Barcelona 5-1 Shakhtar Donetsk: Shakhtar incapable of dealing with runners from deep
The starting line-ups
Barcelona became the third side to take a massive lead into the second leg of the European Cup quarter-finals.
Pep Guardiola was still without Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal, so Sergio Busquets continued at the back. Pedro Rodriguez was only fit enough for the bench, so Andres Iniesta played in the front three, and Seydou Keita started in the middle.
Former Barcelona centre-back Dmyto Chygrynskiy was unavailable for the away side, but otherwise it was Mircea Lucescu’s expected 4-2-3-1 side.
Like in the other two high-scoring games this week, the home side got off to a tremendous start when Iniesta slotted home after two minutes to put Barcelona ahead.
Shakhtar threaten
Despite the eventual scoreline, the away side were an attacking force in the game, especially in the first half, and looked to have all the required characteristics to expose Barcelona at the back. First and foremost, they had pace upfront. Luiz Adriano’s lightning acceleration kept causing Busquets problems (he’d also come unstuck by Giuseppe Rossi’s speed at the weekend), and he had a golden chance early on to give Shakhtar an away goal.
Their second strategy was more intelligent – with Alves playing very high up the pitch, the Ukrainian side tried to hit direct balls into Barcelona’s right-back zone, and exploit the fact the Brazilian was frequently out of position. An early shot from a narrow angle tested Valdes, and Alves contributed to the danger down that flank by being very sloppy in possession – conceding possession on the flank unnecessarily, and then underhitting a backpass which almost put Adriano in.
Late runs prove crucial
It was Alves who got the second goal with a trademark run on the blind side of the defence to meet an Iniesta lofted ball over the top. That run has caught out many sides this season, but Shakhtar seemed to be especially prone to it – no-one tracked him whatsoever, and Alves was one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Shakhtar tried to play into Barca's right-back spot
Shakhtar’s’ inability to cope with late runs continued to be a problem throughout the game – in fact, despite Barcelona scoring five goals, none of them came from the two forwards on the pitch, David Villa or Lionel Messi – or Pedro, when he came on. Keita and Xavi added goals later on from midfield, whilst Gerard Pique’s untracked run from a corner to the near post found him in acres of the space.
The goals were all preventable – but Barcelona were using their players cleverly, with the forwards dragging defenders out of position and midfielders exploiting the space.
Open play
Shakhtar tactics without the ball seemed to be to press Barcelona quickly when they played the ball in midfield, attempting to force Barcelona to play the ball backwards – at which point, Shakhtar dropped off. They played a reasonably high line but offered no pressure on the ball at points – this resulted in the Alves goal – which was suicidal.
Barcelona’s pressing was also more important than ever here, as Shakhtar tried to play on the counter. In their previous tie against Roma, Shakhar’s transitions were excellent, but here they found it difficult to get past the first press, and therefore rarely countered from defence effectively.
Chalkboards
Messi continued to play in a deeper, classic playmaking position:
Messi's received passes
Despite having a solid ’square’ of two centre-backs and two holding midfielders, Shakhtar frequently lost tackles in key, central positions:
Barcelona usually take their corners short, but in the past couple of games have been trying to send in near post corners to Busquets, who flicks the ball on to Pique. It’s clearly a training ground move – it worked against Villarreal and nearly worked again here. Pique did get a goal, from a near post run as his marker was blocked off.
Barcelona's corners
Barcelona were even more keen than usual to play square passes – a third of their attempted balls were played sideways.
Barcelona's square balls
Conclusion
What many billed as a potential banana skin turned out to be a comfortable victory for Barcelona, though they did have problems with pace in behind the defence in the first half.
The main lesson to take from this match is Barcelona’s use of midfielders making late runs – llegada. Neither of their main goal threats scored, instead they focused on creating space. It was noted in the Roma game that Shakhtar often only truly defended with six players – perhaps they needed more defensive awareness from the front four.
