Militão put in his best performance of the LaLiga campaign so far to earn Real Madrid a […]
In case beating one title contender, 3-2, wasn’t enough, West Ham pushed Chelsea’s immovable defense to its limit. Adjustments made by Moyes proved crucial, as access through the center was gained and mistakes from opponents were punished. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. Having cracked the Liverpool code, West Ham United’s season had begun […]
Derby day delight for Liverpool compounded heaps of Evertonian despair. Thanks to a fine inside job from an old red, the hosts’ wild approach was a clear second best to the fluidity and organization of an outfit that emphatically backed up their right to bid for the league title. Tactical analysis and match report by […]