Category: Match Analysis

How to beat a low-block like Antonio Conte’s Spurs

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Managers, Masterclasses, Match Analysis, Premier League, Team Analysis

Antonio Conte's Spurs, as expected, have gotten off to a flying start. Conte's team have gone unbeaten in their eight Premier League matches so far, playing some fantastic, easy on the eye football in the process. The variety in their attacking play has helped the team to 14 goals in 8 matches, with just 5 conceded in the process. In our recent analysis of Conte's team, we posited that the team only had one key dilemma to solve - what to do against low-blocks who want to sit very deep against them. As opposition teams sort Tottenham out, Conte's quest to combat the low-block appears to be growing all the more difficult by the match. They failed to claim victory against 10-man Southampton earlier in the week, and yesterday had to wait until stoppage time for Davinson Sanchez's winner. So with that, we take a quick look at how teams like Antonio Conte's can disrupt a low-block and generate scoring chances, taking examples from Spurs' own 1-0 victory against Watford at the weekend.

Wolves 0-0 Chelsea – Tactical Analysis – Bruno Lage’s Defensive Masterclass

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Formations, Managers, Masterclasses, Match Analysis, Premier League, Team Analysis

A little over a year ago, Thomas Tuchel made his managerial debut for Chelsea, dominating 80% of the possession in a stale 0-0 draw. Sunday's encounter between the two teams saw many parallels, especially in Wolves' defensive appetite and Chelsea's failure to convert. However, it was a vastly different affair, with Wolves putting on a defensive masterclass, completely stunting Chelsea's progress and limiting them to just 1 shot on target. So with that, here is our tactical analysis of how Bruno Lage's team stopped Chelsea in their tracks, and secured another important 0-0 draw.

MLS Playoff Final – Portland Timbers vs. New York City FC – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Match Analysis, World Football

After a demanding eight month season, Major League Soccer has officially come to a close for 2021, with New York City FC taking the crown as playoff winners. The final match was a highly contested affair between two teams scrapping every minute to claim victory for their team. While New York City FC dominated the majority of the match, they couldn't stop Portland from scoring a dramatic last minute equalizer, sending the match into extra time and later penalty kicks. Here is our analysis of the enthralling final MLS encounter of 2021.

West Ham United 3-2 Liverpool – Tactical Analysis – How Moyes’ Men Claimed Victory

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Formations, Managers, Match Analysis, Premier League, Team Analysis

Following a fantastic 2020-21 campaign, few expected West Ham's form to carry over into the 2021-22 campaign to the same extraordinary extent. But David Moyes' men have gone from strength to strength this season, playing some of their best football in decades. The Hammers are now all the way up into third place, ahead of Liverpool, after a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Reds this weekend. Here is our analysis of the match!

Tottenham 0-3 Manchester United – Tactical Analysis – Ole’s New Formation

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Formations, Managers, Masterclasses, Match Analysis, Premier League, Team Analysis

After an entire week of calls for his head, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put together a United masterclass, with the Red Devils smashing Nuno's Spurs by a scoreline of 3-0. The former United legend exemplified innovation by implementing a 3-4-1-2 formation, getting the best out of the likes of Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes, and completely undoing Tottenham's 4-2-3-1 bra in the process. Here is our tactical analysis of the match.

Bundesliga 2021-22 Matchday 9 – Tactical Review

by Rhys Desmond, posted in German Bundesliga, Match Analysis

The Bundesliga continues to entertain as ever, with intriguing tactics, goals galore, and surprising results. Matchday 9 saw Freiburg surprise the out of form Wolfsburg, Bochum push Frankfurt closer to the drop, and Bayern continue their unbelievable run of goal-scoring form. Here is our tactical analysis of some of the key matches.

Bundesliga 2021-22 Matchday 8 – Tactical Review

by Rhys Desmond, posted in German Bundesliga, Match Analysis

The Bundesliga continues to entertain as ever, with intriguing tactics, goals galore, and surprising results. Matchday 8 saw Bayern smash Leverkusen to shreds, Freiburg secure another key result over a Leipzig side still struggling to find form, and Wolfsburg lose again, this time at the hands of high-flying Union Berlin. Here is our tactical analysis of some of the key matches.

Bundesliga 2021-22 Matchday 7 – Tactical Review

by Rhys Desmond, posted in German Bundesliga, Match Analysis

The Bundesliga continues to entertain as ever, with intriguing tactics, goals galore, and surprising results. Matchday 7 saw Frankfurt get a shocking win over Bayern, Monchengladbach surprise Wolfsburg, and Union Berlin leapfrog FSV Mainz in the table. Here is our tactical analysis of some of the key matches.