MC Alger v Wydad Casablanca: Moroccans’ domination only enough to get an away draw in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals – tactical analysis

Last Saturday, the CAF Champions League quarter-finals started. One of the standout matches was between the Algerian side MC Alger and the Moroccan Wydad Casablanca, once and twice champions of the competitions respectively. The last time Wydad won the competition in 2017, they couldnt reach the final of the Club World Cup against Real Madrid so theyre looking for another opportunity to play the prestigious tournament. Both teams have produced good talents in the last decade, like Bono, who went from Wydad to Atlético Madrid in 2012 and now plays in La Liga for Sevilla, but they have managed to keep their best players in recent seasons in their pursue for local and continental glory.

Alger arrived at the match standing seventh in the Algerian Ligue 1 and after finishing second in Group D behind Espérance Sportive de Tunis. On the away side, Wydad finished first in Group C above Kaizer Chiefs and currently stand first in the Moroccan League.

Both Northern Africa giants provided a vibrant match that resulted in a 1-1 draw. In this tactical analysis, we’ll look at both teams’ tactics and their approach to the first leg of the continental competition’s quarter-finals.

Lineups and match summary

For this match, the Algerians’ coach Nabil Neghiz opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with two central midfielders covering space in front of the defensive line, probably expecting Wydad to dominate the game.

On the away side, the Moroccans’ coach Faouzi Benzarti opted for a 4-3-3 formation with lots of players capable of getting forward and threat the rival goal. The two centre-backs plus the defensive midfielders were in charge of defending, leaving the rest of the squad freedom to get forward, press and attack.