Chalkboards from TotalFootball
Barcelona 5-1 Shakhtar Donetsk: Shakhtar incapable of dealing with runners from deep
Four goals from wide positions, demostrates us how important is width from Dani Alves against park-the-bus defences, as well as Messi’s intelligent plays from deep. Amazing players. Definitely Barca’s 2010-2011 MVP’s.
I noticed Lucescu’s main problem was that he was relying on Willian to track back and basically cover Alves’ runs. For much of the game he was playing as a lazy fulback while Rat tucked in and tried to keep a hold of Villa, to ill effect. Perhaps if Hubschman had been utilized to cover Villa and allow Rat to keep track of Alves, then it would of been a different game. Who knows?
Excellent article as always!
So Zonal Marking are you looking forward to covering 4 El Clássicos in a time period of 2.5 weeks? :p
First of all, I love this site. I was getting tired of stupid, shallow match reviews in newspapers, absolutely ridiculous. Football is a very complicated sport and it should be treated like the Amermicans treat their sports: with tremendous eye for statistics, strategy and detail.
Regarding this match. Shaktar played well and deserved more in my eyes. The chance the striker got early in the match should be a 100% goal. Then the other chance with Valdes coming out, he should’ve kept control and pass to his teammates on the right side, it would’ve been a 3 vs 1 (Piqué) situation and also a 100% goal.
It’s good to see that even Barca has its weaknesses, I’m getting a bit tired of the favouritism for and arrogance in Barcelona. Still they are the strongest team in the CL. I think only Man U has a realistic chance of beating them.
I think if you ask a Barca fan who follows each game you’ll notice a big concern regarding our back four, the lack of CB is worrisome. I’ve began liking Busquets now but I’m not yet convinced of him as a CB. And yes, those {doneskt] counter were lethal, thank god they missed.
Favoritism? Do explain.
@Lukas you are giving us too much credit
@Sic I think he is refering to the smugness people have from time to time regarding Barcelona.
You can’t be serious, united? I doubt united would have a chance against madrid, nevermind barca. I think its time for people to realize just how far the top of the epl has fallen in resent years. Arsenal can’t eden get a shot on goal against barca, tottenham are destroyed by madrid, man city and liverpool are tossed from the europa league two rounds ago. While a team like villareal is beating napoli, one of the best in italy, bayer lever, one of the best in germany, and now they demolish twente 5-1, while against barca our madrid they lose easily every time. I think its clear that madrid and barca are the two best teams in the world.
Jealous much?
This sort of team comes once in a lifetime, arrogance/favoritism/smugness are human traits If its not shown in this context (willingly or otherwise) then whats the point of being human and displaying human emotions.
Feel the passion boy.
If Barcelona did not have both Maxwell and Adriano, It would be nice to see them buy Fabio Coentrão. He’s very dangerous going forward and is a confident player. For the opposition It would be like having two Daniel Alves to worry about.
With Adriano gelling so well with the team lately and Abidal hopefully returning next season, there’s absolutely no need for a left back.
I know… too bad. But Coentrão maybe is better then Adriano, but yes Barcelona don’t need him.
IMO Adriano is doing well at the moment in Barca. Did you watch the game against Arsenal? Hell…the way Adriano played remembered me of Roberto Carlos pal. He was so quick and his searing pace really made Bacary Sagna having tough times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG33271Exu4
), and shot towards Almunia and *BANG* his effort hit the bar. At that moment I was like, “What was that? Did I just see Roberto Carlos in Barca shirt?” lol
This was one unforgettable moment in that game when Adriano sprinted LIKE A CHEETAH from Arsenal defense’s blind side to receive a through ball from David Villa (or Xavi? I forgot
Hmm….Fabio Cointreau. I’ve never seen him play, but his name is more like an orange liquor to me
If you’ve not seen him play… When he moves to a bigger club you well have an opportunity to see him play
He’s a top player.
But Adriano is not bad either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue51G_Bjf68
Heres a game he (Coentrão) played yesterday very similar to Daniel Alves
The point is not to have two Daniel Alves in the line-up. It would be too dangerous for Barcelona defence.
