Matchday four of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League is complete. Our tactical analysis shares the best formations, plays and tactics from Champions League week four. We will analyze Barcelona’s attacking tactics, the characteristics of the half-spaces, and the benefits of overloads in these areas. Additionally, we will examine Bayer Leverkusen’s central overload in...
The new UEFA Champions League format continues to provide exciting narratives and fierce tactical matchups, as Liverpool played host to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 4. On a night when fireworks illuminated the sky around Anfield, there was an equal amount of explosive play on the pitch as Arne...
Scoring goals is the most difficult part of the game, so the ability to consistently create high-quality opportunities is extraordinarily valuable. That's the topic of today's tactical theory analysis. We're going to examine how possession-dominant teams create high-xG shots. The first topic of this tactical analysis focuses on creating chances...
As football continues to evolve, the emergence of young talent becomes increasingly crucial, especially for clubs looking to maintain long-term success. The DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) has a long tradition of developing world-class players through strong youth systems. This tactical analysis, in the form of a scout report,...
As Bayer Leverkusen prepare to host Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, October 19, 2025, all eyes will be on this exciting clash between two of the Bundesliga's most entertaining and dynamic teams and coaches, as we will see in this tactical analysis. In this analysis, we will discover that Xabi Alonso's defending champions, Leverkusen, have looked...
Matchday two of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League is complete, and it was a whirlwind of action and surprises. Our tactical analysis shares the best formations and plays from Champions League week two, delving into what worked and what didn't. This is part two of a series on the 2024/25...
Bayer Leverkusen Defensive Struggles Competition in the Bundesliga looks to be fierce this year. After five rounds, the defending champions Bayer Leverkusen occupy fourth place with 10 points, just three behind the leaders FC Bayern, who have 13 points; this places them just one point ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt in...
Part of Bayer Leverkusen’s impressive title-winning squad last season was Adam Hložek. The 21-year-old Czech international, however, did not play as much as he would have liked over the course of last season, starting only five games and mostly coming off the bench. Hložek did make an impact off the...
As the 2024/25 Bundesliga season approaches, the excitement isn't just about the battles on the pitch but also the fresh faces that will grace the German top flight. The summer transfer window has brought a wave of talent from other leagues, with clubs across the Bundesliga aiming to strengthen their...
The 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League season marks the continuation of the tournament's prestige, featuring 36 clubs from various European leagues. This year, the competition structure has evolved, creating more opportunities for teams to progress while adding a layer of complexity to the group stages, as we will see in this...
As the 2024/25 Bundesliga season approaches, excitement and anticipation are building like never before. This upcoming campaign promises to be one of the most thrilling in recent memory, marked by several compelling storylines that make it a must-watch for football fans around the world. For the first time in over...
As Bayer 04 Leverkusen prepares for the 2024/25 Bundesliga season and their international campaign in the UEFA Champions League, the focus is on building a squad capable of challenging for the Bundesliga title against FC Bayern, Dortmund and others once again. Bayer Head Coach Xabi Alonso is determined to surpass...
Bayern Munich are making a host of changes before the next season begins. They have a new manager in Vincent Kompany — a surprise appointment given they are looking to dominate the league once again, which has been the case for at least the last couple of seasons, even if...
The UEFA Europa League final between Atalanta BC and Bayer Leverkusen promised to be a tactical masterclass, showcasing the strategic brilliance of two of Europe’s most intriguing teams. This tactical analysis will delve into the key elements that have determined the outcome of this highly anticipated clash. Atalanta, under the...
Bayer Leverkusen's triumph in securing their maiden Bundesliga title ahead of FC Bayern marks a historic moment in the club's nearly two-century-long existence. Despite perennially finishing as runners-up and enduring the taunts of being dubbed "Neverkusen," Leverkusen has finally shed the burden of near misses to claim the coveted German...
Throughout the history of football tactics, certain coaches are synonymous with back-three systems. Helenio Herrera famously deployed a 5-3-2 system during the 1960s with great success at Inter, winning three Serie A titles and two European Cups during those glory years. Carlos Billardo was famed for using a 3-5-2 with...
With each passing week, Bayer Leverkusen can taste the treble. Having dispatched Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga to achieve a five-point lead, the German side is also in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal and won all six matches in their Europa League group. Xabi Alonso's men are flying high and...
As the Bundesliga unfolds its gripping narrative, the upcoming clash between VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen stands as a pivotal moment in the season. Scheduled for a Sunday kickoff at 3:30 pm German time in the vibrant city of Stuttgart, this showdown promises high-stakes football between two teams vying for...
With a highly anticipated transfer to Bayer Leverkusen this past window, Alejandro Grimaldo has thus far displayed key qualities that have led many to regard him as the 'bargain of the summer'. Having just won his fourth Portuguese league title with Benfica, Grimaldo has brought a wealth of experience to Xabi Alonso's side....
In the dynamic world of professional football, the allure of titles and financial prospects often dominates players' decision-making when choosing their next club. However, an intangible force can wield equal, if not more, influence: the persuasive power of a revered coach. Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a club known for its steady...
