The two finalists of last year’s DFB Pokal crossed paths in tournament once again, this time with a spot in the big match in Berlin on the line. Freiburg would have come seeking revenge after their penalty shoot-out heartbreak last year, but they found themselves completely outplayed against a vintage Leipzig side. Tactical analysis and […]
Exciting relegation battles seem to be the norm across Europe’s big leagues this season. Whilst the Premier League’s nine-team scrap steals a lot of the spotlight, the battle at the bottom of the Bundesliga is not much less tense. The 28th round of fixtures kicked off with a huge six-pointer between the bottom two, with […]
If the narrative following Dortmund’s Der Klassiker defeat in the Bundesliga this past weekend centered around their inability to handle pressure, the post-match narrative of their exit from the DFB-Pokal will revolve around their inability to handle Leipzig’s intensity. Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Smoothy. Both teams came into this quarter-final on the […]
The biggest Klassiker in about a decade was some way to welcome the Bundesliga back after a short international break. Although they were only a point behind their rivals, Bayern Munich changed managers in these two weeks. Thomas Tuchel could not have asked for a bigger occasion to make his debut, but the pressure was […]
An early red card threw Bayern Munich into disarray and Borussia Mönchengladbach into their familiar role. Ultimately, up against their bogey team, Bayern shifted formations and struggled in vain for control against a patient and deadly Mönchengladbach. Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland. Despite a fast start to the season under Daniel Farke, […]
In a game where the stakes were high in terms of the top four battle and the title race, Union Berlin’s desire ultimately outdid eipzig’s poise. Union’s defensive shape became a talking point once again, as their opponents struggled to find solutions despite leading at half-time. Janik Haberer and Robin Knoche scored in the second […]
Borussia Dortmund maintained their winning start to 2023 with a comprehensive victory over SC Freiburg. The visitors had to play the majority of the game with ten-men but managed to go in level at half-time. The second half, however, was a different story. Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Smoothy. Prior to kick-off Dortmund […]
Bayern Munich have endured a weak start to the new year, and this fixture followed suit. A four goal haul pulled them clear of the hosts to secure all three points, but familiar weaknesses on the ball contributed to a contest in which Wolfsburg could have extended their winless streak. Tactical analysis and match report […]
The Bundesliga returned from its winter break with a top-of-the-table clash between leaders Bayern Munich and third-placed Leipzig. Usually, matches of this sort in Germany tend to be exciting end-to-end affairs, but that was not the case on this occasion. That was down to some tactical decisions, as well as the fact that the teams […]
The final round of Bundesliga fixtures before the winter break kicked off with a battle of the Borussias, as Dortmund visited Gladbach. Neither of them were not where they would have liked to have been at this stage of the season, and midweek defeats certainly did not help their respective causes. Both teams’ inconsistency meant […]