Runs and passes in behind aid PSG and Bayern’s dribbling-fuelled goal fest – The Conventional Playmaker

On April 15th, Bayern Munich played out what was the game of the season against Real Madrid to ensure a place in the Champions League semi-finals. On Tuesday, that match was eclipsed as Bayern, this time on the losing end, faced off against Paris Saint-Germain in a 5-4 thriller. It was a goal fest, with five goals in the first-half, and four in the second. It was an exhibition of dribbling, starring the wing-play of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Michael Olise, and Luis Diaz. Also aiding the dribbles, and the goals of both sides, was the use of runs, and passes in behind.

Both PSG, and Bayern were comfortable with the ball against pressure, and then playing it through the thirds; Bayern centre-back Dayot Upamecano, for example, was always looking to play the ball forward to teammates between the lines, and carry when he had the chance. But both sides also tried to play the ball long, thus avoiding each other’s aggressive man-to-man pressing schemes.

Neither goalkeeper was particularly accurate with releases towards midfield, and further forward, notably in the opening 10 minutes of the encounter. Manuel Neuer especially was looking to play the ball long, but it did not prove as effective as waiting for opportunities to counter after regaining the ball. Though the likes of Vitinha, Marquinhos, and Joshua Kimmich, had better fortunes when picking out runs being made with their passes from deeper positions. Vitinha completed 3 of 6 long balls, Marquinhos completed 4 of 7, whereas Kimmich completed 9 of 12, meaning at a rate of 75%.

Both sides played with direct wingers who dribbled at will, but were also ready to make runs off the ball at the click of a finger. After Bayern took an initial lead via a Harry Kane penalty, PSG found their equaliser 7 minutes later, with wingers Doue and Kvaratskhelia combining for the goal.

Having drifted over to the left, Doue received the ball from left-back Nuno Mendes. In this scenario, Upamecano had pushed up to press Doue, leaving space in behind, whilst right-back Josip Stanisic was marking Kvaratskhelia.

Stanisic had to anticipate whether the winger would receive the ball to feet, of if he would make a run forward. Kavartskhelia’s double movement, feigning to come short, then making the forward run, gave the winger an advantage against the full-back, as he looked to receive the ball in behind from Doue.

Doue’s pass in behind was met by the equally clever Kvaratskhelia. The winger was able to isolate Stanisic, with no cover from Upamecano, who was out of position.

Dribbling forward, Kvaratskhelia cut inside, wrapping the ball around the defender, and into the bottom left corner. It was a brilliantly worked goal.

It was no coincidence Doue was out on the left in the lead up to said goal. PSG’s forwards expectedly rotated positions, and whereas Kvaratskhelia was more of an outlet on one flank, Doue would drift centrally to receive the ball between the lines, and even to the left to form overloads with players on that side. Doue’s movement also opened up the right flank for right-back Achraf Hakimi, who was in a duel with Luis Diaz for dominance of that side of the pitch. Hakimi overlapping meant it was especially important for Diaz to track back, even when at points it seemed Hakimi was impossible to contain.

Evidently, Kvaratskhelia’s second goal of the match was created by Hakimi, after he made another run, met by another Vitinha long ball over the top of the defence. In midfield, Vitinha was being closed down by Kimmich, as Bayern adopted a high defensive line.

But Hakimi tested the tactic with a deep run, which invited a pass over the top from Vitinha.

In plenty of space to pick out a teammate inside the penalty-area, Hakimi sent in a low cross. Dembele let the ball roll on to the unmarked Kvaratskhelia, whose first time effort proved emphatic as it beat Neuer with ease, putting the home side two goals ahead.

Bayern would later find themselves three goals down, but this did not deter them from attacking, keeping the end to end theme of the match going, ergo bringing themselves back within contention. Upamecano headed home from a free-kick to make things 5-3. And then Diaz combined with Kane to not only lower the deficit to one, but score what was arguably the pick of the goals on the night.

Kane’s excellent positioning, which often sees him drop deeper, can confuse defenders, unsure whether to track him, or hold their position. Kane’s movement also invites teammates to make runs ahead of him, which he can then find with a pass; it goes without saying that Kane is a very good passer.

With Kane just ahead of the half-way line, Diaz made a run between Hakimi, and Marquinhos, into the box behind PSG’s back line, which was also high.

Kane found the left-winger’s straight line run with a deft ball over the top of the defence, with Hakimi, and Willian Pacino both caught out by the combination.

Diaz’s first touch to bring the ball down was superb, with the ball coming down over his shoulder, and then to take the ball away from Marquinhos in the process.

Diaz won the first penalty, made runs off the ball, drove the Bayern attack forward with his dribbles and carrying, and his goal makes the second-leg all that more interesting.

There has been plenty of discussion surrounding the defensive mistakes from both sides, with both sides offering each other plenty of space in behind, which was deemed risky especially against the likes of Diaz, with PSG quite possibly irked at the notion of giving away a three goal lead.

But it is not a case of neither side being unable to defend well; both simply chose to take the risk of playing open, attack-minded football, with dribbles and runs that are equipped to outwit man-to-man pressing schemes that seem to be the trend in of out of possession tactics.

Both sides aimed to merely out score the other, rather than aim for a more pragmatic approach, proving more entertaining for the neutral. Both sides also knew of the risk, but in this competition, it could also be a risk to not be bold.

The second-leg has a lot to live up to if it is to match the spectacle of the first, let alone eclipse it.

Images: Amazon Prime

Data: Fotmob