Barca will need Villa, Pedro, and Messi to return to scoring form when they play the big boys no doubt about it.
However Barca undeniably look very fragile in the back, Valdes heroics notwithstanding; having lost the marshaling of Pujol and the superb Abidal (what a joy to watch this classy intelligent player this season); obviously Milito and young Fontas are not trusted by Guardiola as their substitutes.
Couple of years ago they could get away with makeshift CBz with Yaya in the decisive games, who with his speed and strength, as long as the highline worked, he did pretty well; but the slow Busquet who still gets out of trouble thru gamesmanship how long can they ride their luck now ? ie Sevilla, Villareal, Shakhtar…. we remember how close Arsenal was to a last minute most farcical victory ever…
I will not be shocked if Mourinho/Real or Fergie/Manu would find a way to make this fragility count
Over the course of the season Barca seemed to have naturally changed from their 4-3-3 (which was their point of perfection) to almost a 3-4-3 with a diamond midfield and Alves on the extreme right (when in possesion). The change in system has certainly made Alves much more important to Barcelona and it has come at the expense of Messi. Villa seems to be either out of form or suffering from fatigue. Alves has the second most assists for Barca, second to Messi.
I think that Barcelona are a much more beatable prospect today than last November but only to a team that can properly address Alves. IMO you cannot drive him back with a left winger because usually the centreback is on the left, not him. And you can’t ask the left winger to track him because he plays far too advanced up the field. When Real Madrid were thumped in the Camp Nou, Alves was only one of a number of horrible problems you needed to consider when facing Barca. But today, I think he is the only player you need to give special attention to when facing them – and eliminating the ball to the right would hamper Xavi and co anyway.
Alves plays almost on the offside line for Barcelona when in possesion which is usually about 70% of the game so there really is very little justification to say he plays right-back. For as long as coaches try to defend against him as a full-back, I think they put themselves at an immediate disadvantage.
Could Fergie using a winger behind a natural full back on occasion lately have been test runs to address this very issue ?
Why is Messi not credited with his assist to Keita on his Chalkboard?
Because it is passes received.
Sorry, I did not realize it was passes received. My fault.
When I was watching the Quarter-Final draw, the one tie I wanted to see more than any was a two-legged affair between Barca and Real (I think it will be really interesting to see how Mourinho can perform against Barca over two legs, rather than the one-off league game style that Real so spectacularly failed at). It may look like I’m about to get my wish, but unfortunately it’s come about at Tottenhams expense, who I hoped would get a favourable draw (anyone but Real or Barca) and get further in the competition……oh well, we can’t all get what we wished for……
Nice write up ZM.
Does anyone else think now might be the time for Messi to revert to his 2008/9 role, ie starting wide right and moving inwards? He is fantastic as a false 9 but recently goals for both him and Villa have been relatively scarce. This shift would allow Villa to play as the main striker (like at Valencia) and also perhaps make the space Xavi and Iniesta work in less congested. Plus Messi is still fantastic linking up with Alves on the right.
I agree that Messi has been less spectacular as a false nine lately. Though it might also be exhaustion, he has plays every game and Guardiola seems unwilling/unable to take him off when Messi has been clearly suffering from fatigue.
The role of an attacking midfielder seems more suited for Iniesta, I would definitely agree that Messi should be moved more up front. Especially as Barcelona sometimes seem to lack forward passing options when Messi has been tracking too far back.
I’m not sure I understand this Messi argument. He has failed to score in a couple of games in a row, but this doesn’t mean he hasn’t been effective…
totally agree, not scoring is one thing but being effective AND WINNING! is another.
This game for example, they won 5-1 and no goals came from the forwards; but what did they do? they created space and made runs and made passes to others to score. Doneskt were too concern about the forward that they might have forgotten the other 7 players in the pitch.
No worries, mate. Messi is saving his goals for El Clasico!
Ironically given Barcelona’s impressive squad depth, I think that they are lacking in a CF/Tre role. The matches where Messi doesn’t play, the team on occassions looks static and poor.
