Club Brugge hosted Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Champions League in what was an important game for both sides. Belgian Pro League champions Brugge had the chance to guarantee a place in the Europa League at the least, while Zenit had to win in order to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for Europe’s second tier competition. In the end, it was Brugge who were comfortable winners, scoring three goals and keeping a clean sheet in the process.
This tactical analysis will look at how Brugge’s transition game and willingness to get men behind the ball helped them to take the lead. The analysis will also look at how Zenit got their tactics wrong, as well as the importance of Eder Balanta to how Brugge were able to win the game.
Lineups
Phillipe Clement went for a 4-1-4-1 formation, with former Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet between the posts. Clinton Mata and Frederico Ricca were the full-backs, with Odion Kossounou and Brandon Mechele as the centre-backs. Eder Balanta was the deepest of the three central players, with Ruud Vormer and Hans Vanaken playing further forward. Emmanuel Dennis and Noa Lang were the wingers, while the man who bagged the winner in the reverse fixture, Charles de Ketelaere, was the lone striker.
For Zenit, coach Sergei Semak went with a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Mikhail Kerzhakov in goal. Douglas Santos and Aleksei Sutormin were the full-backs, while Yaroslav Rakitskiy and Danila Prokhin were the centre-backs. Wilmar Barrios partnered Aleksandr Yerokhin, while Daler Kuzyayev played ahead of them in central midfield. Malcom and Sebastian Druissi were the wide players looking to support Sardar Azmoun, who was upfront.
