The Leeds United faithful arrived into the game with little hope of survival. Their worst fears came true, with Tottenham Hotspur capitalizing on their defensive errors time and again. Early goals in both halves undid all of Sam Allardyce’s meticulous plans as Elland Road was confronted with the harsh reality of relegation. Tactical analysis and […]
In a night that would shape but not settle the final standings in the race for Europe, Rennes struck an invaluable victory over AS Monaco. It was a big win for Rennes and another stumble in Monaco’s tragicomic pursuit of European football. Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland. A few weeks ago Phillippe […]
Enjoying a brilliant final part of the season, Inter sprinted off the blocks with thunderous power, scoring twice in the opening three minutes and setting the tone in a decisive match to secure a top-four spot. Atalanta rallied back in their usual attacking fashion but ultimately left too much space behind their defensive line which […]
A nervous energy was close to home for a pair of teams that longed to forget the woes of the previous few months with the guarantee of a place in the Champions League. However, that tension gave way to exhaustion rather than exhilaration. Neither put on a firework display, so the man in the mood […]
Leicester City showed a fairly good possession game in their 4-3-3 system, earning them a two goal lead as they fought to avoid relegation. West Ham became more proactive in the second half with some good wing play, but ultimately could not find the equalizer. Despite this, the win was not enough for Leicester, who […]
Sixty-nine years in England’s top flight, Abdoulaye Doucouré ensured that the clock was not going to reset. Despite another Goodison Park miracle, the bigger picture looms: with the finances and money spent, Everton should never have gotten into this position. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. Judgment day began with Everton in pole […]
Destiny was not in the hands of the reigning champions. But Bayern Munich could only aspire to cling to their Bundesliga crown if they first gained three points to take care of their business. On a day when both the title chasers exhibited the frailties that have led to this race, a moment of magic […]
Dortmund held all the cards prior to kick-off. But it was Bayern holding the Bundesliga trophy after full-time. A dramatic final day was defined by a ten minute period in which Dortmund conceded two goals, with a missed penalty sandwiched in between, to leave the Black and Yellow with the bitter taste of regret. Tactical […]
Both teams may have bigger fish to fry, but how calm waters affect a good catch. In that case, Fiorentina ground out a great result, having controlled the ball for long periods, whereas AS Roma yielded space after they opened the scoring. How such margins can affect the bigger picture in prospective. Tactical analysis and […]
Manchester United took the lead early on but experienced some defensive issues in the first half in their man-oriented system. The second half saw an improvement in this aspect, and they were able to tear Chelsea apart with their counter-attacking game, earning a dominant win to secure Champions League football next season. Tactical analysis and […]