The rematch between two UEFA Champions League semi-finalists took place on Tuesday night, as rivals and friends Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann faced each other again in the match between PSG and RB Leipzig. The clash saw the PSG boss in desperate need of a win, having suffered defeats already at the hands of RB Leipzig and Manchester United, while Leipzig were looking for a win which would take them closer to qualifying for the next round.
It was Thomas Tuchel who came away the happier of the two managers, with his side picking up the three points in a 1-0 win, with the game taking on an unusual dynamic which many likely didnt predict. In this tactical analysis, I will examine how Thomas Tuchel set up his side to nullify RB Leipzig, how Leipzig looked to combat this with their build-up, and how Thomas Tuchels excellent continuous adjustments allowed his side to stay in control of the game.
Line-ups
PSG lined up mainly as expected, with former Ajax man Mitchel Bakker starting at left-back, with the formidable front three of Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, and Ángel Di María starting up top. The positioning of these players changed throughout the game, and is something I will discuss. RB Leipzig meanwhile went with a fluid system, which fluctuated between a 4-2-3-1, 4-1-4-1, and switched to a back three often.
PSG defensive structure
PSG pressed in a 4-3-3 structure, and were mainly passive in the game, with their PPDA increasing as the game went on. We can see an example of the shape they took up early on in the match, with this 4-3-3 clearly visible. The central striker, which fluctuated between Neymar and Mbappé, would often apply little pressure to the centre-backs, and would instead look to try and keep the RB Leipzig pivot (Marcel Sabitzer) in their cover shadow. This allowed for PSG to maintain a three-man midfield who could press nearby options, and so central overloads were incredibly difficult to produce for Leipzig in the early parts of the game.
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