Gasperini's Man-Oriented Defense

Hello and warm welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter! In this issue, the following topics take center stage:

1. ⚽Atalanta Bergamo vs Bayer Leverkusen

2. 👉 2 New Drills + Update!

⚽Atalanta Bergamo vs Bayer Leverkusen

Gasperini vs. Alonso. Atalanta Bergamo against Bayer Leverkusen – an exciting final between two likable teams, which Atalanta decisively won with a clear 3-0 victory. Thanks to Bergamo's aggressive, man-oriented defense, Leverkusen was hardly able to execute its typical possession game. Let's take a closer look at Gasperini's tactics for this match.

Both teams lined up in a similar system, described as a 3-4-3 formation. However, the execution of the system looked very different. While Leverkusen relied heavily on possession and tried to build up play from the back, Atalanta acted very directly and purposefully. They played quick passes forward, where Scamacca could shield the ball excellently. But it was primarily the aggressive defending and, of course, the outstanding performance of Lookman that brought Atalanta the victory.

Let's delve deeper into Gasperini's tactical considerations to understand how he managed to neutralize Leverkusen's style of play so effectively.

1. Half

Gasperini knew that the game would revolve around the two central midfielders, Xhaka and Palacios. Especially Xhaka is regarded as the orchestrator and is essential for Leverkusen's possession play. However, Atalanta countered this with Ederson and Koopmeiners, two extremely combative and industrious midfielders. They stayed very close to Xhaka and Palacios throughout the entire 90 minutes, giving them little time to make decisions.

Gasperini is generally known for deploying a very man-oriented defensive approach. Players like center-back Djimsiti often track their opponents deep into midfield. This is highly uncomfortable for any opponent, as there's constantly someone sticking to them. The technically adept Wirtz could hardly control a ball and showcase his strengths, as there was always a player closely marking him, leaving him little room to turn.

Atalanta employs a dynamic back five during the defensive phase, which facilitates man-marking effectively. Even if two players from the back five track their opponents, there are still three defenders remaining to secure the defense. This tactical flexibility makes it difficult for opponents to unfold their game and ensures that Atalanta remains defensively stable.

Especially in the first half, Atalanta's man-oriented pressing was extremely aggressive. In this example, it's evident how high Atalanta positioned themselves, not allowing Leverkusen to build up calmly. Leverkusen seemed a bit overwhelmed, and usually strong players like Wirtz, Xhaka, or Grimaldo could hardly make an impact.

Alonso surprised with his player selection and tactics by opting to play without a clear striker and deploying Frimpong, who excels primarily on the wing, in the center. As a result, Leverkusen struggled to maintain possession upfront, as the quick, agile players possessed different qualities compared to a traditional, tall striker. Additionally, they found it challenging to create depth in their play, as Xhaka and Palacios were constantly under pressure and often resorted to playing long balls out wide.

2. Half

At halftime, Alonso reacted by bringing Boniface into the game, while Frimpong returned to the wing. Leverkusen had practically no player occupying the center forward position in the first 45 minutes, making it easy for Atalanta to defend. Therefore, this substitution was clear and understandable.

However, the game scarcely changed. Leverkusen attempted to improve their performance, which they partly succeeded in. There were phases of possession in the midfield area, but Atalanta presented themselves in a dynamic 5-3-2 formation, offering little opportunity. The Bergamo side remained defensively compact, continuing to make it difficult for Leverkusen to create dangerous situations.

Atalanta managed to achieve precisely what Leverkusen and any other team aim for in attack: numerical superiority. Through man-oriented defending and clever shifting, it was almost always Atalanta who could create numerical advantages.

Towards the end of the game, the Bergamo side defended somewhat deeper in a 5-4-1 formation. Despite the deeper position, they remained physically strong and man-oriented. They continued to occupy and neutralize the crucial spaces effectively, leaving Leverkusen with few opportunities to pose a threat in front of the goal.

Conclusion:

The game-philosophy is a matter of taste. There is no right or wrong; it always depends on the players and one's own conviction. Atalanta hardly had a classic build-up play, but through simple passing sequences and numerous ball recoveries, they managed to reach dangerous zones. Gasperini's tactics were very well thought out and were implemented extremely well by his team.

It's no coincidence that Atalanta could clearly defeat teams like Liverpool and Marseille with their aggressive, man-oriented pressing. Gasperini's approach, creating numerical advantages through consistent defending and clever shifting, has proven to be extremely effective. This shows that different tactics can lead to success.

👉 2 New Drills + Update!

2 new exercises are out. Get unlimited access to all existing and upcoming videos with our monthly or yearly subscription.

Exercises:

• Out of Possession: Principles of the Back Four

• Transitioning after winning the ball: Transitioning from 3v1 to 2v1

New categorization of exercises in the "In Possession" phase:

• Dribbling

• Finishing Drill

• Forms of Play

• Possession Games

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