Match Analysis: Borussia Dortmund – Juventus

QUICK GOAL AND THEN DICTATING THE TEMPO

By Michail Tsokaktsidis

PRE GAME STATISTICS

HOME AWAY

DOMESTIC LEAGUE

W-D-L 5-3-4

Goals 16-12

Concedes 1 goal/game Clean sheets in the last two games Scored in 7 of 12 home games with

average 1,33 goals 10 different players have scored

W-D-L 8-5-1

Goals 21-7

Clean sheets in 8 of 14 away matches Concedes 0,5 goal per game

Scored in 10 of 14 away games with average 1,5 γκολ

66,6% of goals were scored by three players (Pogba, Morata, Tevez)

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

W-D.-L 2-1-0

GOALS 7-2

Scored in all 3 home games with average of 2,3 goals

Clean sheets in 1 home game The 7 goals were scored by 6 different

players.

W-D-L 1-0-2

GOALS 2-2

Scored in 1 away game with average of 0,33 goals

Clean sheets in 1 away game Llorente and Tevez the goal scorers of the

2 goals

Juventus managed to surprise Borussia with Tevez’s early goal and then dictated the tempo. So they

won the second match against the Germans and they progressed to the final 8 more easily than

anyone could expect.

STARTING FORMATIONS

MATCH UP

1st Half: Quick goal and lack of attacking solutions against an organized

defence

Juventus

Alegri started with a diamond 4-4-2 with Marchisio in the base of the rhombus (as Pirlo wasn’t

available) and Vidal on the right. Pogba was on the left and Pereyra as the attacking midfielder behind

Tevez and Morata. The four defenders were the same as in the first leg. The main aims of Alegri were

through the good defensive organization to prevent Borussia from using quick combination play

through the centre during the attacking phase, as well as to avoid the fast counterattacks (which is the

strong point of Borussia) during the positive transition of Klop’s side.

Furthermore (probably due to Pirlo’s availability) the aim during the attacking phase and even more

during the positive transition was to obtain fast counterattacks by passing quickly to Tevez and Morata

in order to play 2 vs 2 against Subotic and Hummels, while Pereyra, Vidal and Pogba provided support.

This kind of situation was created from the start when Morata didn’t make the appropriate decision.

However Juventus scored 30 seconds later. The good defensive organization remained as the main aim

for Juventus that after scoring sat deeper in the field. This caused problems to Dortmund that during

this year struggles to create scoring chances against compact and well organized deep defences.

Juventus indeed was well organized defensively either when the width was created by the side

midfielders or by the fullbacks of Borussia. Additionally they defended well when Borussia tried to

attack down the centre by Mkhitaryan and Kampl’s converging runs next to Aubameyang and Reus.

VIDEO (αν είναι εφικτό)

After Pogba was substituted with Barzagli Juventus switched to 5-3-2 and this was crucial for the

game’s outcome.

From this point and until the end of the first half Juventus focused more on performing well

defensively. They not only got stronger in midfield (central part) but they also covered more easily the

width through Evra and Lichtsteiner while at the same time Chiellini and Barzagli provided support.

During negative transition Juventus was superb by retaining balance and recovering quickly back

having at least 7 players behind the ball. This prevented Borussia from counterattacking which is the

main strength of klopp’s team.

Dortmund

Klopp used the 4-2-3-1 formation with Sokratis as the right fullback (due to the injuries of Piszczek and

Grosskreutz). Mkhitaryan was on the left, Kampl on the right while Reus had the role of the attacking

midfielder. Aubameyang was the centre forward. Klopp probably wanted to exploit the spaces between

the defenders with Reus making forward runs coming from deeper positions in collaboration with the

side midfielders Mkhitaryan and Kampl.

Klopp’s main aim was to alter the tempo and to apply heavy pressure starting from the ¾ of the field.

Furthermore Borussia worked very hard during negative transition in order to find the opposing defence

disorganized. He took a great risk from the start, probably greater than he should have taken

according to first leg’s result. Juve threatened straight from the start during positive transition and in a

situation of 1 v 3, in which Borussia was caught inexcusably by surprise. However Juve scored 30

seconds later. Having conceded a goal so early and with Juve defending deeper (about 20-25 yards

from goal), Borussia had great difficulty in finding solutions. The fullbacks (especially Sokratis who is a

central defender) didn’t contribute during the attacks. The defensive midfielders Gundogan and Bender

offered little of the ball movement and the attacking midfielders struggled with little or no space to

attack. Borussia couldn’t create scoring chances. For as long as Juve used the diamond midfield Klop’s

team couldn’t create numbers up on the flanks. This problem became even bigger when the Italians

switched to 5-3-2. Mkhitaryan and Kampl switched sides and after this Klopp tried a 4-3-3 formation

but little things changed.

During the few successful attacks that took place on the flanks, Borussia players didn’t try low crosses

between the defenders and the GK but instead they made high crosses which were easily neutralized

by Juventus defenders.

2nd Half

Klopp switched Schmelzer with Kirch and Sokratis was moved on the left side. A central defender as a

left fullback and a central midfielder as a right fullback couldn’t offer the flexibility and the creativity

Borussia needed at that time.

The three attacking midfielders switched positions 2 or 3 times but as Aubameyang had little space to

use his pace, as the Italians defended very deep, it was difficult to create anything. As soon as Ramos

and Blaszczykowski came in, Borussia switched to a more balanced 4-4-2. Blaszczykowski took up his

position as the right fullback and Kirch was moved in the centre of midfielder next to Gundogan, while

Ramos had the role of the second forward next to Aubameyang. Reus moved on the left and Kampl on

the right. This had an impact for about 10 minutes as gave Borussia a boost.

When the home side improved, the unbalanced high defensive line gave the chance for a killer pass to

Tevez and Morata scored an easy goal.

Juventus during the second half had two main aims: a) to counterattack by Tevez’s dropping deep to

receive or Pereyra’s driving runs through the centre and then passing to Tevez or Morata. The last one

used off the ball movements (failed to score in two occasions against Weindenfeller and scored the

second), b) retaining possession even in situations that Borussia pressed high up the field. Juventus

players moved the ball from side to side and dictated the tempo.

Conclusion

The quick goal and Borussia’s weakness to create against a well-organized team which defended deep,

in conjunction with the characteristics of the players (e.g. Aubameyang who is not the best player to

work in limited space), lead the Italians to a well-deserved win and to a place between the 8 best

teams in Europe.