Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich both have above average speeds. Therefore, a counterattack can be the key to determining victory in the Champions League final, Monday (24/8).
From the PSG ranks, the speed of Neymar, Angel Di Maria, and Kylian Mbappe absolutely must be watched out for by the Bayern Munich defense.
Meanwhile in Bayern, there are figures of Serge Gnabry, Ivan Perisic, Joshua Kimmich, and Alphonso Davies who have above average speed.
From the expected formation, PSG will likely choose the trio of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Angel Di Maria on the front lines.
With a system without a pure striker, aka false nine, the PSG trio will move more freely and confuse Munich’s back line compared to those using Mauro Icardi as the spearhead.
Not only that, the placement of Mbappe, Neymar and Di Maria also allowed PSG to put three anchor midfielders through the presence of Ander Herrera, Marquinhos, and Leandro Paredes or Idrissa Gueye. Marco Verratti will step down when he is completely fit.
Meanwhile at the back, Thilo Kehrer and Juan Bernat will flank Thiago Silva and Presnel Kimpembe.
Bayern Munich’s formation is slightly different than PSG. Munich will make Robert Lewandowski the spearhead and will be supported by the trio of Serge Gnabry, Thomas Mueller and Ivan Perisic.
Thiago Alcantara and Leon Goretzka acted as anchor midfielders while the back line quartet was occupied by Joshua Kimmich, Jerome Boateng, David Alaba and Alphonso Davies. If Boateng wasn’t fit, Nicklas Sule would be a replacement.
Be careful or stay frontal
With an almost the same attack system, namely the two full backs helping the attack, the counter attack scheme can be decisive in the match.
The advancement of the full backs of the two teams can be a weapon for them to eat. If Davies and Kimmich were too high to leave the defensive post, it would be soft food for Neymar, Mbappe and Di Maria.
The same is true for PSG. If Bernat and Kehrer get too much up and then PSG lose possession of the ball, that will be a big danger because Gnabry, Perisic and Mueller will be ahead in their steps when drafting a counter-attacking scheme.
This scheme will occur if the two teams continue to choose to play openly and buy and sell attacks. However, there is a possibility that the two teams will be careful and choose to brake the attack rate.
That means both full backs will not be instructed to go up too high at the start of the game. Under these conditions, the two teams’ midfield will play a central role.
If PSG played a false nine, they would have an ‘advantage’ in the number of midfielders. In that condition, Mueller must also play a more active role in going down and participating in the fight for the ball.
In a ball possession battle, Munich seems to be able to hit the chest because it has the figure of Thiago. But PSG can compensate if Verratti can play from the first minute.
In a game scheme with a tempo that is not too fast, Munich seems to have the advantage because Mueller and Lewandowski’s role can make Munich not only rely on speed to break the opponent’s goal.
Meanwhile PSG also has advantages in Neymar’s figure. The Brazilian player showed a much higher maturity compared to previous seasons.
Neymar is no longer a selfish player and continues to emphasize individual action. But if individual action is needed, Neymar will happily show it as he did in the match against Atalanta.
In the match against Atalanta, PSG struggled and Neymar really moved alone to become the motor for PSG’s attack.
Apart from the various possibilities that exist, PSG and Munich seem to be maximizing their best abilities from the start of the match. That means the full back will actively attack and that also leads to the possibility that a counter-attack will determine the final outcome of the match.
