Clash of titans: Barcelona vs Liverpool pre-match tactical analysis





The whole football world will set eyes on Camp Nou Barca's home stadium when they take on Liverpool on the first leg of Champions League semi-finals. Both teams have great attacking forces. This match will be interesting to watch two giants fighting and game of chess between two great managers. Let's see each team's strength and weakness.

Barcelona's tactics
1.High Defensive line

Barca like playing with a high defensive line in order to help the midfield and strikers to press the opponent high on the pitch. Also this helps the team to press, attack and defend as a close unit. This tactic is good as it instills offside trap. The disadvantage of this tactic is a void space is left between the defence line and the goal keeper. When playing with an opponent who makes quick attacks on transitions then more problem will be caused to the defence.
2. Attacking using wingbacks(Nelson Semedo and Jordi Alba) 
These players have quick pace and can cause problems to any teams defence. But the drawback of using wingbacks in attack is they may be caught of position and an opponent can punish you for that.

3. Messi's supremacy

 Most managers have failed to prevent Messi from shaking their defences. We saw during the quarter finals Ole Gunnar tried to mark him with 3 players but still made an assist. The second leg, he used Fred to mark him but all was in vain. Once Guardiola was mocked for creating a monster which destroyed him after  losing 4-0 as the new manager for Manchester City. Messi is a more than talented as he can dribble past 2 to 3 defenders and still make a shot on goal. He knows the right time to run, to shoot or even dribble. Liverpool should be careful because Messi should be respected during marking.



Liverpool tactical analysis. 
Quick transition and counter attacks

Liverpool is among the top teams having dangerous and threatening forward in Europe. Mane, Firmino and Salah are troublesome to any shaky defence. Because they have a high pace and can dribble past defenders easily as they attack in triplets. So Barcelona must be careful with these players especially playing with a high defence.



2. Attacking using wingbacks
Like Barca,  Liverpool use this tactic but there is a slight difference. Barca wingbacks mostly use cutbacks while Liverpool's wingbacks play crosses in the dangerzone. The likes of Coutinho and Messi might leave Liverpool exposed and punished by Barca.

3. The Great Red Wall.
 Am speaking of the Liverpool's centre back (Van Dijk and Matip/Lovren). It seems hard to by pass this wall because of Van Dijk's interceptions, experience and well timed tackles.  Most football analysts believe that no one has dribbled past Van Dijk. This wall has one weakness. If Matip plays in the centre back position, it will leave Liverpool exposed. He is easily taken out hence leaving space behind for Barcelona's forward to exploit and Suarez is an expert when it comes to dealing with such issues.

It will be an interesting match don't dare miss! What are your match predictions? Comment below and let me know. 

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