Having found a way to strike its prey, Manchester City still needed its sharpest tools to puncture through. Newcastle United had worked its way into a valuable lead, but Pep Guardiola deployed Kevin de Bruyne where all of their creativity had been flowing. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. We decided to make […]

It is not in the DNA of Real Madrid to quit. A manic match in Saudi Arabia was more proof of this indomitable quality. The bragging rights returned to the white half of the Spanish capital— at least for the next seven days— as the new year reinforced the same standard for success. Tactical analysis […]

The Trophée des Champions pitted league winners, Paris Saint-Germain, against first-time Coupe de France champions, Toulouse. Normally, with a final there would be the suggestion of parity before the first whistle but this was a match that would see 1st in the league up against 16th.  Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland. We […]

Two sides from the English capital faced off on New Year’s Eve. Having registered just one win in their last five matches, Arsenal really needed all three points to not only rescue some semblance of momentum but also top the standings at the turn of the year. Instead, they suffered yet another defeat having put […]

Arsenal, again, are top of the tree for Christmas— and their central defenders are at the heart of the latest chapter in that tale. Even if scores of yesteryear were not on the cards, the horrors of Anfield annihilation flashed before their eyes in phases of this contest. But, in the end, the stabilizers in […]

For the first time in a fair few years, the Club World Cup final felt like the much-awaited spectacle it ought to be. Manchester City versus Fluminense was not only a match between the best teams from Europe and South America, but it was also built up represent a wider clash between two differing approaches […]

Juventus extended their impressive unbeaten run to ten games with a typical one-goal win over Napoli. As ever, their defensive work stood out as their ultra compact block saw out the win after they took the lead, but what preceded that was quite interesting from a tactical standpoint. Tactical analysis and match report by Neel […]

All but one of the last twelve clashes between these two clubs have offered at least three goals. This edition would follow that tradition but became a battle of two distinct possession plans, rewarding a different attitude and approach from the guests than under their prior leaders. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. […]

Kylian Mbappé scored a controversial late penalty to deny Newcastle United a historic win in Paris. While Paris Saint-Germain controlled the majority of the game, they faced challenges in breaking down Newcastle’s defense until second-half substitutes changed the course of the game. Tactical analysis and match report by Rahul Madhavan. We decided to make this article […]

Only two points separated the league leaders from their hosts in second, as Internazionale visited Juventus in a Derby D’Italia that many thought would lay down an early marker in the burgeoning title race. A stalemate was probably what should have been expected from two teams with near-identical records.  Tactical analysis and match report by […]