Paris SG 0-1 FC Bayern Munich: Bayern Outnumbers PSG On The Wings

Champions League, Final

Paris SG 433; Navas; Kehrer, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat (80. Kurzawa); Herrera (72. Draxler), Marquinhos, Paredes (65. Verrati); Di Maria (80. Choupo-Moting), Neymar, Mbappé; Coach: Tuchel

Bayern München 4231; Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng (25. Süle), Alaba, Davies; Goretzka, Thiago (86. Tolisso); Gnabry (69. Coutinho), Müller, Coman (68. Perisic); Lewandowski; Coach: Flick

0-1 Coman (59.)

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Bayern Munich’s dominance against Barcelona and Lyonnais was based preliminary on their incredible forechecking. The key question before kick-off has been: Will they defend as high as they did against Mbappé, Neymar and Di Maria, too? And the answer was: Yes!

Due to Bayern’s high defense, they forced PSG’s three CM deep into their own half which let them loose connection to their front trio and caused a lack of attacking power.

But more important became the role of PSG’s central midfield against the ball. Whereas Marquinhos, Herrera and Paredes tighten up the center of the pitch, Di Maria’s and Mbappé’s defensive work rate was mediocre. So, Herrera (right) and Paredes (left) had to push through to the wing and support their Full Backs.

 

Bayern Munich exploited these short term outnumbered situations by switching the play to the other side of the pitch. Here, Thiago switches they play to the right wing, where Kimmich and Müller outnumber Bernat:

Same picture on the left wing, where Davies has wide open space:

To enter PSG’s side, Müller drops deep, with Thiago (at ball) and Goretzka binding PSG’s three CM, creating space on the wings and initiating Bayern’s winning goal:

Arrived in PSG’s side of the pitch, Gnabry, Müller, Coman and Lewandowski position high up, binding all four defenders. Furthermore, Müller drops to a more central position, opening space for Kimmich:

Same pattern, this time Gnabry drops to the center:

 

Paris SG 0:1 FC Bayern München: Überzahl ist Trumpf

Champions League, Finale

Paris SG 433; Navas; Kehrer, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat (80. Kurzawa); Herrera (72. Draxler), Marquinhos, Paredes (65. Verrati); Di Maria (80. Choupo-Moting), Neymar, Mbappé; Coach: Tuchel

Bayern München 4231; Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng (25. Süle), Alaba, Davies; Goretzka, Thiago (86. Tolisso); Gnabry (69. Coutinho), Müller, Coman (68. Perisic); Lewandowski; Coach: Flick

0:1 Coman (59.)

 

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Bayerns Dominanz in den Spielen gegen Barcelona und Lyon basierte besonders auf der eindrucksvollen Art und Weiße wie die Münchener ihre Gegner bereits im Spielaufbau unter Druck setzten. Nicht nur die aggressive Gangart, sondern vor allem die mannschaftliche Geschlossenheit während dieser Phasen, bereitete selbst Mannschaften wie dem FC Barcelona oder gestern PSG Probleme im Spielaufbau. Die Frage, die sich alle stellten: Wird Hansi Flick auch im Finale gegen Mbappé, Neymar und Di Maria so hoch verteidigen? Und die klare Antwort war: Ja!

Dadurch die Bayern so früh attackierten, zwangen sie die drei zentralen Mittelfeldspieler von PSG tief in die eigene Hälfte, wodurch die Bindung zu den drei Stürmern verloren ging und die Franzosen im Ballbesitz nur wenig Gefahr ausstrahlten.

Die drei gegnerischen Mittelfeldspieler waren auch der Schlüssel in Bayerns Offensive. Zwar verdichteten Marquinhos, Herrera und Paredes die Mitte des Spielfeldes, Di Maria und Mbappés Rückwärtsaktionen blieben aber überschaubar. So mussten Herrera (rechts) und Paredes (links) auf ihrem Flügel durchschieben um Gleichzahl gegen die aufgerückten Außenverteidiger herzustellen:

 

 

Das machten sich die Münchner durch Spielverlagerungen zum Vorteil. Thiago verlagert das Spielgeschehen auf die rechte Seite, wo Kimmich und Müller in Überzahl gegen Bernat spielen:

 

Oder auch auf der linken Seite, wo Davies nach einem Seitenwechsel viel Raum vor sich hat:

 

Um ins Angriffsdrittel zu gelangen, nahme Müller eine dynamische Rolle ein, ließ sich ins Mittelfeld fallen um mit Goretzka und Thiago PSGs drei ZMs zu binden um so Räume an den Flügel zu öffnen und so auch das Siegtor einzuleiten:

 

In PSGs Spielhälfte positionierten sich Gnabry, Müller, Coman und Lewandowski dann hoch um alle vier Verteidiger zu binden. Müller schiebt außerdem ins Zentrum und reißt den Raum für Kimmich.

