Between The Posts

We analyze PSG against Manchester City, the Champions League semi-final played on May 4th 2021.

- City's 4-4-2 shape: almost like Atlético
- PSG problems in possession: fullbacks and Icardi
- Neymar's role: not good enough in the final third
- City's tweaks at half-time
- PSG losing their head
- Evaluating PSG's season

Feel free to send an e-mail to [email protected] for any questions and comments you may have about the pod. We are also present on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You can also send a message to Erik (@erikelias_) and Jose (@jcperez_) on Twitter!

We analyze Real Madrid versus Chelsea, the Champions League semi-final played on April semifinal played on April 27, 2021.

- Zidane's pivot to 5-3-2 and why it didn't work
- Chelsea buildup getting past Madrid's press
- Madrid not showing up
- Tuchel's coaching
- Will Chelsea rue that they did not get more from this match?

Feel free to send an e-mail to [email protected] for any questions and comments you may have about the pod. We are also present on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You can also send a message to Erik (@erikelias_) and Jose (@jcperez_) on Twitter!

We analyze Chelsea versus Manchester City, the FA Cup semifinal played on April 17th, 2021.

- City's narrow 4-2-3-1 press
- City fullbacks vs Chelsea wingbacks
- How Chelsea exploited City's fullbacks
- Chelsea's defensive block
- Why Pep stopped using Cancelo as inverted RB
- Pep's unusual game management
- Chelsea's goal
- Is this a signal of City's decline?
- What comes next for Tuchel's Chelsea

Feel free to send an e-mail to [email protected] for any questions and comments you may have about the pod. We are also present on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You can also send a message to Erik (@erikelias_) and Jose (@jcperez_) on Twitter!

We break down Real Madrid - FC Barcelona, played in LaLiga on April 10, 2021. Among other topics, we discuss:

- Zidane's tactical adjustments
- Barcelona now building up with 3+2 instead of 3+1
- How Valverde was key in Real's tactical plan
- Barcelona's attacking troubles on the right
- Koeman's successful half-time adjustments
- The impact of the rain on the match
- Zidane's substitutions
- Last twenty minutes: chaos
- Zidane's tactical versatility and why he is so underrated.

Feel free to send an e-mail to [email protected] for any questions and comments you may have about the pod. We are also present on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You can also send a message to Erik (@erikelias_) and Jose (@jcperez_) personally on Twitter.

Stuff we discussed during the pod:

- Written match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere can be found here.
- Managing Madrid can be found here.
- Screenshot of how Valverde slotted in at right back.
- Emmanuel also did some work on Madrid's way of defending in the last two Clásicos.

We break down RB Leipzig versus Bayern Munich, played in the Bundesliga on April 3rd, 2021. Among other topics, we discuss:

- Leipzig's fluid formation
- Leipzig's pressing initially dominates
- How Kimmich and Goretzka took control of the game
- Kluivert and Leipzig's 2nd half changes
- Bayern and their improved defensive plan B
- Leipzig switches to a more direct offense
- What's next for Nagelsmann

Feel free to send an e-mail to [email protected] for any questions and comments you may have about the pod. We are also present on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You can also send a message to Erik (@erikelias_), Jose (@jcperez_), and Jasmine (@_jasminebaba) on Twitter!

Visit Jasmine's Medium page for her latest analysis articles.

We break down Real Sociedad versus Barcelona, played in La Liga on March 21, 2021.

- The benefits of Barca's new...3-5-2 (?)
- Barça's fluid buildup phase
- La Real's passive 5-4-1 block
- Zubimendi vs Dembele
- Dest's aggressive role
- Busquets to Messi: football heritage
- 2nd half: Real can't press nor defend deep
- Dembele as a striker
- What's the ceiling of Koeman's Barça? 

Feel free to send an e-mail to [email protected] for any questions and comments you may have about the pod. We are also present on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You can also send a message to Erik (@erikelias_) and Jose (@jcperez_) on Twitter!

We break down Arsenal versus Tottenham Hotspur, played in the Premier League on March 14, 2021.

- Tottenham's style of play and mismatch with their squad
- Arsenal's overloads versus Matt Doherty
- Lamela's rabona (!!!)
- Spurs' defensive awareness
- Saka being taken off at half-time
- Mourinho's subs at the hour mark
- Arsenal in front
- Spurs best spell... with ten men chasing the game
- Tottenham should sack their manager

Feel free to send an e-mail to [email protected] for any questions and comments you may have about the pod. We are also present on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You can also send a message to Erik (@erikelias_) and Jose (@jcperez_) on Twitter!

Links discussed in the episode:

Tweet BTP-writer Joel Parker:
https://twitter.com/Joelissimmo/status/1371234249085497346?s=20

Ødegaard-role by Jasmine Baba:
https://spielverlagerung.com/2021/03/14/analysing-arsenal-v-tottenham-balancing-attacking-movements-for-odegaard/)

We break down Manchester United against AC Milan, played in the Europa League on March 11th, 2021. Among other topics, we discuss:

- Milan's composed 4-4-2 pressing
- United's struggles in buildup
- Why Bruno had less impact
- Milan's movements in possession
- What makes Amad Diallo special
- Milan control but can't shoot
- United's issues in closing out games

Feel free to send an e-mail to [email protected] for any questions and comments you may have about the pod. We are also present on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You can also send a message to José (@jcperez_) and don't forget to follow UtdArena on Twitter (@UtdArena) and subscribe to his Patreon.

We break down Bayern Munich versus Borussia Dortmund, played in the Bundesliga on March 7, 2021. Among other topics, we discuss:

- Dortmund's 5-2-3 formation
- Haaland's and Dortmund's
- Bayern take back control after conceding twice
- Sané and Süle more impactful than Coman and Davies
- Dortmund's pressing and 5-4-1 defensive approach
- VAR and the penalty kick rule
- Bayern's control in the second half
- We all know how this ends... Bayern scores two 
- Bundesliga title race

Feel free to send an e-mail to [email protected] for any questions and comments you may have about the pod. We are also present on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You can also send a message to Erik (@erikelias_) and Jose (@jcperez_) on Twitter!

We break down Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad,  played in La Liga on March 1st, 2021. Among other topics, we discuss:

- Two teams passing at a very high level
- Zubimendi and Guevara in Real Sociedad's buildup
- Kroos and Isco in Real Madrid's buildup
- Why Real Sociedad did not create shots
- Zidane's ill-fated switch to a back three
- How Real Sociedad created the goal
- Rodrygo, Vinicius, and Valverde turn the game around
- Can Real Madrid catch up in La Liga's title race?

Feel free to send an e-mail to [email protected] for any questions and comments you may have about the pod. We are also present on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You can also send a message to Erik (@erikelias_) and Jose (@jcperez_) on Twitter!