Luis Enrique Tactic vs Liverpool 2nd Leg of the UCL Round 16
Luis Enrique Tactic vs Liverpool 2nd Leg. After losing the first leg of the tie against Liverpool, PSG were able to eliminate Liverpool from the competition through penalties, after winning the full match 1-0. In the game, PSG were more defensive in the 90 minutes of the game, but they dominated the extra times of the game.
In the tactical side of the game, Luis Enrique used a 4-3-3 asymmetric tactic as Mendes they were defensive in the second leg. With no further ado let’s get into the details of the tactic.
Luis Enrique Tactic vs Liverpool 2nd Leg | Tactical Instructions
In Possession
The build-up play was by playing out of defence, but they went for direct kicks in some parts of the game, especially in the 90 minutes. During the build-up, Marquinhos and Pacho gave the goalkeeper extra width inside the box. Mendes and Hakimi hugged the flanks, providing outleg options to the goalkeeper. Vitinha dropped deeper closer to the box, while Fabian and Joao Neves formed double pivots above him just like the first leg.
In terms of approach play, PSG focused their plays either through the sides of the field or the middle of the field, after a successful build-up. The Parisians used shorter passes plus their tempo was slightly higher, they didn’t control the game until the extra times. They looked for underlaps on both sides of the field.
In Transition
The team had a wider attacking width during the transition. Also during attacks, Mendes formed a back-3 with Pacho and Marquinhos, while Hakimi would stay wider right flanks. Vitinha is the deepest midfielder while Fabian and Joao Neves push forward centrally. Kvaratskhella stayed wide on the left while Barcola stayed wide on the right flank. Dembele was dropping deep to draw an opponent out of position.
When Les Parisiens won the ball on the break, they went for counterattacks. In the final third, they mostly worked the ball into the box. When Enrique’s men lost possession, they regrouped in the 90 minutes, they started counter-pressing in the extra times.
Out Of Possession
In terms of their pressing approach, PSG pressed with a line of engagement being mid-block and at a more often pressing intensity. When Liverpool had the ball in their own half, PSG’s defensive line was standard. In extra times, both the line of engagement and the defensive line were higher.
Furthermore, PSG defenders would choose to remain compact by trapping the opponents outside. The defenders equally dropped off more the defensive line, to defend closer to their goal.
Luis Enrique Tactic vs Liverpool 2nd Leg | Formation Lineup
Luis Enrique Tactic vs Liverpool 2nd Leg | Role Selections
GK
Donnarumma was a sweeper keeper on defence duty.
CDs
Pacho and Marquinhos were central defenders on defence duties. He stayed along the defensive line to close down the opponents, marking attackers and preventing the ball from getting into the box. They focused more on defending rather than ball-playing.
Nuno Mendes was a wide centre-back on support duty. During attacking build-up, he would form a back-3 with the central defenders, before advancing through the left flank. Nuno Mendes marked Salah tightly and got the better of him.
FB
Hakimi was a fullback on support duty. He also stayed wide at the flank during attacks, running down the right flank. Hakimi was also focused on defending more than attacking due to the threats of Liverpool in the 90 minutes.
DM
Vitinha was a deep-lying playmaker on defence duty. Even though He would dictate the tempo of the game and switch plays from side to side, Vitinha was more defensive. He was able to control the midfield in the extra times.
CMs
Joao Neves was a deep-lying playmaker on support duty. While Vitinha controlled the deeper position of the midfield, Neves controlled the further positions of the midfield. Just like Vitinha, Neves was more defensive in the 90 minutes of the game.
Fabian was a box-to-box midfielder. He mostly got forward during attacks, arriving late into the box to get to the end of an attack, just like the first leg.
Ws
Kvaratskhella was an inverted winger on support duties. He hugged the left flank often during the transition. With the ball, he cut inside, into the box to find chances in the box.
Barcola was a winger on support duty. He hugged the right flank during the attacks. With the ball, he ran wide to put crosses into the box. Doue replaced him in the second half.
CF
Dembele was a false-9. He was dropping deep from the No.9 position, drawing an opponent out of position while doing so. Dembele scored the only goal of the game.
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