A Robert Lewandoski brace, along with two goals from Alejandro Baldé and Jules Koundé crowned Barcelona LaLiga champions with four games to spare. Xavi’s side established absolute dominance since the kick-off whistle, with their crosstown rivals showing little resistance. Tactical analysis and match report by Huu Trung. “We want it today” Barça’s official Twitter account […]
It was not the resounding win that Barcelona fans were hoping for in Xavi’s first match as manager, but they did snag all three points against their cross-town rivals. Despite losing, Espanyol were solid defensively throughout the match, and they nearly grabbed an equalizer multiple times late on. Tactical analysis and match report by Charlie […]
Atlético Madrid started the match off slowly, going down to a Raul De Tomás goal late in the first half. Diego Simeone’s half-time substitutions would end up making the difference in the match, as they opened up this Espanyol side and were able to play through their tight defensive structure that had repelled Atlético Madrid […]
For decades, the British isles have been thought of as the home of directness, long balls and the 4-4-2 formation. However, in 2020, teams in LaLiga seem to be using these tactics more than teams in the English Premier League. Written by José Pérez. Spanish teams now implement 4-4-2 blocks and other formations with two […]
Espanyol genuinely made life hard for Barcelona at Camp Nou by playing in a very compact and well-functioning 5-3-1-1 formation. Only past the midway point of the second half did the home side find a way to score and this essentially ended the game, after what had been a very interesting, yet one-sided seventy minutes […]
An initially conservative Espanyol changed their approach after Messi’s first brilliant free kick goal. However, Barcelona’s fire power of Suárez, Dembélé and a stellar Messi still came out on the top in the ensuing battle of pressing systems and defense-to-attack transitions. The second half saw Espanyol unable to change this dynamic from the bench. Tactical […]
Real Madrid dominated the first half thanks to Julen Lopetegui’s increasingly familiar possession-based strategy and assured performances from his midfielders. This changed in the second period, as Lopetegui made second half substitutions that lost them control of the game and allowed Espanyol chances to equalize the final 1-0 scoreline. Espanyol manager Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia, […]