Alex Keble's Five-Star Tactics: Champions League
Alex Keble casts a tactical eye over this week's Champions League action and pinpoints five areas of interest.
1. Will Celtic’s full-backs attack the spaces left behind the Anderlecht wing-backs?
Celtic just need to avoid a two-goal defeat to seal qualification for the knockout stage of the Europa League, but should be able to win comfortably against Anderlecht at Celtic Park. The Belgian side have shown a particular weakness in the wing-back areas in the Champions League this season, with Celtic having already exploited this area in the first leg.
Kieran Tierney was in excellent form that day, and along with James Forrest on the other flank should find plenty of room when overlapping – should the pair be brave enough. Nervousness might get the better of Celtic, but if confident then they should have no problem beating Adrien Trebel and Dennis Appiah.
Anderlecht’s wing-backs aren’t particularly good. Both of Bayern Munich’s goals in the last round came via attacks down the right, exposing gaps to the left of centre-back Olivier Deschacht. Needing to win handsomely, Anderlecht will push forward in numbers, leaving even more room for the likes of Tierney to whip crosses into the box.
2. Can Hazard’s late runs find space behind a reorganised Atletico defence?
Chelsea’s 3-5-1-1 formation is occasionally too reliant on the genius of Eden Hazard, and the Belgian might struggle in midweek to get the better of a much sharper Atletico Madrid midfield. Diego Simeone’s side have improved dramatically of late, thanks largely to the return of central midfield pair Saul Niguez and Gabi.
Atletico’s classic compression of space in central areas has returned, with these two nipping at heels and making it extremely difficult to break through the lines. Chelsea will be allowed to hold more possession than they would usually like to, meaning Hazard could find himself drowned out in the final third. He will need to drift wide when possible, but more importantly make those clever runs ahead of Alvaro Morata that proved so successful against Newcastle United at the weekend.
Longer clipped passes into Hazard are Chelsea’s best chance of breaking through Atletico, whose deep line will limit the Belgian’s impact in the number 10 zone. However, even if Cesc Fabregas is in form it might not be enough; Simeone’s side have conceded just one goal in their last six matches in all competitions.
3. Will Pochettino use fringe players Lamela and Rose to raise the tempo at Wembley?
Tottenham’s poor run is the result of over reliance on a few star players, who cannot keep the tempo high when games are twice a week. Dele Alli’s poor season means he is increasingly floating harmlessly up front while Moussa Sissoko continues to look out of his depth, meaning Spurs are struggling to pass the ball calmly through midfield. The result is disjointed, low-tempo performances that make it easy for weaker opponents to sit back and absorb pressure.
Mauricio Pochettino must shake things up dramatically for this match. Danny Rose was impressive against Leicester City last week and deserves to start (his energy on the left could help them pierce the APOEL lines), while Erik Lamela – out for almost a year with a serious injury – should be thrown straight back in at the deep end.
Lamela is the sort of confident flair player Spurs are crying out for at the moment. His guile in tight spaces could prove crucial as APOEL pack the final third with bodies, in turn helping Harry Kane and Alli raise their own games.
4. Can Shakhtar improve on West Ham’s performance and stop a De Bruyne-less City?
Having already guaranteed top spot, it is highly likely Manchester City will field a reserve side for the trip to Shakhtar, which hands the Ukrainian side a major advantage. Defeat for City following such narrow wins in the Premier League could damage their confidence before the Manchester derby on Sunday, and so it is vital Pep Guardiola finds a way to maintain their winning streak.
West Ham United built on recent performances by Huddersfield Town and Southampton by siting deep and avoiding tackles, which meant City simply couldn’t pull the defence out of shape. They also sat their midfield just in front of David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, blocking off the passing lines and thus nullifying the main attacking threat.
Shakhtar will follow suit and won’t even need to look after these two, who presumably will be rested for the big game this weekend. A tightly compacted defence, coupled with a stand-off approach, should be enough to prevent City from winning their 21st consecutive match.
5. Can Quincy Promes cause Liverpool’s makeshift back three problems?
Liverpool need to beat Spartak Moscow to secure top spot in their group, which is easier said than done given Jurgen Klopp’s injury problems at the moment. Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum played as centre backs in a back three against Brighton, who rarely tested their inexperience in this position.
Quincy Promes will be a much tougher opponent. Playing on the left wing, 25-year-old Promes has eight goals and six assist in the league this season – and has scored twice and assisted twice in the Champions League. He will be instructed to directly attack Emre Can from the left, which means Trent Alexander-Arnold must stay deep to provide cover for the German.
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