Playing Villa there is not the option, as he doesn’t seem to have the vision to link play in the way that Barcelona require. It’s also possible that he has “forgotten” how to play the CF role. At the end of his career at Valencia, Villa was playing left side drifting in (as he does at Barcelona now), similarly for Spain.
The problem with moving Messi back to right wing is that short of moving Xavi or Iniesta to the CF/Tre (which I don’t think would work well, unless Busquets could be used to fill in in midfield), Barcelona don’t have any other options. Whilst I’m not a huge Ibrahimovic fan, I think this is one option that they lost by getting rid of him.
Thanks, great reply. What price for Barca splashing out on a rejuvenated Wayne Rooney in the summer…
Puyol is close to a return to fitness and that will ease much of Barcelona’s pains at the back. Busquets is easily exploited when attempting to hold a high line due to his lack of pace and defensive tenacity in general.
I think ZM hit the key point with one of the last statements, which was the need for more defensive awareness from Shakhtar’s attackers. Brazilians, by nature, are not brought up to play a pressing game. The offside trap is looked at with a measure of incredulity in Brazil. It is considered suicidal because of the nature of the attacking talent. Johan Cruyff famously said Total Football would be impossible in Brazil and Argentina for this reason (high line suicidal). This is also why Guardiola, his top pupil, was so concerned ahead of the match. He knows Shakhtar are a bad match-up for Barca’s defense.
The problem for Shakhtar is that vigorous pressing from attacking players greatly reduces the ability to counter-attack- unless you counter like Barcelona and Chile do by winning the ball in the other team’s half. Shakhtar are not built for that.
So true.
Even today in Brazil, forwards and creative midfielders are largely excused from defensive duties – even pressing – since they have ultra-defensive double pivots behind them to tidy up.
To watch a Brazilian domestic game nowadays is to see the lines incredibly stretched, with both defences rarely straying beyond 15 yards from their own box; acres of space ensues.
Puyol won’t play again this season. TRUST ME.
Bet there are at least two very good reasons for that!
So the second time Shakthar travels to a team that vigorously presses them they fall apart in the defense and lose 5-1. Last time it was Arsenal that destroyed them, this time Barca. Shakthar don’t have the discipline. They would have fared much better against any other team (not just because Barca is so good).
Well, maybe, but then what happened to Arsenal in the return leg in Ukraine?…Plus, the last 3 times Shakhtar played Barca, their defense held up relatively well.
Yes, But Wenger miscalculated and sent a much weakened and unbalanced 2nd string team for the away game..( without Sagna Koscielny,without Fabregas, Song nor Chamakh and Arshavin and with a kid Eastmond as anchor (who scored an OG) …
one of those Arsene W missteps that came to define Arsenal season.
Guardiola surely will do nothing of the sort.
( Iniesta will sit the game Pedro will probably get at least an hour on the right, otherwise the same team , that will see the tie out. a draw)
Yes, why even bother playing the game… :/
I’m wondering if there needs to be a new way to represent the formation for Barcelona. It just seems that calling them a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-3 to address what Alves actually is doesn’t really get at what is happening. It’s almost as if it needs to be represented:
3|
3|1
3|
Or something like that. Or 3-3-3(1), perhaps. Because, honestly, any attempt to place him in a traditional three band system (or even a four band system) just doesn’t really account for him as he actually is playing.
Just a thought…and certainly open to rebuttals and reformulations.
It is difficult to represent such a fluid formation on paper. Alves relies on his fitness levels and pace to recover from his forward forays in the traditional Brazilian mode. Guardiola has completely opened the right flank for Alves this season with Messi’s more central playmaking alignment.
I classify Barcelona as a 3-4-3 in the attacking phase when either Maxwell or Adriano plays left back. I define positioning from where a move starts, and not how it evolves/finishes. I classify Alves and Maxwell/Adriano as wing backs and not as wide midfielders in this sense as they do drop into deeper defensive positions when needed. They are true byline to byline players.
