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.
