Club Brugge's success against PSG

 

1-Brugge preferred 3-5-2 formation, except for the last game in the league. However, last game in the league and against PSG, they increased number of defenders by one. Because wingbacks against the opponents in the league were playing as wingers and the offensive power of the opposing teams was weak. Therefore, they both increased the number of defenders and put another defensive midfielder next to Balanta. The aim was to increase defensive measures and allow attackers to play more freely in the opposing half (On the left).

2-Balanta ran with the opponent who ran between left-back Sobol and left centre-back Nsoki. If one of the other 2 players had gone with the opposing player, there would have been a big gap in the defence. That's why Balanta helped the defence.

3-While Lang pressed on the left wing, Sowah came back and played as a right-back. Because Brugge's defenders approached to the left. Even if Neymar got the ball, he could not be effective as Sowah came back (on the left).

4-De Ketelaere on the right and Lang on the left did pressure to PSG defenders. Vanaken went to the centre of the defence. When the distance between centre-backs widened, they tried to prevent passing to the other wing.

5-Right-back (Mata) followed Neymar throughout the match. When Neymar came back, Mata went to midfield. At that times Sowah came back (1). When Neymar moved to the other half, Mata stopped following him. Rits approached centre-back as Mata moved towards the defence. As Sowah slowly advanced, Mata headed for his own region (2). In other words, the number of players on defence has not decreased at all (on the left).

6-What was the mistake on goal? When Rits became the second player to approach Neymar and defend him, Sowah should have gone to the front of the box (1) or tried to defend Neymar instead of Ritz, Balanta was stuck in the middle of Wijnaldum and Herrera as he was the only one defending the box so Herrera scored easily (2).

7-Lang and De Kettelaere sometimes approached each other and acted as double wingers. Because they could get behind the defense when they got close to each other, they are both fast players. Vanaken went to the penalty area and waited for the ball to come to him (on the left).

8-Brugge increased pressure at the front, they played more offensively after the goal, they did not continue in the same plan like some teams. Sowah, who started the pressure, went to the player who had the ball, De Kettelaere first put pressure on centre-back and then the goalkeeper, Vormer turned to the left back when Sowah went to the player who has the ball, PSG stuck in the corner remained and lost the ball.

9- The most critical moment of the match, when Mbappe was between right-back and centre-back, he went a little further, defenders went forward to ensure that Mbappe was offside, while Mbappe was between two centre-backs, left-back was behind, so Mbappe was not offside even though he was in front of the centre-backs. Why did left-back stay behind, because he focused only on Hakimi, he wanted to prevent him from going in, but he never looked to his right, Mbappe got a pass, but he could not score. In addition, the left centre-back went forward unnecessarily, his area was completely emptied (on the left).

10-Hakimi and Herrera got ahead of Lang. Sobol may have joined attack for the first time. The back of Hakimi was empty. Both Rits and Vanaken entered the penalty area as the left-back was preparing to cross. Vanakaen scored the gap in the box, Rits would have scored if he hadn't. Running towards the penalty area, a correct pass without looking brought the goal. De Kettelaere went too far to feature Kimpempe and leave a gap behind.

11-While Brugge was on attack, they defended the 3 forwards man-to-man. For example, if the forwards are close to the right, 3 players except left-back approached them. Left-back went to other half (on the left).

12-When Mbappe approached the midfield to get the ball, left centre-back (Nsoki) stepped forward and made harsh interventions. If PSG defenders are ahead, Brugge had dangerous positions.

13-The task of the players was clear when they won the ball in another attack that they did press. The player who won the ball sent it to the most available player without waiting. He passed to the player next to him who has a better shot angle. The player who got the ball, shot (on the left).

14-Vanaken came between defenders and midfielders. He wanted the ball, sending it to Lang, who ran behind the defence when the opposing players focused on him. Lang crossed to the centre-back (Mendy) at the penalty spot. Short diagonal passes destabilized PSG's defenders.

15-It was the performances of De Kettelaere and Lang that made Club Brugge play more in the opposing half in the second half. The player showed himself to that player who has intensified pressure to approach the goalpost in the opponent's half, and the player who got rid of the pressure after receiving the ball headed towards the empty fields.

16- Of course, it was not a coincidence that Club Brugge did not lose this match. Their defensive performances in the first half were unbelievable. All players in the midfield helped the defence, as PSG's forwards moved around and tried to find space. Club Brugge struggled to score the second goal. Conceding a goal was their priority, more than 3-4 players did not contribute to the attack. Balanta and Rits blocked the players trying to approach the penalty area from the centre.

We can count many other positive factors. But not losing the match should never be enough. If teams like Club Brugge can perform their successful defensive performances in attack, they can beat teams which have very good squad quality.