forgiving off the ball, creative central defender and dangerous in transition

ANDIt is very difficult to predict which opponent Real Madrid will face in the Champions League final. He Borussia Dortmund was a duplicitous team.. On the one side, fragile and doubtful Bundesliga, who finished fifth and, thanks to the new format of the next edition, will be able to play it regardless of whether he wins the title this year. On the other hand, a cohesive and reliable team that not only surpassed the “group of death” as the firstbut he entered his third final maximum continental competition.

Even for It’s difficult to analyze this through data. Their two faces almost force us to separate them by competition, but 12 Champions League matches do not provide complete consistency of data. In any case, analyzing what is, the unit under the leadership of Edin Terzic shows Interesting aspects take into account at different stages of the game.

Possible starting eleven

The first thing you need to know is the possible squad composition and initial tactical setup they will present at Wembley. It won’t be much different from the next one.

With these eleven players, Terzic has created a very solid base to withstand any team. I’ll bet on him System 1-4-2-3-1, although he is flexible in terms of his tactical formation and has also played in a 4-3-3 or three-at-the-back system. But this will be an initial approach, which will certainly change during the meeting.

A recognizable composition, which, unless there are failures, will not change much. In fact, if we look at the minutes that the manager distributed during the season (in the Bundesliga), Of those 11, eight are among those who played the most. They just don’t exist Maatsen, Adeyemi and Sancho (arriving at the winter market from Manchester United).

Mullen, Sule and Reushan have played more but are not looking to start . The former had a great campaign until he got injured. In the final stretch, Adeyemi overtook him on the right. Sule, who is currently out of form, lost his place for good in mid-March. And Reus played a lot of games, but at the decisive moment he did not start. In the Champions League, for example, he did not appear in the game from the first leg of the 1/8 finals.

Playing style

It is important to know which opponent Madrid will face. Your data allows us to understand what we are encountering a team with a strong focus on attack. This is a team that strives to create games and chances, preferring elaborate attacks, if possible in a short game and one touch. Nevertheless, does not shy away from a direct counterattack. Particularly in the Champions League, he demonstrated this style, being of the teams that move the ball the fastest.

Although this is a team that wants to control the game, does not suffocate his opponents in areaas evidenced by 53% of their touches in the final third compared to the 47% their opponents have had this season.

That’s why, This is not to say that this is a creative team. in the strict sense of the word. He wants to play, but in the end he tries to quickly get to the opponent’s penalty area.

For protective attributesBorussia Dortmund has moderate height of the defense line And This is not a team that is characterized by very aggressive pressure.. His 14.8 PPAP (passes allowed due to defensive actions) in the Champions League is an indicator. Anyway, this pressure varies greatly depending on the area of ​​the field. He performs more than half of his actions on his own playing field. (1st place in the competition), mostly at the height of his two sides, but on the enemy side he is not as active.

That’s why, Madrid will have the opportunity to receive the ball from behind without being under constant pressure.. But they will have to be careful when Dortmund decide to step up and press, because that’s what they did. 82 highest returns in this Champions League (8th or more), of which 16 ended in auction (Only Barcelona with 18 and Madrid with 19 have more). Two of these shots were goals. Only Antwerp and Porto scored more.

Breaking into Champions

It is curious that everything fragile that was in the Bundesliga has no continuation in the Champions League. collided 187 shots that resulted in expected goals worth 22.9. and in return only scored eight goals.

Luck smiled on him too, because His opponents hit the post 12 times., the highest number in a single campaign since 2003–04. In any case, Dortmund became robust, durable and compact equipment when shipped to Europe. A small proof of this is in the goal.

Gregor Kobel goalkeeper with Most clean sheets in the Champions League – 6. He achieved this seven times throughout the entire Bundesliga. And that was also he had to intervene the most (42 goals from 49 shots in 11 games)). This is 84%. Only his compatriot Yann Sommer has the best percentage (86%) of all goalkeepers who have played at least 90 minutes.

However, what best characterizes this block imposed by Kobel is not the clean goals (which gives more merit to the defensive block as a whole) and the stops themselves. The number of goals prevented depends on the difficulty of the shots taken. And in this sense He is the goalkeeper who has prevented the most goals. Male only He conceded seven goalsbut according to expected goals from shots on goal (xGOT) there must be awarded 14.1. That is, avoided 7.1 goals.