I agree At no time during the match does Barca have 4 at the back, ever
I also have read their formation as being
2
3
2
3
But as LaMaquina said its too fluid to put it on paper, the quality of players are such that they play like we used to in our school days,
i.e. play wherever you feel comfortable
This isn’t something unique to Barca- lots of teams utilize players that don’t fit into 2 or 3 band system’s. However, in Alves’ case, I think that putting him down as a RB with that little forward arrow above his name would be sufficient…or a perhaps a very big arrow…
I know that it isn’t unique to Barca, but it just seems to be to a different degree than others who employ a similar type of system. And, perhaps, part of the problem is that the ZM position diagrams are starting position rather than actual positions and that even putting a huge arrow on him from his starting position doesn’t really account for what is actually happening.
Take a look at the heat map and tactical formation on ESPN and Alves’s average position is as far forward as the front line and farther forward than Villa or Xavi. And I don’t think that this is just an naming game either. I think that teams simply aren’t able to comprehend what he actually is, which isn’t a RB (even if he is listed as one and “starts” as one) or even a midfielder or even a forward.
I don’t know. And again, I know that other teams do this, but not like this. And if there are counter examples of a player who plays just like this, I’d like to know who it might be, because I simply can’t think of anyone. You could argue, perhaps, Bale before he was made a MF, but even then it wasn’t like this. Ashley Cole? Maybe. But I’m up for suggestions…
Oh, and maybe something like this for Alves and the formation: 3-3-3-1↑
Maybe a possibility…
I think ZM’s starting tactics diagram was as spot-on as is possible. Obviously, the game isn’t static and people sometimes put too much weight on starting formations.
With Alves, I think it’s important to separate the defensive phase from the offensive. Since Barca spend a large majority of the match in the latter, it could make sense to label Barca’s system 3-4-3 instead of some variation of a 4 man backline. Then again, its not exactly unheard of to see attacking fullbacks making the exact same late runs as Alves does. A perfect example is Shakhtar’s Darijo Srna- I can’t count how many times I’ve seen him occupying similar positions for Shakhtar. The difference is that Shakhtar-at least in the CL-don’t maintain Barca’s 60-70% possession (so Srna has to actually spend some time defending…).
I suppose my point is simply that Barca spend so much of their time in the offensive phase that it’s easy to just say that Alves is lining up as a winger or wingback.
Very good point about the offensive/defensive phases. But, perhaps, it isn’t so much the offensive/defensive phases but attacking half of the field vs defensive half of the field that is catching me up so much. I guess I would make this distinction because of the fact that so much of the “defensive phase” of Barcelona’s game actually occurs in the opponent’s half of the field which means that Alves doesn’t ever need to be defensive in the defensive half of the field.
In which case, I guess, it isn’t that Alves is really all that different but that because of the maintenance of possession by Barca and time spent in the attacking half that there is the chance to play as a half-line to touch-line winger rather than a touchline-to-touchline back.
It would be interesting to see another player in that system, though…see what effect Alves actually has (and type of play he has) compared to another winger-type player.
After this match, I’m really afraid of Barcelona being out-defended later on in the competition. Real Madrid might try very different tactics, Man Utd would be difficult, and Chelsea would be very difficult. If Barca makes mistakes like they did yesterday against one of those teams, they’d likely have conceded at least three goals.
One would imagine Real would attempt to sit deeper and counter intelligently (see ZM’s outstanding coverage of Brazil for an example on how this could be done). Whether Mourinho has this sort of wrinkle in the cards is anyone’s guess, although I would imagine doubtful. Mourinho has shown nothing of the sort so far this season and generally stuck with the 4-2-3-1.
it seems shakhtar would have had more success if willian pushed further up the pitch. as pointed out, alves is often out of defensive position on counters, if willian occupied that space he would have an available and very direct passing option.
it would have caused pique/busquets problems as well as one of them would have been pulled to the right, leaving luiz adriano 1v1 with the other.
