Following Bayern Munich wrapping up seemingly another title yesterday, at the expense of Borussia Dortmund and the chasing pack, we are once again back at the start of another Bundesliga season.
Stuttgart and Freiburg met in gameweek one in the Bundesliga, and only one week in and we’re already unable to avoid the footballer cliches. It was truly a game of two halves as Freiburg dominated the first half, going into the break 2-0 up against the home side. They scored a third immediately after the second half started, yet Stuttgart found their footing in the game, and played an exceptional second half they arguably were unfortunate not to take any points from this game. This tactical analysis will give an analysis of the tactics used by both sides as Christian Streich’s Freiburg took all three points against Pellegrino Matarazzo’s Bundesliga new boys, Stuttgart.
Lineups
Towards the end of the season Stuttgart started using a back three more often, and whilst the image below suggests a conventional 3-4-3, it was in reality more of a 3-4-2-1. New signing Walder Anton started in the back three alongside Michał Tomasz Kamiński and Marc-Oliver Kempf. The midfield two was made up of Orel Mangala and Wataru Endo, whilst Roberto Massimo and Silas Wamangituka played in the wing-back positions. Daniel Didavi, Gonzalo Castro, and 20-year-old Mateo Klimowicz started in their front three.
Freiburg had two big personnel losses this summer with centre-back Robin Koch departing for Leeds United and goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow joining Hertha BSC. With long-time servant Dominique Heintz and former “wunderkind” Philipp Lienhart, who is now rebuilding his reputation at Freiburg, both playing together at centre-back, Koch’s departure hasn’t left any gaping holes in their defence. Mark Flekken was potentially expecting to be given the first-team jersey following Schwolow’s departure, and would have been disappointed to have seen Florian Müller join the club on loan from Mainz. Müller was given the starting berth and the ever-consistent Jonathan Schmid and Christian Günter played either side of Heintz and Lienhart, in the full-back positions.
Nicolas Höfler played in defensive midfield, whilst an attacking midfield trio of Vincenzo Grifo, Roland Sallai, and Woo-Yeong Jeong played in front of him.
Lucas Höler and the experienced Nils Petersen played together in the forward line.
How Freiburg’s defensive shape frustrated Stuttgart in the first half
Freiburg were happy to give up possession and attempt to force errors out of a Stuttgart side that were all too happy to have more of the ball, taking 65% of possession on the day.
As such, Freiburg looked to press high and force these errors, employing a simple pressing structure to force Stuttgart onto the flanks, whereby they could cut out their options and regain possession in an attacking area.
