Tough match for the local team, Al Wasl, that started the Game with a goal conceded at the minute 3!

This false start created some insecurity on the local team, that needed some minutes to calm down their Game and start to perform in accordance to the needs, adjusting their defensive positioning and starting to press the defensive line effectively.

On the other hand, it created a false feeling of safety to Al Ain, leading to some mistakes on the build-up, specially on the first half.

Al Wasl presented a GK+4+3+3 formation with a strong midfield – an area where they were somehow dominant during the Game – and with an active approach, pressing the opposite team higher on the field, mainly by the 3 attacking players.

Although this strategy is important, they got a few balls behind the defensive line and that mined their confidence at the start, with the initial goal coming from a similar situation. 

With that said, it’s also important to give credits to both the players and the coaches for observing this tendency on the Al Ain approach and address it by purposely creating a greater distance between lines and reducing the space behind the defensive line.

Naturally, this approach creates a bigger gap for the midfielders – once the attacking players keep pressing high and the defenders retreat on the field – but the midfielder players were able to adjust to this space and make the sufficient covers most of the times.

Well done to all! 

Al Ain faced this Game with their usual GK+4+2+3+1, that seemed to slightly change to a GK+4+4+2 at the beginning of, and during, the second half.

Additionally, as normal on their Youth Teams, they presented players with a very strong physical profile at the central corridor.

On the attacking approach, the 2 Centre-backs presented some difficulties on their starting build-up processes, deciding for a long-ball pass directly to the striker movements on the space left behind the defenders.

Here, also thanks to the Coach, the team was able to adapt to a “fake” line of 3, with one of the holding midfielders joining the CB’s at an initial stage, to then receive the ball in a upward space (third-man dynamic) after one of the wingers, or the other 2 midfielders dropping to make the connection in the central corridor.

This strategy allowed more security to the team’s build-up, after some mistakes that closely cost a goal conceded, with an extra-man in case a ball is lost, but also allowing one of the midfielders to receive the ball with the Game in front of him.

Well done!

Still on the attacking, both side backs tried to support the attack, highlighting here the left-back for his good intentions, profile and activeness on reaching the last-third of the field. 

He needs to get better on the delivery to the box, when crossing, but was a very good performance!

Specially, when you have a target man as the team has, that can clearly create a goal opportunity in any occasion.

Now, speaking about the defensive strategy, the same holding midfielder, interestingly enough, was positioning himself in a very curious space when a cross was done – getting inside the defensive line, creating a line of 5 and allowing the CB to go ahead and cover the side-back. 

This positioning allows the team to always keep 3 players in front of the goal, covering spaces and protecting a space where some leave a 50/50 situation (when the defenders have CB+LB or RB and the attacking team has ST+Winger).

Here, again, well done!

The second half brought a less interesting match.

Al Ain made a significant substitution at half-time to reduce the risks at their build-up and, with this, significantly reduced the number of balls lost to Al Wasl pressing style.

Secondly, with 2 goals difference they were able to retain any reaction from Al Wasl.

Additionally, with the time passing by, the midfield battle couldn’t keep the same rhythm presented on the first half and with the substitutions starting, the pace of the Game went down accordingly.

A few chances on both sides, also connected to a few individual mistakes, but a good match in general!

And, as always, good talents on both sides!

Some notes and players to keep an eye on, but I prefer to keep it to myself as of now.

Finally, some words for both Coaches.

They were also, on different Game moments, able to adapt to the needs of the Game.
And being a Coach is exactly that, to understand the match in front of our eyes and, then, adapt the needed. 

Sometimes by changing the system or formation, the players profile at specific positions that allow them to change their attacking/defensive strategies, change players, change strategy or approach.

But a constant process of analysis, reaction, evaluation, and adjustments.

Non-stop!

Looking forward to see more matches involving these teams!

Have you been observing any match of this teams?
Or this League?
How you see the Players (and Coaches’) developments?

Let me know your thoughts.