RETRO TACTICS - Episode 2 : Bayern Munich🔴⚪️ vs Inter Milan ⚫️🔵
UCL FINAL - 2010 - Santiago Bernabeu
Great final with two different approaches to win the game.
UCL FINAL - 2010 - Santiago Bernabeu
Great final with two different approaches to win the game.
Due to Ribery's absence, LVG preferred to play with a double pivot in possession, with wide wingers and Muller traveling in half spaces to offer vertical passing angles. Badstuber was the lower fullback, as Lahm participated a lot in build-up.
Mourinho kept his regular structure, with a more malleable double pivot, Eto'o and Pandev in a position to jump fast after ball recovery, and Chivu constantly pressing Robben on the left side.
Bayern implemented a strong manmarking, very focused on ball carrier to not let him reach Cambiasso or Zanetti, the two key elements to conduct build-up.
To stretch that sound structure from Inter, Van Gaal knew that creating passing schemes and various moves on lanes could dismantle that organization and create spaces. That's why we have seen Atlintop mobile on the left lane.
Mourinho did not want to let Bayern in numerical superiority in central build-up phase. To do so, Zanetti had to jump as #10 alongside Sneijder to cut passing angles and constraint ball carrier to play wide. That pattern will be detailed a bit later.
Robben was the biggest offensive threat. Inter used that threat as a strategy to orientate Bayern's build-up into Robben's zone, implement an agressive triangle pressure, and start fast transitions. That was risky and brilliant.
In build-up (not much situations like that), Inter relied on Sneijder's activity in half spaces, and width created by fullbacks (Maicon, Chivu).
Sneijder's role was particularly relevant, because he had to prevent each drop wide from Van Bommel or Schweinsteiger because Bayern wanted to be in numerical superiority on lanes.
Here is a quick video to illustrate Sneijder's off ball mission in mid third.
As I said, Inter made a triangle pressure as soon as Robben got the ball. However, Zanetti had to cover Cambiasso's run, because space has been created for Muller or Olic.
In possession, Bayern switched structure into a 3-3-4, with Van Bommel as deep #6, due to his incredible passing skills. The objective was to keep distance with his opponents to let him time to address long balls or dangerous vertical passes.
Two typical illustrations of how Van Bommel positioned himself to keep distances with Sneijder.
Zanetti's role in and out of possession was fundamental to keep Mourinho's tactic safe :
- First, to prevent any numerical superiority in build-up
- Second, to catalyze transitions after ball recovery, as Zanetti possessed excellent speed in his runs.
- First, to prevent any numerical superiority in build-up
- Second, to catalyze transitions after ball recovery, as Zanetti possessed excellent speed in his runs.
Thanks to that strategy, Bayern's build-up cold not have been vertical, at least not as planed. Therefore, they were constrained to play wide, and Eto'o-Pandev waited that moment to press with intensity.
Inter's structure in Bayern's defensive third prevented double pivot to drop off. Butt had only two options : play long balls or with his centre backs, under the threat of Sneijder and Milito.
Eto'o and Pandev discipline off the ball was quite noticeable.
Eto'o and Pandev discipline off the ball was quite noticeable.
Inter didn't have so many offensive transitions to deal with : however, they took advantage on Bayern because of that astonishing efficiency, in numerical superiority, or inferiority.
Van Gaal replaced Atlintop in halfspaces, because of repetitive Zanetti's pressures. With Atlintop Muller and Olic in halfspaces with closed distances, Bayern started to become more dangerous.
In second half, Bayern really insisted on a 4-2-4, very offensive, trying to provoke panic into Inter's structure...
But Inter was too sound, too disciplined, the majority of passing angles have been cut easily, vertical progression has been locked.
Muller, normally found many times that season in halfspaces, had to drop wide many times to receive the ball. Inter eliminated all central threats.
Muller, normally found many times that season in halfspaces, had to drop wide many times to receive the ball. Inter eliminated all central threats.
And these rare situations where potential unbalance could have been created, in possession or in final third to create huge chance, Bayern players made the wrong choices.
To conclude, Inter had a tactical discipline with a clear and sound system, preventing Bayern to :
progress vertically
using Robben's threat
taking advantage in midfield (positions...)
Adding these deadly offensive transitions, inverting the trend was impossible for Bayern.
progress vertically
using Robben's threat
taking advantage in midfield (positions...)
Adding these deadly offensive transitions, inverting the trend was impossible for Bayern.
I hope you will enjoy reading this analyze, remembering one of the greatest tactical battles in my opinions.
Feedbacks strongly appreciated.
Feedbacks strongly appreciated.
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