Tactical analysis proposition : ππ΅βͺοΈ FC Porto - Sporting CP π¦π’βͺοΈ
Porto's intentions were quite clear : aggressive pressing, vertical moves, and a will to provoke a misalignment in Sporting's defense to penetrate central spaces, with Vieira or OtΓ‘vio.
Porto set pieces have also been worked efficiently to bypass the excellent compactness from SCP in set pieces. Pepe surprisingly stepped aside second post to receive the last pass.
We know SCP's best asset is its off-ball animation, very difficult to counter. Porto's main objective was to cover shadow Ugarte and M.Nunes, by forming a diamond midfield to prevent any numerical inferiority.
As Sporting front 3 wanted to be in 3v2 in low buil-up phase for Porto, Uribe or Vitinha frequently dropped off to force Paulinho to jump. But one error (such as this situation with a wrong ball control) could have lead to dangerous opportunities for Sporting.
Sporting buil-up organization is brilliant to watch, as Coates embodies #6, Ugarte close to him and Nunes in a higher position, as we could have seen in many SCP games. That W structure is very difficult to press, so Porto preferred to control central progression.
When Nuno Santos started to press, it sounded like the beginning of SCP's pressing process. Porto relied on potential jump out's delays to take advantage on spaces created. It could have been possible, as Reis sometimes failed to be coordinated with Santos...
But the key of Sporting remains its central defender's anticipation to cut passing circuits. Here, Feddal ancitipated Uribe's vertical pass and broke the advantage Porto began to create.
As I said yesterday, Vitinha was the biggest threat for Sporting, but not only when he is in possession. He understands the game so well, and thanks to a simple move, he closes potential long ball from Reis, and constraints Nunes and Coates to step aside to progress in build-up.
That structure pattern in buil-up has been repetitive for Sproting, jeopardizing Porto's high pressing. Coates has not been man-marked as it should have been, we will see later that it could cause some consequences.
Otavio's behavior in the opening goal is a good example of scanning process that should be constant and not episodic. Let's analyse how Otavio lost his man-marking. First, good comprehension, many scans, Reis is blocked.
Sporting puts numerical superiority on one lane to switch in direction to the other. Paulinho and Santos showed the final direction of the offensive phase. Moreover, Otavio has already forgotten his opponent.
Too late. Reis received a wonderful pass in that zone, who gave a wonderful pass to Paulinho. Sporting frequently uses crosses as a blur. I mean the first cross is just to switch game zone, the second zone is the cross expected.
As central spaces totally controlled, Porto cleverly tried to switch on lane and taking advantage with quick combinations, as Sporting stayed with a central structure. That explains why Taremi stepped aside as a left winger.
Vitinha also steps aside his initial position to attack free spaces and jeopardize the opponent. Ugarte and Nunes were sometimes too obsessed by counter pressing (such as here) and forgot Vitinha's man marking.
Sporting tactical discipline is too sound, well-organized with few spaces to negotiate. Yet, Porto could have taken advantage several times with two options :
β«οΈ Taremi's diagonal runs
β«οΈ F Vieira's central spaces penetrations.
β«οΈ Taremi's diagonal runs
β«οΈ F Vieira's central spaces penetrations.
Even when Porto found a solution to cover shadow Coates, both other central defenders drop deep to receive the ball and automatically orientate wide in direction of Esgaio or Reis.
Sporting alternated its animation (3-2 or 2-3) in Porto's defensive third for two reasons :
β«οΈ Cover shadow double pivot and facilitate winger's jumps out on Zaidu and Joao Mario.
β«οΈ Be more poractive in case of CM's drop off in the defensive line.
β«οΈ Cover shadow double pivot and facilitate winger's jumps out on Zaidu and Joao Mario.
β«οΈ Be more poractive in case of CM's drop off in the defensive line.
Sporting's second goal is also a brilliant model of how to escape from a high pressing :
Coates secured his distance to have the time to do a vertical pass, and Nunes attacked the space so Reis can cross in direction of Sarabia.
Coates secured his distance to have the time to do a vertical pass, and Nunes attacked the space so Reis can cross in direction of Sarabia.
Porto's immediate reaction has shown the real objective of Taremi's positioning. The first opportunity he had to get advantage on the lane has been the good one : Vieira felt that pass and attacked the edge of penalty box to score a wonderful goal.
Down to 10, Sporting has shown solid resilience, embodied by Ugarte's incredible ball retention, and his constant will to play vertically, through passes or ball carries.
Porto has been exploiting more spaces between the lines, shots and dangerous situations were growing, and Sporting was literally in his defensive third, getting rare chances to close the game.
Even if Sporting had opportunities, Porto implemented a strong pressing, with a constant 2v1 to handle for SCP's ball carrier, constraining him to retreat.
I think Sporting made the error to neglect the positioning's change from Taremi. He was like a left winger in first half to pass the ball, in second half a striker to score. And Vieira stepped aside frequently to try to find Taremi into the box.
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