Shakhtar did do this, and to good effect. If the finishing had been better, they could have scored 3-4 goals.
guardiola played it risky but succesful, due to shaktars incapability to score at least one of those 4 consecutive chances. as simple as that, shaktar had 4 fast offensive players that neither pique nor busquets could handle in terms of speed. they are both tall players, but lack the speed. also, barca’s team philosphy doesn’t allow them to have a “long” team in order to defend deep, so during their offensive runs, the central defenders where somewhere near the center of the pitch. puyol was the kind of defender that would have solved this kind of problem, but him being injured left guardiola with no other viable solution. due to this, shaktars counter attacks could have proved lethal, but the lack of composure in front of goal killed all their chances. it was enough for barca to have a 2 goal lead to owe the game and as time passed, shaktar lost lucidity and started playing redundantly.
lucescu needed to change something, but scared of the proportions the score might have taken (which it actually did) chose the worse solution. he did not defend, nor played everything on attack. srna’s runs on the right side were surely missed in this game. the defensive approach he adopted left douglas costa alone in front of adriano, with keita, mascherano and pique constantly charging him. and the right side was one to exploit, where neither keita nor adriano find a place in barca’s dream formula. of course they are a little more defensive than xavi and dani alves and i think lucescu thought that these 2 players’ offensive appetite will leave spaces to support a left side attack, but rat is not the quality player srna is in order to create superiority on the left flank. his only attacking capabilities are some decent crosses, and luis adriano stood no chance in high balls against busquets and pique. of course, this was also an intelligent move by guardiola to push a dangerous and creative player such as iniesta (pedro is very dangerous but less creative) on the right side in order to keep srna at the back during this whole time, hit by the little to no experience ishchenko has. a good experienced central defender there would have solved many of shaktar’s problems, but while guardiola found a viable solution for his defence, lucescu just couldn’t.
Barcelona are paying the price for selling both Marquez, and Chygrynski. Add the lack of confidence in Milito, the injury of Puyol and Abidal and the lack of confidence in the Barca B players and you have a total crisis. The one to blame is Guardiola, who should have bought at least 2 CB’s.
I believe selling Chygrynskiy was Rosell’s decision, Guardiola wanted to keep him. But yeah, the back at FCB is pretty thin these days…
I had the impression that Barca got a bit lucky with their very early opening goal. Was a stupid mistake/accident by one of the CBs that normally does not happen. The way they tried to come back after the 0:1 was impressive, although they should have been more cold-blooded in front of the goal.
I daresay that the return match will be somewhat more equal. The longer it stays 0-0 the better Shaktar will become. Would not be surprise if Shaktar manage to scrape a marginal win. Of coure, that would be also because Barca will just do the minimum to make it to the semis.
I expect Shakhtar to win by 1-0 or 2-0 in Donetsk. Mainly because, if I were Guardiola, I would be resting Xavi, Messi and Villa for the 4 clasicos, and playing Bojan, Pedro, and Thiago in the starting XI instead. Really, if a couple of Barca subs can’t safeguard a 4 goal lead and progress to the semis, than Barca doesn’t deserve it
add Milito to the squad… he needs playing time and minutes to get his “game” back. Busi doesn’t convince me that much as a CB.
I totally agree about Busquets. To me, he is a player that is above average at a wide variety of skills of the game, but fails to be exceptional at any of them. He is almost the perfect utility player. He has good stamina, decent passing, decent tackling, and his vision is alright, although for a Barca player “alright” isn’t enough. The only things I don’t like about him is that he has a tendency to go down quickly whether he is actually tackled or faking it, he tends to not put up with any serious tackle, and falls down, even if its a legitimately good clean tackle.
I would rather see Milito play along side Pique too. Even give one of the Masia boys a go at it.
His passing is much, much better than “decent”.
Milito has been awful when given the chance. Not sure we will seeing much more of him.
There were two crucial points in this game:
1. Lucescu’s unLuce-tive approach
Lucescu is generally well-known with his tactical discipline and defensive mentality that makes him very popular and successful in Turkey, Italy and Romania.Luce-tive approach requires knowing own limits, respecting the opponent, playing patiently and staying calm till the end, focussing to limit the rival’s offensive creativity firstly, and then utilizing the opportunities arised from the mistake of the opponent.