Another of the main protagonists of this defensive solidity is Matt Hummels, who played everything in this Champions League and who we will talk about later for other reasons. But without the ball, it is worth highlighting his influence in the way he prevented his opponents from scoring by relying on his 48 Champions League qualifications

this season the defender did the most in the campaign after Lucio in the 2009/10 season for Inter (53).

General, participated in 181 defensive actions (tackles, blocks, clearances or interceptions), many of them are located around the central positions of the court. In short, a very important part of the yellow wall.

The verticality of extremes and the omnipresence of Brandt

Very likely that, seeing the opponent who will be in front of him, narrows and gives way to Madrid. This is exactly what he did against PSG, an opponent of the same level and playing for the Whites. If we look at the average positions of Germany’s players in both games, we can understand a few things.

On the one side, Jadon Sancho (10) yours most advanced player despite the fact that the offensive reference is Füllkrug (14). Dortmund has great faith in their team. exit speed in transition with ball control and take advantage of their one-on-one benefits. Not in vain, Sancho completed 25 dribbles in their six Champions League matches, highest number of players in the playoffs in the same edition since Neymar’s time at PSG in the 2019/20 season (32).

Similar in style Adeyemi (27) which, on the contrary, begins even further. The German plays on the left, but when he has the ball can start anywhere what’s their name 103 diskswhat makes him a player elusive and vertical which will make the whites not give him much room to get on the “bicycle.”

On the other hand, this Julian Brandt (19), which acts as a connection, but also it hangs a lot. So much so that he can have an almost average position at the Füllkrug level. He’s your player more creative and, despite the fact that in the Champions League the best assistant is Sabitzer, When you add up all competitions, he has 14 assists in 46 games.– a record that has only been surpassed by two Bundesliga players: Florian Wirtz (19 assists in 47 games) and Grimaldo (17 in 49).

To do this, Brandt demonstrates his positional reconnaissance, search for free places for comfortable reception and try to attack using your game vision. It usually operates internally, although it is not uncommon to see it fall to the sides.

The Vital Importance of Centrals

We have already said that Dortmund is not a very creative team. The main way he breaks opponents’ lines is not through passing. However, he knew how to take advantage of the opportunity when he had the opportunity, because He scored 10 goals after breaking through the opposition lines. (4th place, only four less than City).

He doesn’t particularly excel at the passes he makes under pressure. (78%, 8th place in the Champions League), a record that in the last third of the field it drops to 48% (16th). There, their creative players have a head start and, as a counterbalance, they have from one of your own centre-backs to the player who breaks the opposition line the most. And this is the great contribution of the two pillars of its defense.

We analyzed a few lines above the protective importance Hummelsbut his influence and that of his defense partner, Nico Schlotterbeckin the moment create the game and chances It’s much older. The latter is that the central defender “breaks the defensive line.”

On the one side, Hummels made 25 passes that broke at least two opposition lines in the Champions League. in this season, The best defender and second overall after Toni Kroos. (31). The veteran centre-back has excellent game vision and the intelligence needed to know who to rely on. Thus, look for Brandt between the lines

(18, of which 14 were to break through the opponent’s first line)

Then this Schlotterbecka defender who is less active off the ball than his teammate and is more like a midfielder on ease of driving and overtaking. Smarterscout’s data, which gives a rating from 0 to 99 depending on the frequency with which players perform a certain action compared to other players in their position, or how effective they are, confirms that we are dealing with an unusual central defender. as it shown on the picture. in frequency and efficiency in attacking play, progressive passing, driving and dribbling.

That’s why, Nico also contributes a lot to the creation of the game with his serve.. He look a lot until Füllkrug breaks the line (18 passes), which suggests that when performing this pass you need to play the role of a midfielder.

Also he loves long journeys which explodes regularly (108 times), while having focus on right back (Ryerson).

As we can see, Borussia Dortmund represents light and shadow. If we see the Champions version, it will be a compact competitor. whose protective structure will be difficult to break. Real Madrid will have to be careful with their rearguard against verticality of its two ends And do not give your central specialists the ability to think obviously while trying to play catch. At the same time, Ancelotti’s men should have no problems controlling the match and being patient in order to eventually break through the yellow wall.