Perhaps the most significant rule change within recent times in football was the adaptation to the static goal kick. As of 2019, outfield players were given the license to touch the ball inside their 18-yard box from a goal kick, rather than having to wait until the ball exited the box. This alteration added a…

The concept of verticality is often mentioned positively when discussing teams’ style of play. Typically, this is in reference to progressive verticality which seems intuitive considering the end goal of reaching the optimal destination to score, generally deep in the opponent’s half, wherever that may be contextually. However, progression is not linear. Sometimes to reach…

Space creation is one of the most fundamental and important concepts in football. As Xavi puts it, “I understand football as a time-space concept”. Whether you need to play out of the opponent’s high press, break down a low block or press yourself, you need to establish control over the influential spaces (these “influential spaces”…

In their last two league games, Brighton & Hove Albion have played some of the most beautiful football we’ve seen this season. Yet, they stay a side languishing in 16th place after having played 19 games. Many experts have predicted Brighton to find themselves in a tough relegation battle and not make it to the…

Matchday 17 of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season began on Tuesday, January 19, with a variety of appetizing matches; Borussia Mönchengladbach narrowly defeated Werder Bremen at home, Wolfsburg took all three points at Mainz, and Hoffenheim thrashed Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion to put Hertha manager Bruno Labbadia in even greater jeopardy of losing his job,…

Roberto De Zerbi’s Sassuolo side are the team to watch in Serie A this season, and after an exciting 3-3 draw in the last meeting against the Old Lady, the fixture looked to be both promising and competitive. A late first-half sending off for Pedro Obiang changed the complexion of the match. Nonetheless, the game…

With the 16th UEFA European Championship just a couple of months away, the German national team is in one of their most precarious positions since the turn of the century almost 21 years ago. On a steadily declining curve since the sides’ World Cup triumph in 2014, a group stage exit 4 years later, along…

  By: Russell Pope Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Neal Simpson – EMPICS / PA

Matchday 15 of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season began with a premium appetizer on Friday, as reigning European and German champions paid a visit to North Rhine-Westphalia to take on Borussia Mönchengladbach. Whilst Bayern got off to an early 2-0 lead via goals from Robert Lewandowski and Leon Goretzka, Gladbach mounted a fierce comeback to claim…

In a match between two strong contenders for Champions League football, Imanol Alguacil’s Real Sociedad paid a visit to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán where they would take on Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla. The hosts went into the game unbeaten in La Liga since December 5, whilst La Real had only won one match from their past…