Line-Ups
RB Leipzig (RBL): in-possession 3151 & out-of-possession 4141
PSG (PSG): in-possession 433 & out-of-possession 433 / 451
More details on each team's shape, in and out of possession, and general observations below.
RB Leipzig Observations
In-Possession:
In-possession RBL switched from their 4141 out-of-possession shape into a 3151 shape
Below is a visual example of how RBL would switch between the two shapes with details on these movements underneath the image
At the back, Mukiele would push inside to form a back three alongside Upamecano and Klostermann with Angelino pushing up higher on the left flank
In midfield, Laimer would push out wider on the right flank and Kampl would hold as the midfield pivot
Sabitzer, Olmo and Nkunku would aim to play between-the-lines and get into pockets of space (between PSG midfield and defence)
Sabitzer would have a dual role in-possession, depending on what area of the pitch RBL would have the ball
When RBL had the ball in their own third, he would try to position himself in a more advanced position behind Paredes - this looked an attempt to pin Paredes back to stop him being able to press higher up the pitch and therefore help RBL progress their possession upfield (as one less player able to press their three centre backs or Kampl) - although, as PSG's high press worked well against RBL, Sabitzer began dropping deeper more regularly to try and provide an option for his teammates playing out from the back
When RBL had the ball in the middle third and/or final third, Sabitzer would tend to drop deeper, nearer Kampl
The reason for this was to help dictate RBL's play (give them more control in front of PSG's defensive shape) and also utilise his passing ability of playing forward through-the-lines into tight space (e.g. into Olmo, Nkunku or Poulsen) and also diagonal switches to the flanks - predominantly out to Angelino who would be hugging the left touchline outside of the PSG right back
Whilst Nkunku would tend to be positioned in the left half space, he would also at times attack on the outside of Kehrer (PSG right back)
Nkunku and Angelino would attempt to create overloads on the left flank but Kehrer was supported well by his teammate Herrera so it limited RBL's ability / success with this tactic
Olmo would have most license to roam of RBL's attackers - he would predominantly try to take up central positions - in and around Marquinhos - but he would also drift out to the left and right half spaces to help try and create overload situations
Poulsen would lead the line and mainly occupy PSG's two centre backs but he could also at times interchange with Olmo or Nkunku - to try and disrupt PSG players on who they needed to pick up / cover
RBL struggled with PSG's high press in the 1st half of the game (read more details on this in PSG's observations below)
This resulted in RBL being unable to a) progress the ball through the thirds of the pitch as successfully as they did versus Atletico Madrid in the previous round and b) retain possession - a lot of turnovers, which led to PSG having lots of the ball (68% possession in the 1st half according to WhoScored.com )
In the 2nd half, RBL played more of a 3241 shape with Sabitzer playing a double pivot alongside Kampl - but after 56 minutes were 3-0 down which allowed PSG to get into more of a mid / low block and deny RBL spaces to play in
Out-of-Possession:
Without the ball, RBL would try to get into a 4141 shape (same shape as per the Line-Up visual at the top of the post)
However, as PSG forced a lot of turnovers in possession in RBL's own third in the 1st half, PSG could regularly be 3v3 or 4v4 at times as RBL players would have not have time to get back into their defensive shape
When RBL did get into their defensive shape, they looked to try and block the centre of the pitch / passes through the lines into PSG's front three (Neymar, Mbappe & Di Maria) and instead force PSG into a pass out wide towards the flank
However, overall, the quality of PSG's players, coupled with their positional movements and interchange, meant that RBL were unable to prevent PSG getting through and around their shape causing them large spells without the ball, specifically in the 1st half
RBL pushed up higher as a team in the 2nd half and began to engage PSG higher up the pitch which helped them win the ball back more regularly and therefore they had more spells in-possession
However, this was more a) a result of RBL being 2-0 down (3-0 after 56 minutes) so needed to chase the game more and b) a ploy from PSG as it dragged RBL higher up the pitch and therefore created more space in-behind for their attackers (in particular Mbappe) to try and exploit
PSG Observations
In-Possession:
In-possession PSG had a variety of positional movements
Below is a visual example of the types of movements PSG players would make when the team had the ball with details on these movements underneath the image
