Athletic Bilbao (4231) Barcelona (4231) Final, Copa Del Rey (25/5/2012)

Real Madrid(4231) Barcelona (41221/361)

This game is looked at through:The 4 man defence in both phases of play Mauro Tassotti (AC Milan)Numerical Superiority in possession of the ball Attillo Tesser (Novara)Characteristics of the central midfielders in a midfield of 3 Massimilliano Allegri (AC Milan)

Decisive Themes1. The Defensive Pyramid:

The 4 man defence in both phases of play (Tassotti)1See appendix for training exercises2

Example of failed defensive pyramid: Marcelo (LB) is sucked out wide

Alves pushes up to play as a winger, Marcelo is sucked out wide, a player beats Xabi Alonso / Diarra with the ball. Sergio Ramos comes out to meet the ball, and the space is created between the Madrid left back and left centre back.

Ideal positioning of back 4 (Tassotti)

Positioning for a central attack. Every defence must have a weakness; better if its out wide. The 4 man defence in both phases of play (Tassotti)1Weak zones2See appendix for training exercises

Correct Defensive Pyramid (Milan):

As Thiago Silva pushes out to slow the central attack (like Ramos above), Milans fullbacks tuck in, covering the dangerous space and leaving weaknesses out wide.

4-2-3-1The weakness is through the centre, especially with a stretched defence. Width, and a numerical superiority through the middle win the game for BarcaIMAGE

Decisive Theme #2 Numerical Superiority:

Tessers thesis gives 6 simple methods of creating numerical superiority (training exercises for each listed as appendix) DribblingWidth: stretching a back fourFluid tacticsRuns dragging defendersSimple 1-2sCounter-AttacksNumerical Superiority in possession of the ball Attillo Tesser1

1, 2 & 3: Dribbling, Width and Fluid TacticsBarcelonas third goal shows how a simple run with the ball creates a 2v1 situation against Madrids left back. Alves freedom up the right wing does the rest:

4 & 5: Runs drag defenders, 1-2sMadrid runs drag defenders wide and create space through the centre.

5. Fluid Systems

AlvesBusquetsBarcelona will always maintain 3 at the back, Alves is free and Busquets / Abidal swap

Decisive Theme #3: Movement & Inter-Change in a midfield of 3

Characteristics of the central midfielders in a midfield of 3 (Massimilliano Allegri)1

Diarra Xabi Alonso

Ozil CassillasCoentrao Pepe Ramos Marcelo

Di Maria Ronaldo Benzema

Good organisation of the midfield 3: Xabi Alonso comes out of position to slow down the Barca #3, Madrids #10 or #7 takes his place. This often happens in a 4-3-3 when the right winger is unable to get back quickly enough.

The two midfielders job is to protect the defence when in non-possession in this situation, with the #11 cut out of the action, they must slow down the play, whilst the #10 takes position on the inside-left.

Max Allegri, AC Milan

Or the same on the right.

If the #10 does not do his defensive duty, the # 8 and 4 will be dragged all over the place.

4-2-3-1: Press, or sit deep?

Mourinhos Inter side were organised defensively:

#10 Sneijder, subs in depending on which way the midfield move.

444888

10Mourinhos Inter

Players will find it more natural to press in a 4231, this clip needs no commentary as Madrid score the quickest goal in Classico history.4-2-3-1: Mourinhos Madrid

With a goal on the half-way line, the field is again split in half. It is 5v3 in each section with the attackers trying to use numerical superiority to score, and the defenders trying to work together to defender narrow.2 Goals and a small central area. 3 v 3 in the middle with two players out of play who support the team with the ball. A team must make 10 passes before a through ball and goal attempt is allowed.1a. Numerical Superiority1b.Training exercises

1c. Dribbling & 2v1Both active players are trying to score by beating their opponent either by dribbling or 1-2 using their partner on the outside.Simple passing game using the extra men out of play. 10 passes = a goal.1d.

2. Defensive Pyramid(Long Video)

2a.4 v 3From a central attack, the defence backs off to 23 yards. The #5 or #6 comes out to meet the ball, and the defence tuck in to defend narrow.

The goal of all the following exercises is to practice the positioning shown in the previous video.Four VS Six: A central defender comes out to meet the ball, the rest of the 4 tuck in2.4 v 6

3.4 v 8Adding confidence- defending the dangerous zones, a 4 man ZONAL defence can even defend against 8 attackers.

4.2 v 2The two defenders must learn to work together. #6 covers #2 as well as keeping an eye on the free man. An important aspect of zonal defending is knowing when to leave your area and follow a man.

More training exercises can be found in the linked documents from the FIGC.

Thanks for watching.

Paul CavezzaPcavezza@gmail.com