Liverpool earned two wins in two games in comfortable fashion, beating Chelsea 0-2. It was a 4-3-3 v 4-3-3 contest. But both systems had contrasting approaches to pressing, with Liverpool unsurprisingly dominant in the oppositions half. Wide forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane shined in Liverpool’s presumed game plan, and showed their work-rate and quality as Chelsea’s own tactics played into Liverpool’s hands.
After having ended last season terribly, with no wins in their final eight games, Crystal Palace kicked off their new campaign perfectly with a vital win over Southampton.
There were no distinct changes to Palace’s tactical set-up, but there was a reignited sense of organisation that you’d have come to expect, and why the disappointing end to the season wasn’t fatal.
Southampton, although having more chances on goal, found it difficult breaking down Palace’s rigid shape. Their full-backs were outlets aiming to stretch the pitch, but Palace’s own width won the game with one quick counter-attack.
Embed from Getty Images Continue reading “A winger, two full-backs, and a low-block set the tone for Palace’s win vs. Southampton”Free-scoring Bayern Munich were crowned Champions League winners for the 6th time after defeating debut finalists Paris Saint-Germain, but by only the single goal, a score line not many would have predicted prior to kick-off.
Although Bayern dominated the ball, they didn’t necessarily dominate the game for 90 minutes, with both sides only dominating for moments at a time. Both sides had good chances to score. And although there wasn’t one particular tactic that decided the result of the game, the game did oversee some interesting features – yes, Bayern kept their high line, and both sides exhibited compact pressing and duels in the wide areas.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United were in sensational form, especially during the second-half, in their 5-0 demolition of Stoke City. Leeds came into the game in search of returning to the top of the Championship, and things really started to kick-on after the game’s opening goal on the stroke of half-time, where up until that point, Stoke’s tactics without the ball were working to good effect.
Leeds kicked off in their expected 4-1-4-1, with full-back Stuart Dallas and winger Helder Costa returning to the starting XI. Stoke City set-up in a 3-4-3 with Tommy Smith and James McClean as wing-backs, arguably with intent on shutting down Leeds attacks whilst sacrificing possession, and countering quickly. Michael O’Neil is familiar with back three/five systems, given his time as manager of Northern Ireland.
Continue reading “Leeds United 5-0 Stoke City: Leeds’ patient build-up play outwits Stoke’s 5-4-1”
Leeds United went top of the Championship table after beating promotion rivals Fulham 3-0 in what was an encounter perhaps more even than the score line suggests. Fulham had more chances in the first-half, as well as having more of the ball. But in the midst of that, Leeds took the lead, and played their part in what was a contest of two presses.
However, the home side would take full control in the second-half following a smart set of changes from Marcelo Bielsa, one of those being to introduce midfielder Pablo Hernandez.
Here’s some tactical reporting on the pressing from both sides, and the impact of Bielsa’s changes in the second-half.
Continue reading “Leeds and Fulham both press high up and Hernandez’s second-half brilliance”
In this season’s heated race for promotion to the Premier League, whether that be automatically or via the playoffs, Brentford came up against West Bromwich Albion, who prior to the match topped the table.
Brentford would win the match 1-0, and though it was a close tie, Brentford formed some good attacks down the left flank with full-back, no.8 and winger combining.
Continue reading “Brentford’s left flank combinations help settle big Championship tie”
Football in England is growing accustom to post-lockdown proceedings, and this weekend oversaw the restart of the EFL Championship. It was decided games would be played rather than have the season determined by a points per game metric. And Leeds United faced Cardiff in a game crucial to races for both promotion and the play-offs. Both sides certainly needed to win. There was a running theme of Leeds creating a lot of but not taking many chances, and Cardiff soaking up pressure and forcing mistakes
Leeds set up in a 4-1-4-1 as expected, and this shape was arguably more rigid than a nominal 4-1-4-1 which has previously resembled a 3-3-3-1/3-3-1-3. Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas started at full-back, and Tyler Roberts was the right-sided no.8.
Cardiff City played a flat 4-3-3, with the two wingers tasked with tracking back against Leeds’ wingers and breaking quickly in transitions. Callum Paterson, who can play at full-back and midfield as well, started the match up front.
Mainz were absolutely no match for RB Leipzig as the away side provided a 0-5 demolition in the second week since Bundesliga’s return following lockdown. Julian Nagelsmann’s side was organised within their rotational mayhem, and Leipzig were not only a threat with their flexibility in build-up, but also in transitions.
England met their eternal rivals in Scotland in a highly anticipated match in Group A. The hosts of Euro 1996 had only earned a draw in their opening game against Switzerland, and a win was much needed. It was hard to come by, but 10 minutes of actual dominance following a half-time tactical change from manager Terry Venables sent the game England’s way.
Continue reading “England dominate for short spell against Scotland following tactical change”
Villa Park hosted one of two of the second set of matches in Group A of Euro 1996, where minnows Switzerland came up against one of the tournament favourites in The Netherlands. Both sides drew their previous games with England and Scotland respectively.
The Netherlands, coached by Guus Hiddink set-up in their expected variation of a 3-4-3, with a sweeper connecting defence to midfield. The highly regarded Edgar Davids was, however, replaced by Aron Winter, which if you include midfielder Richard Witschge having recently been signed from Bordeaux, meant that the Dutch had 7 Ajax players in their starting XI.
Artur Jorge’s Switzerland side began the match with a back four and with the promising Johann Vogel in midfield. The system adopted suggested the Swiss were looking to take the game to the Dutch.
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