The final game of the 2019/20 season came down to a clash between two European heavyweights, with the French and German champions looking to consolidate their domestic success with a European Cup.
Bayern Munich came into the match as favourites, having won every UEFA Champions League match in their campaign and brushing aside virtually all the opposition they had faced domestically since the new year, with only RB Leipzig able to hold them to a draw in 2020.
Thomas Tuchels PSG had, of course, just come off the back of an impressive performance against Leipzig, and with the individual talent on display in their squad, it would have been difficult pre-match to have counted PSG out in any way.
Many pundits seemed to predict a firefight between the two teams, but given this was a Champions League final, such a scenario seemed fairly unlikely.
As it played out, the tactics of the game quickly influenced the nature of the game, and a high-scoring game didnt ensue.
Paris Saint-Germains defensive system and its dynamics in relation to Hansi Flicks Bayern Munich build-up defined the majority of the game.
In this tactical football analysis, I will examine the asymmetric nature of PSGs structure and its influence on Bayerns ability to build up, as well as detailing how Bayern largely controlled the game.
PSG Vs Bayern Munich Lineups
Neither side made any obvious tactical changes in terms of players, with PSG electing to play Keylor Navas in goal following his return from injury.
PSG adopted an asymmetrical 4-4-2 shape, which also included a 4-5-1 formation, and thus opted for a central midfield trio of Ander Herrera, Marquinhos, and Leandro Paredes.
Bayern Munich, meanwhile, lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1, with the only change being Kingsley Coman coming in for Ivan Perišić, with the Frenchman coming back to full fitness to reclaim his starting spot for the game against his former club.
PSG Asymmetrical Pressing
PSG used a fairly complex and subtle pressing system in order to manipulate Bayerns build-up play, with an asymmetrical 4-4-2 system used.
This meant that PSGs initial 4-5-1, with Mbappé and Ángel Di María on the wings, evolved into a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation, with Di María pushing higher from PSGs right side to press Bayerns left centre-back.
While he did this, he kept the Bayern left full-back,
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