Frauen Bundesliga 2019/20: SC Sand vs Hoffenheim – tactical analysis

Matchday 19 of the Frauen Bundesliga brought us a matchup of two teams with differing circumstances within the league. SC Sand entered the match knowing that a win would secure their place in the first division for next year. TSG Hoffenheim lay within reach of a UEFA Champions League spot, having to leapfrog second-place Bayern Munich to do so. Through analysis, we see that Hoffenheim used a particularly dangerous form of attacking combination tactics to create a plethora of chances on goal. We also see that Sand had intentions to conservatively control Hoffenheim when out of possession, but it did not go well. This tactical analysis will look into exactly how it played out.

Lineups

Sand (4-4-1-1): Voll, Fiebig, Brandenbur, Caldwell, Bonn, Pinther, Blagojević, Prohaska, Moorrees, Winczo, Schaber.

Hoffenheim (4-3-3): Leitzig, Hartig, Naschenwe, Specht, Dongus, Pankratz, Waßmuth, Rall, Lattwein, Weinroither, Billa.

Hoffenheim: out of possession

Out of possession, Hoffenheim employed a flat 4-3-3 shape. Within this shape, the visitors were able to create vertical compactness through a combination of a high positioned defensive line and by using a “line of confrontation” beginning at the middle third of the pitch.

A line of confrontation can be described as a pre-designated line that is used as a reference point indicating where an out of possession team should begin to apply pressure. In this instance, Hoffenheim set their line of confrontation at the beginning of the middle third of the pitch, content to let Sand maintain sterile possession in their own defensive third.

A deeper line of confrontation, like Hoffenheim used, tends to force an opponent in possession to push higher up the pitch. This, in turn, gives the defending team space to counter-attack into when gaining possession of the ball.

When the ball advanced to the line of confrontation, Hoffenheim’s left and right-wing, Katharina Naschenweng and Tabea Waßmuth, would position themselves to cut off available passing angles to the Sand fullbacks. This left Sand with the option to recirculate fruitless possession amongst the centrebacks and goalkeeper or to play a penetrative pass forward.

Hoffenheim cut off the fullbacks to create a pressing trap centred around Sand midfielder, Anne van Bonn. Bonn would then find a pocket of space in between the Hoffenheim forward and midfield lines. The nearby Hoffenheim players would remain seemingly dormant in their positions until the ball was released to Bonn.

Immediately as the ball was released to Bonn, all nearby Hoffenheim players would spring into action to pressure and disrupt Bonn from multiple angles. This pressing trap helped Hoffenheim to recover the ball just outside of the attacking third of the pitch with Sand’s team shape expanded across the pitch. A situation ripe for a counter-attack.

Below we see this tactic play out in an earlier moment of the match. In this instant, Bonn has received the ball, but she is in the Sand defensive third of the pitch. Hoffenheim players recognize that Bonn is beyond the line of confrontation and do not engage in any defensive pressure. Instead, the Hoffenheim players focus on retaining their team shape.

Twelve seconds later, Bonn has positioned herself in between the Hoffenheim lines. The Sand centre-back Myrthe Moorrees has received the ball and begins to move forward with intent to penetrate into the middle third through dribbling or passing.

The Hoffenheim right-winger Waßmuth, quickly moves to cut off any available passing angles to the Sand left-back. This movement also gives Bonn even more space to receive between the lines (red circle in the image below).