The last game of the fifth Premier League match-day between Aston Villa and West Ham United ended in a goalless draw. In a match between two sides with similar tactical concepts, spectators saw plenty of long balls, wing attacks and solid defensive departments when it came to defending the opposition crosses.
In the following tactical analysis, we will take a closer look at the tactics of either side. Moreover, we explain West Hams pressing issues and the consequences of Pellegrinis side being one man down in the final stage of the game.
Lineups and formations
Aston Villa lined up in a 4-1-4-1 with the wingers supporting attacker Wesley during the press. During the attacking phase, single pivot Marvelous Nakamba acted in front of the centre-back pairing consisting of Tyrone Mings and Björn Engels. The advanced midfielders Jack Grealish and John McGinn were supposed to break the opposition midfield and support the wingers with progressive runs.
Pressing setups
Especially in the beginning phase of the game, Aston Villa attempted to disrupt West Ham’s build-up right from the start. Therefore, the wingers pushed forward to press the first line of build-up.
After often forcing the defenders to play back passes to their goalkeeper, Aston Villa’s pressing players continued their pressing runs. As a consequence, West Ham often had to hit the ball long causing 47 long balls throughout the match. As a comparison, Aston Villa only played 29 long balls.
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