ROUND OF 16 UCL 15/16 BAYERN VS JUVENTUS
So this will be a continuation of my last article, where the focus was on how shape can win or lose you a game. This one will be about tactics/players. I use the term interchangeably, as for me they are one and the same. Most people will describe a moment of individual brilliance as going against the tactics. Good coaches however know how to incorporate these moments in to their game plans. I am not trying to take the moments away from the players but as you will see by the end of the article, the shape for both teams stays the same (in theory), the difference comes in how players interpret their role and coaches putting them in position to do so. As Pep states in the above quote, his job is to create these situations for the players to take advantage of and then let their skill shine through.
Faris Talukdar
The game we will be focusing on is the second leg of the 2015/16 UCL Second Round tie between Bayern Munich and Juventus, Pep Guardiola vs Massimilliano Allegri, both with amazing teams, packed full of legends. This is Pep’s last season at Bayern which was known at this stage of the campaign. Everyone at the club is desperate for him to end on a high with the lifting of the elusive Champions League trophy after making it to the semi finals the previous two seasons. Allegri is in his second season at Juventus and is trying to go one better than they achieved last season by making the final, before falling to the MSN Barcelona treble. We also have Kingsley Coman and Arturo Vidal facing their former club with Coman only currently on loan at Bayern. There is also Mario Mandzukic who has a bone to pick with Pep after he replaced him with Robert Lewandowski. Mehdi Benatia moved to Juventus at the end of this season, with Douglas Costa soon following a season later, which I think was in part to Allegri seeing how talented he was against his side.
Similar to the last article we will be focusing on the losing side but not in the way that you think… Ok I think I’m getting a bit ahead of myself so lets have a quick recap of the first leg which was played in Turin and ended 2-2. It’s important to remember as well that the away goals rule still existed at this point in time.
Juventus lined up as shown with Dybala playing more like a number 10 although they would press roughly out of this shape.
Bayern lined up in actuality the same as Juventus, with a 4-4-1-1. Muller was behind Lewandowski and Thiago/Vidal screened the backline.
Having watched the game before starting my analysis my main focus was going to be on starting lineups and why/how players played, both in terms of good/bad and also was their playstyle effective against the opposition's tactics. The most basic example (without giving too much away) is this; some games you may want an inside forward to cut in and shoot, others you may want an out and out winger to take it to the byline and cross. Let’s say both players are equally as good then you should pick the one that suits what the opposition is doing. I also just happened to be reading Pep Guardiola: The Evolution by Martí Perarnau which covers in part this season at Bayern. This helps me get an insight in to Pep’s thinking and then after watching this first leg I was able to get more of a read on Allegri’s.
Bayern go two ahead courtesy of goals by Muller (43rd) and Robben (55th) minute, before Juventus fought back thanks to Dybala (63rd) and Sturaro on for Khedira (76th). Muller's was a classic "Muller" goal, nothing technical, just right place at the right time after a deflected not really cleared cross put in from Costa on the left. Marchisio off at half time who was not fully fit and would not be able to take part at all in the second leg. Robben then scores on the counter with a trademark cut in goal. A mis-hit clearance by Kimmich allows Dybala to get a goal on the counter to bring it back to 2-1. Kimmich also lets a cross get past him for Sturaro to make it 2-2.
