Champions League Contenders: Manchester City

"I like the ball, I love the ball," Guardiola once said. "To score a goal you need the ball. So as much as you have it and your percentage is higher, you have more chances to score a goal. I want to see my team try to play offensively, that is principle number one." And that is exactly what City have shown in recent seasons. With the likes of Laporte, De Bruyne, Ederson and Aguero emulating Pep's words practically, they look like one of the teams predestined for Champions League glory!

In this post, I'll be analysing their recent games and study their chances of winning the Champions League this season.

Now let's take a look at their Offensive and Defensive moments which will define their Champions League journey.

Offensive:

Manchester City like to maintain possession diagonally in the opponents half. While the opponent is adjusting to the movement of the ball going side-to-side, Pep likes to use the space created between lines while the opponent is shifting. If the opponent is still compact and doesn't budge, they are patient enough to keep rotating the ball for the right moment to arrive. Once the ball is in these half-spaces, a swift through ball to the attackers catches the opponent out of shape and allows an opportunity on goal. 

Defensive:

Defensively, a problem that Pep has faced before and failed to overcome, is man-to-man defensive marking while building up. But very rarely, one can see it being executed to perfection, like here how Arsenal have shown. When this situation arises, there's no other option other than to play long. If there's anything that Real Madrid should impersonate from Arteta's Gunners, it's this!

Let's see what Azhar Damanwala, Chairman - Manchester City Supporters Club Mumbai, has to say about City's prospects in the Champions League

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Champions League Contenders: RB Leipzig

Nagelsmann and RBL are a match made in football heaven, with both believing in aggressive defending, vertical passing and high tempo while in and out of possession. His success with 1899 Hoffenheim served to show that Nagelsmann was ready to challenge for silverware. In RB Leipzig, the manager found a club whose ambitions matched his own. And, although known for a certain brand of football, Nagelsmann has proven capable of altering his tactics, from one match to another, to suit Leipzig’s challenges this season.

In this post, I'll be analysing their recent games and study their chances of winning the Champions League this season.

Now let's take a look at their Offensive and Defensive moments which will define their Champions League journey.

Offensive:

The fullbacks, or wingbacks, will tend to move relatively high in the first moments of the build-up phase. This is a simple tactical mechanism designed to provide width but to also force the opposition to defend in a wider block to cover this threat. This, in turn, creates space centrally that RB Leipzig can exploit in order to progress the ball. As attacks develop into the final third of the pitch it becomes apparent how Leipzig use positional play. The wingers usually move inward with adapting themselves to the movements of Werner, who himself can also fall back into the half-space. These runs of the full-backs create a consistent staggering in terms of width, without it becoming too flat thanks to forward and backward movements within the lanes themselves.

Defensive:

Leipzig are able to avoid being surprised by counters after losses of possession deep in the opponent's half. Often times, singular proactive movements from the defenders prove sufficient, with them looking to duel with the intended receiver of a long ball and thus pushing him off the track. In situations in which Leipzig give up the ball a short way ahead of the box and centrally, usually one or two players immediately behind will step in. Leipzig's defensive problems are, in fact, larger when the team moves back in a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-4-2 and tries to defend while using a low press. They turn into a simple man-orientated defensive team that is constantly a step too late and only rarely manage to block passing lanes.

An up and coming professional football analyst and scout, Devavrat Bhotica, has this to say for RB Leipzig

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Champions League Contenders: Paris Saint-Germain

After already winning 3 competitions this season and having scored a record 131 goals, PSG are more than ready to win their first ever Champions League trophy this season. Even after their season was cut short they've played 3 friendlies & 1 final in 15 days and have scored 21 goals without conceding even once!!!

In this post, I'll be analysing their recent games and study their chances of winning the Champions League this season.

Now let's take a look at their Offensive and Defensive moments which will define their Champions League journey.

Offensive:

PSG's 4-3-3 turns into a more dynamic 2-3-5 while in possession and they use half-spaces between the opponent's midfield and defensive lines by using Neymar's and Mbappe's creativity. Tuchel's offensive organisation with deep diamonds to build up, double pivot in the midfield and creating central space to attack, often gives PSG the edge.

Defensive:

Should an opponent such as Atalanta manage to win the loose ball in crowded areas, then PSG are much weaker during the defensive transition. As both full-backs always move higher, the distance for them to recover back along the flanks is subsequently far greater. This means, should Paredes or Gueye not claim the loose balls, PSG’s two covering central defenders can be exposed, especially when up against direct and quick attackers.

An avid football fan and one of the topmost Sports Management Professionals in Mumbai, Shafiq Fidai has some appreciative words for Paris Saint-Germain

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Champions League Contenders: Barcelona

One of the most successful teams in the last decade, Barcelona has won it all and every single season they go with the intention to win it back again. Although, having lost out on 3 competitions this season, the Champions League is the only silverware they can win in 19-20. This might be the first season since 2007-08 when they end the campaign without any major honour!

In this post, I'll be analysing their recent games and study their chances of winning the Champions League this season.

