Gareth Thomas

Champions League

UEFA Champions League 2019/20: Benfica vs RB Leipzig – tactical analysis

Portuguese champions Benfica fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig in their first meeting in group G of…

January 24, 2020

Ernesto Valverde

La Liga 2019/20: Barcelona vs Valencia – tactical preview

This Saturday’s fixture between Barcelona and Valencia had originally been billed as the latest tactical battle between managers Ernesto Valverde and Marcelino…

July 26, 2022

Europa League

Europa League 2019/20: Braga vs Spartak Moscow

Portuguese side Braga will take a 1-0 lead with them to Russia after a convincing victory at home to Spartak Moscow in…

January 24, 2020

Champions League

UEFA Champions League Qualifiers: Porto vs Krasnodar – tactical analysis

It was a week to forget for FC Porto, who followed an opening day 2-1 defeat to Liga NOS newcomers Gil Vicente…

July 26, 2022

Match Analysis

Portuguese Super Cup 2019: Benfica vs Sporting CP – tactical analysis

LigaNOS champions Benfica and Taça de Portugal winners Sporting CP both travelled down from the capital to the neutral Estádio Algarve for…

August 6, 2019

Player Analysis

Yusuf Yazici 2018/19 – scout report

Already one of the rising stars of Turkish football, Trabzonspor’s Yusuf Yazici could be set to make a name for himself beyond…

July 27, 2019

Player Analysis

Shoya Nakajima 2018/19 – scout report

After a brief spell in Qatar at Al-Duhail FC in the latter part of the 2018/19 season, Shoya Nakajima has returned to…

July 18, 2019

Player Analysis

Leandro Trossard 2018/19 – scout report

Brighton moved quickly this summer to secure one of their main targets, Genk winger Leandro Trossard. The south coast club are believed…

July 8, 2019

FIFA Women's World Cup 2019

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 Tactical Preview: Scotland vs Argentina

As both teams need a victory in an attempt to avoid an early exit, we can expect to see an open game…

January 25, 2020

EFL League Two

Danny Cowley Tactical Analysis At Lincoln City – EFL League Two 2018/19

Brothers Danny and Nicky Cowley have been on a remarkable journey together up the football pyramid since Danny took over as Concord…

August 2, 2024

Match Analysis

Taça de Portugal 2018/19 Final Tactical Analysis: Sporting CP vs FC Porto

Sporting CP lifted the Taça de Portugal for the 17th time in dramatic fashion as they came out 5-4 winners on penalties…

July 26, 2022

Head Coach Analysis

Primeira Liga 2018/19 Tactical Analysis: Bruno Lage at Benfica

Benfica’s head coach Bruno Lage has overseen a remarkable turnaround since taking over at the club in January 2019, leading them to…

January 23, 2020

Ajax Amsterdam

Champions League 2018/19 Tactical Preview: Ajax vs Tottenham

After the fascinating tactical battle that was the first leg of this Champions League semi-final at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium, we know…

February 10, 2025

Arsenal

Europa League 2018/19 Tactical Preview: Arsenal vs Valencia

The first leg of this Europa League semi-final will come as a welcome distraction to Arsenal and Valencia who are both struggling…

July 16, 2021

Arsenal

Premier League 2018/19: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

After 10 straight Premier League wins at the Emirates, Unai Emery’s Arsenal finally came unstuck as Crystal Palace came away with all…

July 16, 2021

Player Analysis

Sporting’s Bruno Fernandes: the next great playmaker?

In recent years the word ‘playmaker’ has become more of a descriptive label than a clearly definable role. Playmakers have featured in…

April 19, 2019

Player Analysis

Paul Pogba’s decreasing xG and what it means for Manchester United

On 29 January Manchester United rescued a late draw at home to Burnley, in which Paul Pogba scored a penalty to get…

April 18, 2019

Sérgio Conceição

Can Porto frustrate Liverpool to erase last year’s humiliation?

As Liverpool and Porto meet again in the Champions League, one can’t help but think back to what happened last time around…

July 26, 2022

Match Analysis

How Boavista made Porto work for the points in their local derby

After a slow start, two goals just before and after half-time ensured the home side a comfortable 2-0 victory in the Porto…

July 26, 2022

Analysis

Marcel Keizer Tactics At Sporting CP 2018/2019 – Tactical Analysis

Eyebrows were raised in November 2018 when Dutch coach Marcel Keizer was announced by Sporting CP as José Peseiro’s successor. Apart from…

May 28, 2025