Soccer News Soccer Match Reports, Football News
Barcelona delivered a remarkable performance in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg clash against Paris Saint-Germain, as despite facing tough odds, the Blaugrana secured a thrilling 3-2 victory.
At first glance, the statistics might suggest Barcelona had a tough time, with less possession, fewer passes, and lower accuracy.
However, delving deeper into how Xavi orchestrated and adjusted the game reveals a completely different story. Let’s take a closer look at how Barcelona’s strategy unfolded during the match.
Collective defensive effort
The smart move of positioning Jules Kounde as the direct opponent to Kylian Mbappe showcased excellent tactical acumen.
Jules Kounde got the better of Kylian Mbappe against PSG.
Kounde, a Frenchman who has played with Mbappe, effectively anchored Barcelona’s defensive strategy, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of various defensive concepts.
For once, he was perfect in one-on-one situations. Secondly, When Marco Asensio moved lower, neither Ronald Araujo nor Pau Cubarsi chased him, opting to maintain their positions.
Araujo, for his part, positioned himself closely behind Kounde, while Sergi Roberto stayed nearby on the side.
On the other hand, Joao Cancelo stayed put more often to prevent quick transitions by the opposition. Furthermore, the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha consistently took on the PSG full-backs on their own.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha did their defensive duties against PSG.
Strategic attack
In response to PSG’s relentless pressure, Barcelona decided to play the long-ball tactic.
By half time Marc-Andre ter Stegen had played 12 long balls primarily targeting either Robert Lewandowski to break through PSG’s defensive lines or seeking openings for Raphinha or Yamal.
Interestingly, the average distance of these passes from the goal was 22.8 meters.
Marc Andre-ter Stegen targeted Robert Lewandowski against PSG.
Barcelona’s strategy heavily relied on…
Source link : https://barcauniversal.com/analysis-how-barcelona-defied-odds-to-beat-psg-in-the-champions-league/
Author : Alex Delmas
Publish date : 2024-04-12 19:47:04
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
