[EADF Shorts] Catenaccio – Rappan, Herrera and the birth of a revolutionary philosophy

Tactics

by Enzo Karema - June 2, 2020

Only on rare occasions do managers get more famous than their players. Pep Guardiola is recognised globally for his use of positional play or Juego de Posición at Barcelona but the recognition his players received was consistent with the attention he garnered. On the other hand, the famous 'Catenaccio' defensive style of

Sarri’s last chance; The return of Serie A

by Alex Barker - May 30, 2020

With the return of Serie A set for June 20th, we are set for perhaps one of Europe's tightest title races. Just a single point separates Simone Inzaghi's Lazio side from Maurizio Sarri's Juventus. With the Premier League, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 sewn up, Europe's prying eyes will be drawn

Joga Bonito – The Brazilian foundations of ‘The Beautiful game’

by Enzo Karema - May 22, 2020May 22, 2020

Over the years football has come to be known as the ‘The Beautiful Game’.How did this phrase stick? It got its relevance from the Portuguese form of the word -‘Joga Bonito’. So then the questions beckon - When did this phrase become popularized in football folklore? What exactly is Joga

Finding the right balance – Tactical Analysis of Arsenal under Mikel Arteta

by Hammad Pervez - March 13, 2020

This article was written on 11th March On December 20, 2019, Arsenal hired their third manager (two permanent and one on an interim basis) in 18 months since the departure of the legendary Arsene Wenger but this time it feels different, it feels that the long-suffering Gunners fans may have found

Potential tactical tweaks Klopp can implement to beat Atlético Madrid

by Hammad Pervez - March 10, 2020

3 losses in 66. Followed by 3 losses in 5. From dreams of seeing their names etched amongst the game’s greatest sides just a couple of weeks ago, Liverpool have since had their dream of invincibility crushed, their quest for the treble shattered and the defence of their Champions League

The key battles that could determine the outcome of the Clásico

by Hammad Pervez - February 28, 2020May 26, 2020

The second El Clasico of the current La Liga season is upon us as Barcelona travel to the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening. Today we'll be doing something slightly different from our usual tactical previews as we discuss the key battles that will define the outcome of this much-anticipated clash.

Battle at the Bernabéu – Real Madrid vs Manchester City tactical preview

Tactics

by Hammad Pervez - February 25, 2020May 26, 2020

On 26th February, Manchester City will face the 13 times European champions in the most high profile tie of the last 16 of the Champions League. When this tie was originally announced, Manchester City were favorites because Real Madrid were struggling, but now, the Los Blancos are seen as slight

A closer look at Lazio and how they are challenging for the Scudetto

News
Tactics

by Hammad Pervez - February 19, 2020February 19, 2020

There is a very famous quote in the 2019 Todd Philips movie, Joker, it goes like this - "When I was a little kid and told people that I was going to be comedian, everyone laughed at me, well, no one is laughing now". Just like people had doubted the

Atlético Madrid vs Liverpool – Tactical Preview

Tactics

by Hammad Pervez - February 16, 2020

Liverpool, the soon-to-be Premier League champions will travel to face Atlético, on a ground where they became Champions of Europe in the summer of 2019. Among all the headline draws in the Champions League, this tie is not seen as attractive as the PSG vs Dortmund or Bayern Munich vs

Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain – Tactical preview and key battles

Tactics

by Hammad Pervez - February 16, 2020February 16, 2020

Feature Image via Bundesliga The champions of France will travel to Dortmund for a tie that promises entertainment, drama and plenty of goals. This tie has many intriguing storylines. What attacking combination will Thomas Tuchel field? Will Dortmund stick with their 5-2-3 or will Lucian Favre pack the midfield? How will

Understanding the differences in Manchester City’s and Liverpool’s 4-3-3

Tactics

by Hammad Pervez - February 14, 2020February 16, 2020

Written by Hammad Manchester City and Liverpool are two of the best teams in the game right now. Aside from leading the Premier League this season, Liverpool currently hold the Champions League, Uefa Super Cup, and Club World Cup title, while City won the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, and the Premier

Pulling it back against all odds – A Hasenhüttl inspired turnaround

by Varun Kumar - January 23, 2020January 23, 2020

Football never ceases to amuse us. The Premier League has always managed to throw up interesting stories in the seasons gone by, and this campaign is no exception to the rule. Whether it be Liverpool's mentality monsters going on a rampage or Chris Wilder's Sheffield drawing all the plaudits, there

The Blueprint – How City played without the ball vs Chelsea

Tactics

by Brendan Early - November 27, 2019November 27, 2019

Manchester City went into Saturday’s game against Chelsea well aware of the stakes. A loss would turn the already large 9 point deficit between them and Liverpool into an astronomical 12 points, but fortunately for Guardiola and the sky blues, they came out on top courtesy of a 2-1 victory. The

Breaking down the tactical nuances of Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta B.C

Tactics

by Cheuk Hei Ho - October 18, 2019

Atalanta B.C have graduated from being relegation candidates to regulars in European competitions. Their acclaimed academy has served them well, but it is Gian Piero Gasperini who has helped them break out of their cocoon. After making some smart investments here and there, they are now borderline outside contenders in