The evolution of inverted full-backs stands as one of the most significant tactical innovations of the past decade. Born from the need to manipulate central spaces and enhance control during the possession phase, this role has transformed the approach to deep build-up play and the creation of numerical superiority in...
In modern football, the choice between a back three and a back four is crucial in shaping a team's tactical balance. Both formations have advantages, each offering distinct benefits depending on the team's needs, playing style, and the match context. A back three provides greater central coverage and depth, allowing...
In the 2023/2024 season, Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title. They took the world by storm by not losing a single game until the UEFA Europa League final that term. They were that close to an undefeated treble. During that season, many players from the squad received much-deserved world attention,...
Despite currently enjoying an eight-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga, putting them on the path to a record-extending 34th German championship, Bayern Munich were unable to break their Bayer Leverkusen hoodoo on the domestic scene from last season in their direct battles. With both league fixtures for the...
I’m back again with the second part of this series for Total Football Analysis, looking at using specific profiles and data scouting in order to surface and identify some interesting players. Last week, I looked at the dominant defender profile, one of my own personal favourites. This time around, however,...
Since last season, Arsenal have been consistent in creating goals from crosses. This season (not including the game vs Leicester last weekend), Arsenal have already scored 11 goals from crosses, which means they're just seven goals away from matching last season's total. Their 0.5 assists per game this season are...
What Is Double Pivot In Football? The double pivot can be a useful tactic in creating numerical superiority in the build-up phase. It can attract opposition players towards the ball in high areas, leaving space to exploit behind their midfield line. It can also provide stability behind the ball during...
Matchday four of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League is complete. Our tactical analysis shares the best formations, plays and tactics from Champions League week four. We will analyze Barcelona’s attacking tactics, the characteristics of the half-spaces, and the benefits of overloads in these areas. Additionally, we will examine Bayer Leverkusen’s central overload in...
The new UEFA Champions League format continues to provide exciting narratives and fierce tactical matchups, as Liverpool played host to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 4. On a night when fireworks illuminated the sky around Anfield, there was an equal amount of explosive play on the pitch as Arne...
Scoring goals is the most difficult part of the game, so the ability to consistently create high-quality opportunities is extraordinarily valuable. That's the topic of today's tactical theory analysis. We're going to examine how possession-dominant teams create high-xG shots. The first topic of this tactical analysis focuses on creating chances...
As Bayer Leverkusen prepare to host Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, October 19, 2025, all eyes will be on this exciting clash between two of the Bundesliga's most entertaining and dynamic teams and coaches, as we will see in this tactical analysis. In this analysis, we will discover that Xabi Alonso's defending champions, Leverkusen, have looked...
Bayer Leverkusen Defensive Struggles Competition in the Bundesliga looks to be fierce this year. After five rounds, the defending champions Bayer Leverkusen occupy fourth place with 10 points, just three behind the leaders FC Bayern, who have 13 points; this places them just one point ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt in...
As the 2024/25 Bundesliga season approaches, excitement and anticipation are building like never before. This upcoming campaign promises to be one of the most thrilling in recent memory, marked by several compelling storylines that make it a must-watch for football fans around the world. For the first time in over...
As Bayer 04 Leverkusen prepares for the 2024/25 Bundesliga season and their international campaign in the UEFA Champions League, the focus is on building a squad capable of challenging for the Bundesliga title against FC Bayern, Dortmund and others once again. Bayer Head Coach Xabi Alonso is determined to surpass...
The UEFA Europa League final between Atalanta BC and Bayer Leverkusen promised to be a tactical masterclass, showcasing the strategic brilliance of two of Europe’s most intriguing teams. This tactical analysis will delve into the key elements that have determined the outcome of this highly anticipated clash. Atalanta, under the...
Bayer Leverkusen's triumph in securing their maiden Bundesliga title ahead of FC Bayern marks a historic moment in the club's nearly two-century-long existence. Despite perennially finishing as runners-up and enduring the taunts of being dubbed "Neverkusen," Leverkusen has finally shed the burden of near misses to claim the coveted German...
Throughout the history of football tactics, certain coaches are synonymous with back-three systems. Helenio Herrera famously deployed a 5-3-2 system during the 1960s with great success at Inter, winning three Serie A titles and two European Cups during those glory years. Carlos Billardo was famed for using a 3-5-2 with...
With each passing week, Bayer Leverkusen can taste the treble. Having dispatched Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga to achieve a five-point lead, the German side is also in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal and won all six matches in their Europa League group. Xabi Alonso's men are flying high and...
As the Bundesliga unfolds its gripping narrative, the upcoming clash between VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen stands as a pivotal moment in the season. Scheduled for a Sunday kickoff at 3:30 pm German time in the vibrant city of Stuttgart, this showdown promises high-stakes football between two teams vying for...
With a highly anticipated transfer to Bayer Leverkusen this past window, Alejandro Grimaldo has thus far displayed key qualities that have led many to regard him as the 'bargain of the summer'. Having just won his fourth Portuguese league title with Benfica, Grimaldo has brought a wealth of experience to Xabi Alonso's side....
