⚪️🔵 Team Analysis
🦅 Maurizio Sarri's off-ball structure, one of the most organized shape I have seen in Europe.
Example vs Juventus
In-depth Thread 🧵⬇️
🦅 Maurizio Sarri's off-ball structure, one of the most organized shape I have seen in Europe.
Example vs Juventus
In-depth Thread 🧵⬇️
Sarri implemented a structure to prevent the opponent to progress vertically in build-up. This 4-2 structure has to cover first the key player in first build-up phase (here Locatelli) and force the opponent to do wide pass, so Anderson or Zaccagni can jump with agressive runs.
In the 4-2 structure, the one who accompanies Immobile depends on the area of the ball. That is the most interesting tactical aspect of Sarri's structure. If the ball is on the left flank, Zaccagni jumps fast on ball carrier while Immobile deals with the key player.
Zaccagni's intelligence in the moves he makes bonifies Immobile's man-marking on Locatelli. The line of 4 behind ensures a wide coverage of potential vertical passes if the opponent succeed to bypass the first line of pressure.
In central area, Milinkovic-Savic or Luis Alberto press, it depends. No matter the midfielder who press central defender, the other has to cover his move, and consequently manmark the key player (Locatelli) because Immobile is upfront.
In mid third, you won't see aggressive press such as described in final third. Lazio let intentionally the opponent the wide pass, because the agressive press will be made by the fullback in this situation.
Lazio wingers are the key part of the structure process. Why ? Because if Anderson or Zaccagni don't put enough aggression and speed in their runs, the opponent can easily bypass the 4-2 structure and take advantage in build-up.
That's why Anderson is precious on the right flank : many of his press have been successful and Juventus could not progress in build-up. The timing of the press is also key in Sarri's structure.
To know which midfielder will accompany Immobile, it depends on the pass the opponent will do. If the player orientates his body to the right flank, Savic press, and on the opposite, Luis Alberto. This is why Sarri's structure is so organized.
In that case, central defender received a pass from the Lazio's left side, and is preparing to orientate his body to pass the ball on the opposite flank => Milinkovic Savic's high press. As simple as that.
Cataldi's role is important as well. When Zaccagni prepare his agressive run on the flank, Cataldi has to replace Zaccagni's position. To be honest, this has been eased out by the lack of moves from Juventus players around ball carrier.
A good illustration of this off-ball structure : each player respect his role to force Juventus to do wide pass, which leads to recover the ball.
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