However, he has been shifting to more aggressive and attactive approach since he started to work for Shakhtar. In fact, this mentality change of Luce should be perceived as very normal considering the financial potential and dominance of Shakhtar in Ukraine. Luce is making his dreams about football come true each season with Shakhtar. He can transfer any young talent that help his new creative, fluid and quick football tactics to process on the field. However, Barcelona game proved that the experienced coach is starting to live in wonderland.
It seems noone told him before the game that this is the Champions Leagues, not Europa League and the team that they have to beat to progress is Barcelona.. B-A-R-C-E-L-O-N-A!!!
He started with 5 offense-based players (Willian,Jadson,Mhkitarayan,Costa,Adriano) who are not capable of defensive reflexes, positioning and cooperation. These players may be very creative in the final third, but you have to carry the balance of the match to the opponent’s zone firstly to benefit from the creative attackers. Surely, Shakhtar could not achieve it against the team that have many players of high level of football conscious and proficiency. Barca dominated at the midfield, possessed the ball as much as they needed and scored goals when they really focused on scoring. It was like an unforgettable punishment to the unLuce-tive football of Shakhtar.
2. Keita effect
Pep was not expecting such an easy victory of course. He was assuming that Luce would adopt a very rigid strategy, and Shakhtar would try to play more compact football that prevents Barca’s midfielders to distribute the ball deliberately and blocks vertical pass channels.
That’s why he started with Keita.
Even in the tactical diagrams of the game, Keita seems as a member of 3-man midfield, in fact, he was the “secret” target man of his team. Pep preferred his physical dominance and dual efficiency instead of Pedro’s diagonal runs and finishing abilities.
Iniesta positioned closer to the midfield than offense during the game, and Keita frequently looked for forward runs and ball-less penetrations into the spaces at the opponent’s defence. I think Pep also asked the wing backs to cut the ball inside whenever they saw Keita in the penalty area not to lose the ball while attacking, assuming that Shakhtar would narrow the areas in the midfield to cut the pass traffic of Barca.
In practice, there wasn’t any need for Keita’s aerial dominance, but after all, his presence around the Shakhtar’s penalty area did cause serious match-up problems for the defenders and disturb the defensive line location of Shakhtar.
Last words: Lucescu wanted to fight against Pep bravely; he thought if Barca have Villa and Messi, he got Willian, Adriano, Costa and Jadson.. And he overlooked the fact that Messi-lona can collect the cups, Villalona can win the championships any time; but The Others have always a word in these roads of the victory.. In this game, Keita is the featured man of The Other in my opinion.
Oh please, don’t moan at Lucescu. Defensive attitude would guarantee 0% Shakhtar surviving the match, while also giving 0% hope for scoring any away goal. Their build-up play on the right wing had lead to the free-kick that was converted on a goal. In other words, I’m not far from stating that defensive attitude would end up in 5-0 instead of 5-1.
Oh so that’s why he played Keita. And why did he play Valdes? To protect the goal, you say? What fabulous insight(!).
Please, stop cluttering up the comments section with your insufferable ramblings.
Barca were really unlucky in regards to Abidal, what happened to him is just so out of the blue its crazy.
He was the best CB for Barca this year, Pique has been more Off than On.
Milito was almost sold, Puyol was supposed to be out for a month. Maxwell was carrying a knock as well prior to this week.
its a perfect storm against Barca at the back.
So its giving others a chance not by design but by circumstances.
If there is a chance to beat Barca its NOW if others can’t take advantage now its going to be years again before such an opportunity presents itself again.
By design this Barca still hasn’t been “countered” tactically (And no I don’t regard Inter’s win as breaking the Barca system.) i.e. figured them out so as to brake their system (which is now legendary and we will be talking of this side in reverence years from now, enjoy while it lasts).
what a great article! i’m amazed! i’m happy i found this website.
thanks very very much!
and what about match! barca playd great in offence as usuall! but had unusuall number of mistakes in defence…