“The final rounds of the Champions League are often the finest exhibits of high-calibre football. The first legs of the competition’s semi-finals provided compelling evidence of that last week, as Paris Saint-Germain edged Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, while Barcelona and Inter traded blows in a 3-3 draw in Catalonia. … PSG vs Arsenal: Can Arsenal find a way to stem PSG’s build-up play? PSG’s fluidity was crucial to their third-minute goal scored by Ousmane Dembele in the first leg. Smooth positional interchanges between the front six, Achraf Hakimi’s positioning out wide and higher up the pitch, and crisp passing all bothered Arsenal in the opening 25 minutes. … Inter vs Barcelona: Can Inter stop Pedri from dictating play? While Lamine Yamal rightfully dominated headlines after the first leg, Pedri’s display from midfield drove Barcelona. The 22-year-old was afforded time on the ball with Inter dropping into a compact defensive shape focused on protecting their box and limiting Yamal. That meant Pedri often found himself in situations like the one below. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
The five tactical issues that could define the Champions League semi-final second legs
Leave a reply
“Luton Town fans looked dumbfounded. Their team had just been beaten 5-3 by West Bromwich Albion in a breathless game on the final day of the Championship season to confirm relegation into English football’s third tier. Some hugged loved ones for comfort; others just held their heads in their hands. It was a dark day in the club’s recent history, and all the more painful given that — just 12 short months ago — Luton still had a chance of staying in the Premier League. They ultimately lost that fight but started this season among the promotion favourites. …”
Scissors Kick 