Paranaense found dominance in this match through their diagonal threat and sustained pressure off the ball. Internacional seemed far too reluctant to keep the ball down and, rather, pumped hopeful balls into the channels time and time again. As the game ebbed away, it took a little more than what both sides had been doing […]

Is Jorge Sampaoli taking a leaf out of Jürgen Klopp’s book?

After Palmeiras were able to neutralize Paranaense’s early possession – by limiting the options forward for playmaker Guimarães – a flurry of chances either way opened up the game. One open goal miss and twenty-nine Paranaense fouls later, the winner was found; courtesy of substitute Raphael Vega’s 80th minute penalty. Tactical analysis and match report […]

More fouls than one could count and a last minute winner. This game started slow but all it took was a tropical storm to open it right up. Sloppy defending from a late set piece saw Rodrigo Caio free at the back post, as the central defender put the tie to bed. Flamengo went through […]

Palmeiras showed some fluidity in attack in the first half and were generally the dominant team, albeit without creating a crazy amount of chances. In typical pragmatic Scolari style, they did enough to go in at half-time with a single goal lead. In the second half, Palmeiras sat back as Chapecoense chased the game. However […]

Grêmio’s awful league form continues, the latest chapter being a 1-0 away defeat to high-flyers Bahia. The home side’s defensive block and expressive passing system caused massive problems for Grêmio throughout, leaving them with one win in their first seven league matches. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. Bahia’s start to the 2019 […]