 

Selber Spielzug, diesmal schiebt Gnabry von rechts ins Zentrum.

Sevilla 2-1 Manchester United: Switch Play, Then Vertical

Europa League, Semi Finals

Sevilla 433; Bono; Jesus Navas, Koundé, Carlos, Reguilón; Jordán (87. Gudelj), Fernando, Banega; Suso (75. Vazquez), En-Nesyri (56. de Jong), Ocampos (56. Haddadi); Coach: Lopetegui

Manchester United 4231; De Gea; Wan-Bissaka (87. James), Lindelöf, Maguire, Williams (87. Fosu-Mensah); Pogba, Fred; Greenwood (90+2. Ighalo), Fernandes, Rashford (87. Mata); Martial; Coach: Solskjaer

0-1 Fernandes (9., pen), 1-1 Suso (26.), 2-1 de Jong (78.)

  

 

The English side created more chances, but was not able to score from game play. Whereas their Spanish opponents only needed three shots on target to score twice. Both Sevilla goals resulted from the very same pattern: In possesion, Sevilla positioned wide, quickly switched the play to the other side and went vertical.

 

In 27th minute, Banega exploits the gap between Greenwood and Fernandes. Over their CB Sevilla switches the play to their left wing.

 

 

Manchester's FB Wan-Bissaka and CB Lindelöf, both lose their tackles against Reguilón and Ocampos, and results in a 2vs2 in the center. Finally, Reguilón is faster than Wan-Bissaka, crosses the ball to Suso, who is released in Williams' back and scores the equaliser.

 

 

Similar situation at Sevilla's second goal that night: Lopetegui's side quickly switches the play to the outnumbering right wing.

 

 

While de Jong holds the attacking center and binds Lindelöf and Wan-Bissaka, Banega goes wide and pulls Fred from the center. Pogba transists too slow, so LW Vazquez gets between the lines. In the end, Williams hesitates to tackle Jesus Navas, who perfectly chips the ball to de Jong, who reacts faster than Wan-Bissaka.

Wales 2-0 Hungary: How Wales Consistently Created Space In Hungary's Defense

Euro Qualifiers, Group E, Matchday 10

Wales (2.) 4231; Hennessy; Roberts, Lockyer, Mepham, Davies; Allen, Morrell (50. Ampadu); Bale (88. Wilson), Ramsey, James; Moore; Coach: Ryan Giggs

Ungarn (3.): 4231; Gulacsi; Lovrencsics, Barath, Lang, Z. Nagy; Patkai, A. Nagy (60. Kovacs); Dzsudzsak (72. Varga), Szoboszlai, Sallai (83. Hollender); Adam Szalai; Coach: Marco Rossi

1-0 Ramsey (15.), 2-0 Ramsey (47.)

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They did it again. Though, Wales have not qualified in 58 years, and their heroic run to the Semifinals in France, three years ago, Cymru again succeed qualification for a big tournament. In their final game against Hungary, Ryan Giggs’ lads raised no doubts. Just once, during the first half, the Magyars created one big chance, but poorly missed it. Wales dominated the game with dynamic and direct attacking game. The four front players were barely supported by their six comrades. However, those shorthanded situations were Wales’ key to success. Hungary’s defense seemed confused and disoriented how the home team bond defenders and played through their lines.

The pattern was often the same: Wales attack over the wings. Hungary’s fullback gets outplayed. Hence, the central defender steps out. Meanwhile, Moore and the opposite winger take position at the back post. Because no attacking player is in center now, Hungary’s holding players A. Nagy and Patkai defend a huge empty space. A space Wales enter by one of the back-post players or by up pushing midfielder. This pattern could be seen at Wales’ 1-0, as well as later in the game.

Wales outplay Hungary’s left fullback, Bale goes deep and pulls the left central defender to the wing.

Moore and left winger James position at the back post, binding the second central defender as well as the right fullback. The center is free now. Holding player Nagy seems disoriented between the two central defenders. 

Ramsey scores the first goal because the gap between Nagy and right defender Barath is too big.

Same pattern, left wing: A combination between Ramsey and James outplays fullback Lovrencsics (14). Central defender Barath (5) leaves the center open. Moore and Bale bind the other two defenders at the back post. Hungary’s holding players Patkai (16) and on-brought Kovacs (15) are too late. 

Again over Lovrencsics’s (14) side. This time a long ball forces Barath (5) to leave the center. Bale (not in picture) and Moore again tie two Hungarian players wide. Patkai tries to fill the huge gap in the center against James.