Al-Hilal Saudi F.C.

We began this series intending to dissect Manchester City's in-possession approach for 2025/2026. First, we explored the build-up, analysing the ideas of Pep Guardiola and his new assistant Pep Lijnders, particularly against man-marking high-pressing schemes, which is a common trend these days. Then, we examined their progression phase and the...

In our previous Pep Guardiola and Pepijn Lijnders analysis, we began exploring Manchester City’s in-possession tactics by focusing on their build-up. The phase in which Pep Guardiola’s side demonstrated tactical flexibility and diversity in their game plan, adapting based on the starting personnel and showing resilience against the opposition’s high-pressing...

After a season that fell short of their usual dominance, Manchester City approached the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a refreshed outlook, both on the pitch and in the coaching setup. The club reinforced their squad with several additions, most notably Rayan Cherki from Olympique Lyonnais, Rayan Aït-Nouri from...

As coaches prepare for the upcoming season, implementing a cohesive pressing system is crucial for teams seeking to control games when they do not have the ball and when trying to force the opposition to play into areas they feel they can exploit.  Working on a variety of pressing options...

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage served as a captivating tactical analysis case study, particularly through the performances of Brazilian clubs Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, and Palmeiras. This report provides a detailed Club World Cup data analysis examining how these teams navigated difficult groups and delivered some of the...

The Xabi Alonso era at Real Madrid did not get off to the best of starts, but there were some promising signs in their opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Al-Hilal.  Of course, we have to sit back and remember this is a Club World Cup,...

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is poised to usher in a bold new era for global football. For the first time, the tournament has expanded to feature 32 clubs, so fans are no longer just witnessing a showdown between European giants and South American powerhouses. Instead, this revamped format...