At the back, to help PSG in their build up play in their own third, either Marquinhos or Paredes would drop to give PSG a back three alongside Silva and Kimpembe
Marquinhos would drop between the two centre backs whereas Paredes would tend to drop in the deeper left half space (on the outside of Kimpembe)
The purpose of this tactic was to give PSG an extra man in their build up play, with a midfielder dropping deeper from the congested central areas to get on the ball in space
Another benefit of this tactic was that both of these players had a higher capacity, compared to the two centre backs, to pass forwards through-the-lines into Neymar or Di Maria - which was a clear plan of PSG's
When Marquinhos dropped in-between the PSG centre backs, Paredes and Herrera would become more of a midfield double pivot
When Paredes dropped on the outside of Kimpembe then Marquinhos would remain as the central pivot and Herrera would push up higher into the right half space which allowed Di Maria to stay on the outside of the RBL left back
Paredes was more successful in passing through-the-lines when he dropped deeper - often finding Neymar who had come inside to the pockets of space behind RBL's midfield
PSG's fullbacks (Kehrer and Kimpembe) would push up higher from their fullback position to offer the team width and an outside pass to the flanks
As RBL out-of-possession tried to remain compact the PSG fullbacks would often be afforded a lot of space to receive the ball
This helped PSG a) retain possession, as regularly a free man out wide and b) get the ball into the final third, as both full backs had space in front of them to carry the ball forward before crossing or finding a pass inside to a teammate
As mentioned, Herrera seemed to have a dual role when PSG had the ball - both of which tried to create space / openings for other players as opposed to getting him on the ball
Herrera would come inside to make a double pivot when Marquinhos dropped deeper - this helped PSG play through the thirds as he could link play from the defence to the attack
Herrera would also at times push up higher behind the RBL midfield which helped PSG create overloads in the final third - both out wide for Di Maria and also centrally for Neymar
Herrera pushing into the right half space would allow Di Maria to pull out wider, on the outside of Angelino, thus creating a 2v1 opportunity on that side
Angelino had the issue as whether to go and press Herrera inside (therefore allowing Di Maria more space on the outside) or staying in position to reduce the gap between himself and Di Maria (therefore allowing Herrera more space inside and time to find a pass)
Herrera's more advanced position also created an issue for Kampl - who would provide RBL cover behind their four midfielders - as he would need to cover both Neymar and Herrera
The visual example below illustrates a number of PSG's attacking tactics detailed above
Paredes drops deeper to find space with the ball and passes through-the-lines into Neymar who finds a pocket of space - both Paredes and Neymar were very effective which these respective roles in the 1st half
Due to Herrera's more advanced position, it causes Kampl an issue as he has two players to cover - when Neymar was able to find Herrera, PSG had a 2v1 opportunity against Angelino as Di Maria has pulled out wider
Both Neymar and Di Maria's positioning, and interchange with Mbappe, caused RBL multiple problems in the 1st half
Neymar and Di Maria could both play in the half-spaces, centrally or out wide towards the touchline - they regularly varied their positions and movements so difficult for RBL to track and pick up
Whilst not mentioned in great detail yet, Mbappe was another key tactic in PSG's attacking play
Mbappe would predominantly pin RBL's two centre backs so unable to jump out and press either Neymar or Di Maria in the pockets - because if they did Mbappe would exploit the slight vacated space with a run in-behind
Mbappe would make (and dummy) runs behind both RBL centre backs - either trying to run in between them or between one centre back and the fullback
Mbappe would also at times rotate with Neymar so Mbappe moved out towards the left and Neymar more central, in a sort of temporary false 9 position
When Mbappe moved out towards the left he could then attack both on the outside of Mukiele and also in between Mukiele and Upamecano
Mbappe would also be helped out on the left flank with Bernat making an overlapping run for Mbappe to pass to or use as a decoy run and attack on the inside
Another benefit of Mbappe moving out to the left flank was that Di Maria could do the same on the right flank and this helped stretch RBL's back four and therefore created more space centrally for Neymar
Creating situations to try and get Neymar in more central areas appeared to be a clear tactic of PSG's - Neymar would not need huge amounts of space to cause RBL problems, as very confident and comfortable at receiving the ball in tight areas, so any slight gaps PSG could create in RBL's defensive shape could be exploited
