Carlo Ancelotti’s switch to a 5-3-2 defensive shape was sensible and organized, against a Manchester City team that missed their usual fluency. However, the missing offensive plan and loss of defensiv...

Entering the second leg with a slim lead, Real Madrid stuttered against Atalanta’s 5-2-2-1 pressing setup. But the muscle memory of their stars on a big European night proved too much to handle. With ...

Setting the tone for European conquest with a 2-0 win in the first leg, Manchester City looked to finish off the job. Relentless from the off, their fluid 4-3-3 system caused all manner of problems fo...

Monaco’s different defensive shapes kept a Lille side lacking buildup ideas quiet. Lille showed they are masters of the  defensive fundamentals in their 4-4-2 block, neutralizing Niko Kovač’ 3-4-2-1 s...

Given their off form, a derby day matchup against a competitive Real Betis outfit was one of the last things Sevilla would have wanted. But despite their usual tactical issues, a mixture of individual...

The meeting of two of the Bundesliga’s most tactically interesting sides resulted in a draw, with similar ideas having a neutralizing effect in the absence of superior personnel. Eintracht Frankfurt’s...

In a battle of matching 4-2-3-1 shapes, a balanced contest was played out. Despite some issues in their press, Napoli stifled much of the Milan chance creation while Insigne and company grew into the ...

The North London derby followed a similar chain of events, in terms of Arsenal control and Tottenham Hotspur defense. However, flexibility down Arsenal’s left channel and Spurs’ incapabilities of defe...

A team with an already established style of play faced an opponent in search of identity. As a result, different formations, ways to press and buildup approaches were on full display. Stade Brestois d...

The first encounter between Marcelo Bielsa and Thomas Tuchel did not live up to expectation. Leeds United’s aggressive pressing and Chelsea’s unorthodox shape in the first half, led to limited chances...