https://youtu.be/XtIM6SO8w2w
Hi guys, this is my take on the tactics of the match between Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspurs in the Champions League
RB Leipzig took on Tottenham Hotspur, the home team enjoyed 1 away goal advantage, and they continue to dominate the last year finalist.
Leipzig started their game in the familiar 343 formation with only one change at the back as Upamecano returned to the squad
In the opposition side, what looked like a major change in the tactics as Mourinho fielded an exact formation with Leipzig with notable absences of Son and Kane, but during the game they reverted to their traditional formation 4231 with the dropping of Aurier, the difference is instead of Kane, Alli was the leading man upfront. But Alli is not accustomed to this position and often dropped back for Moura or Lamela to make sprints towards the 18-yard box
To break through the first line of the highly anticipated high pressing system from Leipzig, Tottenham’s answer was to go long quite often in the game. As in this play you could see that Alderweireld put a long ball high up the field. It it targeted at the attacking midfielder and Dele Alli would pick up the loose ball.
However, this type of play is often tricky and ineffective as the opposition players have more time to react and man mark the ball receiver.
As for Leipzig to break out the first line of pressing, they preferred a flexible approach, instead of adhering strictly to playing out of the back from the GK position, Gulasci played lobbed through passes to the flanks, straight to the midfielders, bypassing the CBs, this strategy of breaking out proved to be really effective, given that the 3 Leipzig CBs are not technically good on the ball. This is the stat for Lobbed ball during the game, you could see that Gulasci registered 10 passes from the 6-yard box, while the figure for Tottenham is only 4.
Leipzig did not utilize their pivots in an orthodox way, having them set vertically rather horizontally, Sabitzer with attacking duties and therefore sit higher than Laimer with defensive duties. The shape of the formation is worth noticing as the whole formation crowded the middle of the pitch, which required 3 forwards to drop back simultaneously, and CBs to advance close to the middle circle.
This is one of the unique factors coming from Nagelsmann tactics is that he’s given the double pivots a completely different duties with the aim to provide balance and fluidity for the team. Sabitzer could play comfortably wide in the flanks, with a more attacking orientation, he was a roaming player, look for chance to overlap or move into channels between opponents CBs and FBs, or underlapping Werner to create space for Werner to use his speed. In counter-attacks, Sabitzer advanced high just outside 18 yard box, collect ricocheting balls, and look to shoot in sights. Defensive duties then were given to Laimer, acting as DCM, aiding the 2 CBs
When out of possession and the opposition team already broke through the middle third, Leipzig often forms a wide defencing line, stretch-out across the pitch, forming a back of 5 with an upper layer of their midfielders sitting really close. Blocking all entrances to their 18-yard box, even when Tottenham has ventured deep into their territory as shown in this play.
With the engagement of the whole squad, counter pressing has been extremely up to standards for Leipzig, they managed to dispossess Spurs 19 times during the game scattered around the pitch, this to quite astonishing given the quality of Spurs’s squad. It is worth to emphasize that this is to almost quadruple Tottenham stats in terms of dispossession.
Leipzig’s defensive phase has been quite well versed, in attacking phase, Werner, with his attacking speed and technicality in limited space, was the crucial factor for the success. Werner often acts as a linkup within transitional phase in rapid counter attacks. Utilizing his pace to speed down the flank, with long ball supplied from the CBs, or the double pivots. As an alternative, he was given the freedom to drop back to the central area, bridging the double pivots with the front 3.
Looking at Leipzig’s heat map, we could see that Nagelsmann stationed his team in the middle third with the intention of separate Tottenham into 2 isolated parts, cutting the connection in the middle.
Paying close attention to how Leipzig pressing system work, we could see the pair of Nkunku and Schick did not press Dier and Alderweireld, but let them advance. The 2 Leipzig forwards instead retrieved immediately to the central area to create 4 vs 2 situation, which prevents most of Tottenham routes to attacking the central of the field.
The corner stone in Nagelsmann’s tactics is that Leipzig often restrained from making meaningless side-way passes between players in each line, but always seeks to make as much progressive passes as possible.
For Tottenham, what we often see from the Portuguese’s the dugout is his decisive change early during the game if his side is under huge disadvantage. It was quite clear from this match that they lack the creativity in the midfields or at least some changes should be done to glue the first line with the second line of the formation. Given the fact that Tottenham only used 2 subs in this game, it could tell that they’ve given up too early.
A major problem as the result of multiples injuries that Tottenham had at the moment was that the distance between each line of players was often widened when the possession is lost. This is a clear sign of fatigue. Tottenham’s work rate was not enough to close the gaps between the lines, the result was that as the game progressed, Leipzig increasingly had more space to operate
During this season, Mourinho always pairs Winks with a partner who is more attacking minded as the double pivots, this time Lo Celso carted the role of linking play between the defensive third and the offensive one.
With the advancing of Lo Celso, Alli and Moura would often switch places during the game for Alli to join Lo Celso in midfield. The front 3 would continue constantly switching places to create different combinations of attacking personnel.
Conclusion:
To sum up a frustrating night for the English club, Tanganga said farewell to Germany with a rather horrible tackle on Upamecano, which went down immediately, but his team advanced in the competition.