When Neymar received the ball in these central areas, both Mbappe and Di Maria would automatically look to make inside diagonal runs behind RBL's fullbacks for Neymar to attempt through balls to
These inside diagonal movements would drag RBL's fullbacks much narrower infield and therefore created large spaces out wide for PSG's fullbacks to run into and offer Neymar and alternate passing option
All of PSG's attacking tactics were designed to disrupt RBL's defensive shape and due to the different ways PSG could attack, it caused RBL multiple problems as various threats from various areas and players
The above details all of the ways PSG caused RBL problems when they had the ball but another big part of PSG's play was how good they were without it
The below details how PSG set up out-of-possession and the additional issues it caused RBL
Out-of-Possession:
Without the ball, PSG got into a 433 shape (in the 2nd half it turned into a 451 shape due to the game state)
In the 1st half, PSG predominantly got into a high block and regularly pressed RBL in their own third - as RBL would try to play out from the back and build possession through the thirds
PSG were very successful with their press and caused a number of turnovers which led to a number of chances for PSG
To facilitate PSG's high block, their last line of defence (back four) pushed up high to compact the space from front-to-back - they were confident that RBL could not exploit the space behind them as they had pace to match it
Below is an example of how PSG would press RBL with details on each players role underneath the image
PSG's front three would each press one of RBL's back three
Neymar and Di Maria would often arch their press towards their men to force RBL to pass centrally as opposed to out wide to their wide players - who were often initially free
The reason for trying to force RBL to pass centrally was that Herrera would push up higher against Kampl (RBL's pivot) - thus, in essence, creating a trap for RBL in-possession
PSG wanted to try and force turnovers in possession in central areas so that they would be in better positions to counter-attack, as RBL would not be set-up defensively to deal with them
Whilst Sabitzer began the game trying to play in a more advanced position (behind Paredes) in RBL's build up play, as RBL struggled to play out he started to dropped deeper to offer another option - when he did this Paredes would stay tight to pressure him if he received the ball
Marquinhos would be the one central midfielder who would hold this position and this was to help a) cover Olmo, who tried to find spaces either side of him and b) provide PSG numbers behind the ball in case RBL did get through PSG's press
At the back, Kehrer would both a) push up into a higher position to cover Nkunku, if he dropped to try and receive the ball, and b) push up onto Angelino if RBL attempted to play out on that side (with the help of Di Maria)
Herrera was key to PSG's defensive shape on the right hand side - as when Kehrer did push up to press Angelino, and therefore leave Nkunku, then Herrera would quickly get back into position to cover him
On the occasions were PSG were required to get into a low block, Herrera also supported Kehrer in the middle / their own third as RBL would try to work overload situations on that side with Angelino and Nkunku
At the back, PSG always tried to ensure they had three defenders and Marquinhos behind the ball
The three PSG defenders would vary depending on what side of the pitch RBL were attacking
For example, and as per the visual above, if Kehrer jumped out from his right back position to cover Nkunku then Bernat would tuck inside and leave Laimer out wide in space
This would work similar on the opposite side e.g. if Bernat jumped out to go and press Laimer then Kehrer would tuck in and leave Angelino out wide in space
When PSG were required to get into more of a low block - when RBL had sustained possession (this was mainly the case in the 2nd half) - PSG would get into a 451 shape with Di Maria and Neymar dropping deeper alongside the three central midfielders
PSG used this low block tactic not only to deny RBL space to attack into but also to lure them higher up the pitch in order to create space to counter attack into using the speed and ball carrying ability of their front three
PSG's out-of-possession tactics in the 1st half massively disrupted RBL with the ball and led to multiple turnovers which subsequently led to opportunities for PSG
This coupled with PSG's tactics and quality with the ball, really put the tie beyond RBL and gave them too much of a deficit to claw back in the 2nd half
Result
Half-Time = 0-2
Full-Time = 0-3
Thank you for reading.
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