The box midfield has never been so popular. Whether it comes from John Stones stepping forward, Gavi going central or Oleksandr Zinchenko zipping inside, the elites have found a new toy to play with. But is the use of the inverted fullback causing tactical dilemmas with control? Written by Joel Parker. We decided to make this […]
If Arsenal were serious about a title charge, now was the time to send a statement. Home soil, missing midfielders, and a weapon waiting in the wings were a welcome window of opportunity to end a rotten record. Even though their display did not dazzle, the hosts would pass this test. Tactical analysis and match […]
Liverpool slightly adapted their pressing shape, not the first to do this against Brighton & Hove Albion this season. Although this put Brighton in uncomfortable situations, Roberto De Zerbi is determined to find answers within his distinct framework. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. We decided to make this article free to read. If […]
Two of the Bundesliga’s Champions League contestants clashed on Saturday in what might have been the weekend’s Topspiel on paper, but never promised to be an overly exciting game considering both teams’ recent performances. Ultimately, we did see a lot of goals between Borussia Dortmund and Union Berlin, but both sides’ showings left a lot […]
Manchester City returned to winning ways, and it was indeed a challenging battle against an in-form RB Leipzig side. Pep Guardiola essentially went back to his tried-and-true system and the players who were instrumental in achieving the treble last season. This approach bore fruit, partly due to the contributions of substitutes Julián Álvarez and Jérémy […]
The flexible passages of Atalanta Bergamo once polarized a competition dominated by Juventus. Two entities attempted to figure one another out, but as the game progressed, thoughts of this fixture’s magnitude in yesteryear would cast a harsh reality. Atalanta and Juventus need to do a lot more in order to battle for the crown. Tactical […]
Barcelona and Sevilla clashed on Friday night to complete a full week of daily LaLiga fixtures. The intense fixture schedule already seemed to be taking a toll on the players so there were a lot of rotations – some enforced and some voluntary – but Barcelona just about managed to get the job done and […]
Le Classique usually offered up the promise of a title race, but with Marseille in self-inflicted turmoil and Paris Saint-Germain in the green shoots stages of its project, there was a different feeling to the buildup of the game. In its place was something more intangible but no less vital – pride. Tactical analysis and […]
Refusing to deviate from their playing style, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur side had the majority of possession in the first half of this game, showing bravery against Arsenal’s pressing. Arsenal were still able to create chances though, and Spurs had to show character to come from behind twice to earn a draw. Tactical analysis and […]
One could pardon passive followers of this clash for thinking it was a classic. While seven goals featured at the Allianz Arena, drama in the box made up for most of what happened out of it. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. We decided to make this article free to read. If you […]