Marc Brys at OH Leuven: The tactical keys to the Belgian manager’s success so far this season – tactical analysis

After being stuck in First Division B for four straight seasons, OH Leuven were finally promoted back to the Belgian Pro League in the 2019/20 season. That summer, the club hired former Mechelen, Beerschot, and Sint-Truiden boss Marc Brys. In his first season in charge, the Belgian guided the club to an 11th-place finish. Another 11th-place finish followed last season, but they have had a great start this campaign. The club currently sit in fifth, two points outside of the Championship playoffs.

This tactical analysis and scout report will look at some of the keys to Brys’ success at Leuven so far this season, and whether or not it will be possible for the Belgian manager to keep the Den Dreef side in contention for a European playoff, or even Championship playoff spot, come the end of the season.

Preferred lineup and formation 

At the beginning of the season, Brys opted to set his side up in a back three, normally a 3-4-2-1, but the early returns were not promising. As a result, the Belgian tactician swapped to a back four, with the formation altering between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-4-1-1 mid-match. 

Both formations are relatively similar, with the positioning of the wide players determining whether it is a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-1-1. This image also shows the usual starters for OH Leuven so far this season, with Braga loanee Mario Gonzalez becoming the undisputed starting number nine after 6 goals in 6 appearances so far this season. The attacking four in particular have been instrumental for Brys’s side, with 15 goals and 4 assists between them so far this season.

They have, however, not been the strongest side defensively this season, with their 18 goals conceded being the joint most (along with Westerlo) of all sides in the top eight in Belgium so far. This is not to say, however, that Leuven do not have talented defenders in their ranks. 21-year-old Louis Patris has 5 assists so far this season playing as either a right-back or a centre-back in a back three, while Ewoud Pletinckx is a promising up-and-coming Belgian central defender.