Hi guys, this is my take on the tactics of the match between Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspurs in the Champions League
RB Leipzig took on Tottenham Hotspur, the home team enjoyed 1 away goal advantage, and they continue to dominate the last year finalist.
Leipzig started their game in the familiar 343 formation with only one change at the back as Upamecano returned to the squad
In the opposition side, what looked like a major change in the tactics as Mourinho fielded an exact formation with Leipzig with notable absences of Son and Kane, but during the game they reverted to their traditional formation 4231 with the dropping of Aurier, the difference is instead of Kane, Alli was the leading man upfront. But Alli is not accustomed to this position and often dropped back for Moura or Lamela to make sprints towards the 18-yard box
To break through the first line of the highly anticipated high pressing system from Leipzig, Tottenham’s answer was to go long quite often in the game. As in this play you could see that Alderweireld put a long ball high up the field. It it targeted at the attacking midfielder and Dele Alli would pick up the loose ball.
However, this type of play is often tricky and ineffective as the opposition players have more time to react and man mark the ball receiver.
As for Leipzig to break out the first line of pressing, they preferred a flexible approach, instead of adhering strictly to playing out of the back from the GK position, Gulasci played lobbed through passes to the flanks, straight to the midfielders, bypassing the CBs, this strategy of breaking out proved to be really effective, given that the 3 Leipzig CBs are not technically good on the ball. This is the stat for Lobbed ball during the game, you could see that Gulasci registered 10 passes from the 6-yard box, while the figure for Tottenham is only 4.
Leipzig did not utilize their pivots in an orthodox way, having them set vertically rather horizontally, Sabitzer with attacking duties and therefore sit higher than Laimer with defensive duties. The shape of the formation is worth noticing as the whole formation crowded the middle of the pitch, which required 3 forwards to drop back simultaneously, and CBs to advance close to the middle circle.
This is one of the unique factors coming from Nagelsmann tactics is that he’s given the double pivots a completely different duties with the aim to provide balance and fluidity for the team. Sabitzer could play comfortably wide in the flanks, with a more attacking orientation, he was a roaming player, look for chance to overlap or move into channels between opponents CBs and FBs, or underlapping Werner to create space for Werner to use his speed. In counter-attacks, Sabitzer advanced high just outside 18 yard box, collect ricocheting balls, and look to shoot in sights. Defensive duties then were given to Laimer, acting as DCM, aiding the 2 CBs
When out of possession and the opposition team already broke through the middle third, Leipzig often forms a wide defencing line, stretch-out across the pitch, forming a back of 5 with an upper layer of their midfielders sitting really close. Blocking all entrances to their 18-yard box, even when Tottenham has ventured deep into their territory as shown in this play.
With the engagement of the whole squad, counter pressing has been extremely up to standards for Leipzig, they managed to dispossess Spurs 19 times during the game scattered around the pitch, this to quite astonishing given the quality of Spurs’s squad. It is worth to emphasize that this is to almost quadruple Tottenham stats in terms of dispossession.
Leipzig’s defensive phase has been quite well versed, in attacking phase, Werner, with his attacking speed and technicality in limited space, was the crucial factor for the success. Werner often acts as a linkup within transitional phase in rapid counter attacks. Utilizing his pace to speed down the flank, with long ball supplied from the CBs, or the double pivots. As an alternative, he was given the freedom to drop back to the central area, bridging the double pivots with the front 3.
Looking at Leipzig’s heat map, we could see that Nagelsmann stationed his team in the middle third with the intention of separate Tottenham into 2 isolated parts, cutting the connection in the middle.
Paying close attention to how Leipzig pressing system work, we could see the pair of Nkunku and Schick did not press Dier and Alderweireld, but let them advance. The 2 Leipzig forwards instead retrieved immediately to the central area to create 4 vs 2 situation, which prevents most of Tottenham routes to attacking the central of the field.
The corner stone in Nagelsmann’s tactics is that Leipzig often restrained from making meaningless side-way passes between players in each line, but always seeks to make as much progressive passes as possible.
For Tottenham, what we often see from the Portuguese’s the dugout is his decisive change early during the game if his side is under huge disadvantage. It was quite clear from this match that they lack the creativity in the midfields or at least some changes should be done to glue the first line with the second line of the formation. Given the fact that Tottenham only used 2 subs in this game, it could tell that they’ve given up too early.
A major problem as the result of multiples injuries that Tottenham had at the moment was that the distance between each line of players was often widened when the possession is lost. This is a clear sign of fatigue. Tottenham’s work rate was not enough to close the gaps between the lines, the result was that as the game progressed, Leipzig increasingly had more space to operate
During this season, Mourinho always pairs Winks with a partner who is more attacking minded as the double pivots, this time Lo Celso carted the role of linking play between the defensive third and the offensive one.
With the advancing of Lo Celso, Alli and Moura would often switch places during the game for Alli to join Lo Celso in midfield. The front 3 would continue constantly switching places to create different combinations of attacking personnel.
Conclusion:
To sum up a frustrating night for the English club, Tanganga said farewell to Germany with a rather horrible tackle on Upamecano, which went down immediately, but his team advanced in the competition.
