Pep Guardiola V Thomas Tuchel, Tactical Clash.
In this piece of tactical analysis, we shall discuss how Thomas Tuchel tried to deny City’s build up and how City adapted to Bayern’s Pressing. First of all, City started with {3–2–4–1} formation versus Bayern’s one which was {4–2–3–1}.
City build up phase and Bayern Pressing:
City used, as usual, the 3 + 2 shape in the first phase of possession by John Stones drifting into the midfield to form a double pivot with Rodri. City found it difficult to get the ball out from the depth of the field due to its closure from Bayern by using four lines of defense, not three. Thomas Tuchel wanted to cut pass lanes to these two double pivot to prevent Man City to progress the ball from the central spaces. When Dias had the ball, The wingers had to position into the Side interior corridors or half spaces, and Musiala in the central space with Gnabry.
The matter was not in the form of Bayern’s defense from the front areas, but rather how Tuchel used the attacking players to put pressure on the Man City defense and force them out through the sides. This shape of pressing, especially the roles of Sane, Musiala and Coman, allowed Bayern’s double pivot Kimmich and Goretzka to have eyes on De Bruyne and Gundogan. The wingers had to transform marking for city’s pivot to keep the strategy of the pressing in a consistent way. when Coman went to press Ake at the sideline, Sane should come inside to be with Stones, So Bayern had Goretzka for Gundo, and Kimmich for Kevin.
when Dias had the ball, The CF Gnabry pushed up to press him, Coman closed to Ake, Musiala drifted back to mark Stones and Sane to watch De Bruyne. But what if Haaland drifting deep? Goretzka would go to prevent him from receiving the ball.
And to get more assurance, Upamecano got out of his position to follow Haaland.
The Same Scheme of pressing was also executed in the opposite side, the right flank of city, so Bayern’s first line of pressing used Akanji as a pressing trigger when he received the ball because of his body orientation in which he took a little time to control the ball.
City adaptation to Bayern’s pressing.
To free up one of Rodri and Stones, City players needed to drag Bayern’s midfielders out of the center space. Gundo drifted outside pulling Kimmich out, Haaland took Goretzka’s eye, and Stones had Musiala with him. These off the ball movements on the left flank of City freed up Rodri to receive the ball in a good space.
Rodri had the time and space to pass the ball to Kevin to progress through the central corridor, but preferred playing to Akanji. It may be because of position of Davis closing down the choice of Kevin to progress. with pass to Akanji, he progressed with the ball and put Silva in 1V1 situation where Silva took on Davis.
Another way for City to get the ball out of the back was long ball to the left flank to Jack Grealish to have a positional and qualitive superiority. This was executed by the movement off the ball by Haaland to drag and pin Upamecano with making the space for Gundo to attack, then Haalan could go to help Gundo with a dynamic superiority, but execution of long ball was not good from Akanji and Pavard succeeded in intercepting it.
Another time to have Grealsih free in the flank.
