The Dissentient

Will start with Schlotterbeck, whose over aggressiveness was pivotal in our early chances(poorly executed jumps) and consequently why(possibly) we had control for a lot of the first half. Our few early half chances perhaps helped push BVB in a more conservative 442 shape.

We also had better means to play through Dortmund's press(which wasn't all that intense), either by Pedri moving to wide left to receive, Inigo driving forward at times to find Olmo btl or Raphinha on the left touchline to receive the pass from Balde, etc.

About our pressing shape, Flick adapted in this game, changed how we usually setup, which involves both wingers pressing the two opposition CB's and Lewa with Olmo picking their two pivots, and our fullbacks pushing onto the opposition fullbacks. https://x.com/_Dissentient_/st...

Dortmund built with a single pivot(Nmecha, picked by Olmo) Lewa stayed on Schlotterbeck, Lamine deeper on Bensebaini, Kounde on Gittens, m2m in the midfield and the most interesting bit, the dynamic positioning of Raphinha and Balde most...

importantly(something we discussed in the pre-game thread, https://x.com/_Dissentient_/st... whose marking depended on how Raphinha pressed who either stayed with Ryerson, leaving Can time on the ball or when he pushed up on Can, Balde followed up on Ryerson while Inigo on Duranville.

At about 41', when Dortmund bypassed our press, Reyna was found free in the middle not picked up which led to a 2v1 on Kounde's side, Bensebaini's cross into the box involved the questionable penalty decision on Inigo's tug on Guirassy.

Next time? 45', Can carries the ball to find Guirassy free, Inigo doesn't read the situation and Kounde for some reason is higher which forces Cubarsi to be attentive to Gittens. It's good that Guirassy didn't pick his head up and look for Sabitzer there.

The best part of the half was that there weren't many Gittens vs Kounde matchups, one that was(part of the previous sequence of play), Gittens outpaces Kounde to find Guirassy in this spot, he misses the chance obviously.

Will add the stuff from the second half later on, probably tomorrow below this or in another thread.