Now let's take a look at their Offensive and Defensive moments which will define their Champions League journey.

Offensive:

Scoring the most number of goals in La Liga is a testament of just how good 

Barcelona have been this season. Fast ball recovery time ensures they are in a better situation numerically and positionally. This helps them cover space towards goal quicker and their trademark incisive passing patterns make the opponent unstable.

Defensive:

Defensively, there are two problems that particularly stand out for Barcelona. Firstly, they seem very reluctant to close down spaces between lines and allow opponents to roam freely in that area. Another problem being the midfield and defensive lines act as separate units instead of one single defensive unit. Hence, when one line is beaten it's very easy for the opponent to only play against the last 4 rather than the midfielders dropping down to support too.

Let's see what Rahil Kapadia, who knows FC Barcelona's club model and philosophy from scratch, has to say

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Champions League Contenders: Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid have been the third-wheel of La Liga for a long time now and this season, after beating Liverpool twice and drawing with Real and Barcelona once each, they've given out a clear 'don't try to mess with us' statement!

In this post, I'll be analysing their recent games and study their chances of winning the Champions League this season.

Now let's take a look at their Offensive and Defensive moments which will define their Champions League journey.

Offensive:

Use of half-spaces and creating passes between lines has become a trademark Simeone tactic. They've done this very effectively throughout the season and if it continues, it cold be very difficult for Leipzig to stop them. The only problem for Atletico would be the number of times their strikers have found themselves in offside positions. 

Defensive:

One of the best defensive sides in Europe, their compact shape, rigid side-to-side movement infront of the ball and quick counter attacks, have even baffled the mighty Liverpool. To add to it, Oblak has been a beast this season, producing 'viral-video-material' saves and taking his clean sheet tally up to 100 out of just 191 league games played!

Here's what one of the most active women in the Indian footballing scene, who also champions women empowerment through the sport, Tanaz Mohammed has to say

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Champions League Contenders: Atalanta

Surprise of the season so far, Atalanta has wowed everyone with their performances and shushing all the haters in some style! They have captivated audiences all over and have shown time and again over the season why they should now be considered at par with the best in Europe.

In this post, I'll be analysing their recent games and study their chances of winning the Champions League this season.

Now let's take a look at their Offensive and Defensive moments which will define their Champions League journey.

Offensive:

One of the key elements to Atalanta’s play under Gasperini is their positional interchange and rotation. It involves the rotation of positions based on specific scenarios that may happen on the football pitch. In the case of Atalanta, this may involve for example the movement of a central midfielder out wide to pick up the ball, taking the space that might normally be occupied by a wing-back. This could create a number of benefits for Atalanta like allow them to create a numerical advantage in a wide area, allow the wing-back to drift inside as the opposition don’t know who to mark.


Defensive:

When defending, Atalanta implement a high-pressing system. One player, closest to the ball, acts as the trigger by a quick and immediate press on the opposition player the moment they receive the ball. As this is happening, the other players stick to the nearest opposition player like glue. If the player who is being pressed manages to complete a pass, it becomes very difficult for the next player in possession to have the ball for long before the Atalanta player gets a foot in. The man-to-man press may have some drawbacks, such as leaving gaps in the field due to a desire to follow the player rather than cover the space. But when done correctly the glue-like marking always forces the player in possession of the ball backwards upon receiving it.


This time around we have one of the brightest ISL stars of our country, currently plying his trade at Hyderabad FC, Deependra Negi, with his views about Atalanta

I hope you enjoyed my analysis and I'm eagerly looking forward to your invaluable feedback, suggestions and ideas. Do like, share and follow the page to show your love!

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(Video and Statistics Credits - WyScout.com)

Champions League Contenders: Chelsea

Chelsea has been a treat to watch this season, building on their philosophy, promoting youth up the ranks and believing in possession-based attacking football that is winning hearts and minds around the football world.

In this post, I'll be analysing their recent games and study their chances of winning the Champions League this season.

Now let's take a look at their Offensive and Defensive moments which will define their Champions League journey.

Offensive:

Chelsea's offensive transition has proved to be very effective. As soon as they win the ball, the first pass always moves forward. The receiving player tries to cover as much space forward by driving the ball towards goal. Other players use both the side corridors to stretch the opponent's defensive line and provide width. Once in the final third, the strikers have a clear sight on goal and can finish without pressure.

Defensive:

Defensively, set-pieces have been a problem for Chelsea this season. Alongwith that, a lot of individual errors have been responsible for easy open chances and goals. If Chelsea's defensive movement off the ball, specifically the recognition of 'open and closed ball' improves, it could provide a good chance of overturning the 3-0 deficit against Bayern.

Let's see what one of Chelsea's biggest fans in the country, also founder and content creator at 'Oonche Vichaar', Adarsh Singh, has to say

I hope you enjoyed my analysis and I'm eagerly looking forward to your invaluable feedback, suggestions and ideas. Do like, share and follow the page to show your love!


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(Video and Statistics Credits - WyScout.com)