When Real Madrid is crowned Champions of Europe, their offensive work is often at the forefront. This was a very different story. Huge defensive interventions and a towering keeper between the posts rose to the occasion to blunt the greatest of Liverpool attacks, to honour Real Madrid for the fourteenth time. Tactical analysis and match […]
The final of the first ever UEFA Conference League pitted managers of opposite backgrounds, with the men in the dugout representing historic teams who have nevertheless been left behind by football’s widening economic gulf. In the end, a solitary goal dashed the ambitions of Dutch outfit Feyenoord, with José Mourinho’s Roma coming out on top […]
City have a robust tradition around final day drama for a club with ‘no history.’ Indeed, the events of a decade ago are in a league of their own, but always willing to entertain, the reigning champions produced a stressful spectacle with a stunning scoring spree to retain their crown. Tactical analysis and match report […]
Though Barcelona controlled much of the match, Unai Emery’s Villarreal were lethal on the counterattack, making Barcelona pay for throwing numbers forward in attack. Goals from Alfonso Pedraza and Moi Gómez were more than enough to get Villarreal across the line, though Barcelona’s lack of urgency (and motivation) late in the match played a heavy […]
The day was out of Liverpool’s hands, but Wolves’ combative approach threw early problems their way. An uphill battle with an opening insight: although they got the control they needed, the clouds drew over the shine of Premier League silverware. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. The greatest of domestic prizes, culminating on the […]
In the first of three continental finals of the 2021/22 club football season in Europe, Eintracht Frankfurt took on Rangers in Seville to decide the fate of the Europa League trophy. Neither side had lifted a major continental trophy in over four decades, but that record changed for Frankfurt after a tense and tactical intriguing […]
When Domenico Tedesco was called upon to take over from Jesse Marsch, a misfiring RasenBallsport Leipzig were struggling to remain in the top four hunt. Now, Tedesco has them on the cusp of a first ever trophy, with European football secured for next season. How has the Italian-born coach achieved this turnaround? And what do […]
Southampton went ahead early on through Nathan Redmond’s strike, but this was one of the last serious Southampton attacks that would be seen in the match, as Liverpool went on to dominate. Liverpool perhaps lacked their usual cutting edge, but eventually got the goals they deserved as they came away with a 2-1 win. Tactical […]
Arsenal’s destiny was still in their hands before kickoff in the two horse race to get back into the Champions League, but their hosts were in no mood to underwhelm an expectant crowd. The Magpies honed the role of jokers to spoil an ideal script: will the process be all for nothing? Tactical analysis and […]
Though it was Luis Suárez’s last home match for Atlético Madrid, he would not be the Uruguayan to get on the scoresheet for the home side. José María Giménez grabbed the opener thirty minutes into the match, which allowed Atlético Madrid to sit in and defend their lead for the remainder of the game. Nearly […]