289: Dortmund's dilemma, desperate Favre!
October 23, 2019, San Siro Stadium, Milan, Italy.
Here today, AC Milan welcomes the third round of the Champions League this season. Their opponent is Dortmund.
Today’s starting lineups for both sides are as follows:
Home team AC Milan, head coach Tong Yi, formation 3412
Courtois
Back three from left to right Romagnoli, Diaz and Akanji
Midfield four from left to right Davis, Joan Armene, Goretzka and James
Single attacking midfielder Brandt
Double forward Haaland and Lautaro
Visiting team Dortmund, head coach Favre, formation 4231
goalkeeper burki
The back four from left to right Schulz, Hummels, Zagadou and Piszczek
Double defensive midfielder Witsel and Delaney
The front three from left to right: Weigl, Thorgan Hazard and Sancho
Lone striker Gotze
Look at Dortmund's current starting lineup, how can they compete with AC Milan? They don't even have a serious forward now, so Favre has to play without a forward in this game.
I just don’t know if Favre can figure it out?
beep!
Anthony Taylor blew the whistle to start the game, and the visiting team Dortmund kicked off first.
Dortmund's tactics in this game are actually based on control. After all, they have placed too many players in the midfield and frontcourt who can pass and control. They want to use their passing and control abilities to tear apart AC Milan. line of defense and create opportunities!
Dortmund's performance in the past 7 rounds has been pretty good. They have remained unbeaten in 7 games. In the past 5 games, they have scored 9 goals and only conceded 6 goals. Their performance is actually very good. But now that the team has no forwards, it should still be difficult to score goals, right?
After the game started, the Dortmund people were very active in their frontcourt positions. They changed positions frequently. It was really not easy for you to find a focus of attack to defend. This increased the workload for AC Milan's defensive players. But to be honest, the opponent does not have a regular forward, and AC Milan is not too afraid!
For now, ten minutes into the game, Dortmund has a high ball possession rate, but there will be very few threats to the fans. The only threat was Sancho's forced shot from the wing, which was ridiculously wide.
With this lineup, Dortmund's offensive power is indeed a bit problematic.
But Favre seems quite confident and is quite satisfied with the current situation.
Because there don’t seem to be many opportunities for AC Milan?
Favre couldn't help but turn his head and look at Tong Yi on the sidelines. Tong Yi was sitting quietly on the coaching bench, seeming to be quite satisfied with the current situation.
Favre frowned slightly, shouldn't he?
At this moment, Goretzka in the midfield cut off the football from Weigel's feet!
Weigel's passing habit was somewhat caught by the AC Milan players, and he stole the ball very easily.
There are a lot of balls in this Dortmund team right now
The members were all Tong Yi's former disciples, and he was very familiar with them.
Tong Yi made a lot of arrangements based on their habits before the game.
Weigel would have fallen into Tong Yi's trap!
After stealing the ball, Goretzka immediately pushed the football to the side and moved forward quickly!
Two over one!
James on the wing did not stop the ball and directly pushed the football to Goretzka who was advancing. Goretzka did not stop the ball immediately, but quickly passed the football to the side with a diagonal pass. Lautaro pulled to the wing to receive the ball. Before Dortmund's defenders could pounce on him, he pushed the football back and it rolled towards James.
James didn't stop the ball and immediately started to pass!
The football drew a wonderful arc and flew directly into Dortmund's penalty area.
In the middle of the penalty area, Hummels, Haaland and Zagadou jumped high like sandwiches, competing for the header!
With a bang, Haaland in the middle hit the football hard first, and the football shot quickly towards Dortmund's goal.
The Dortmund fans at the scene were frightened and screamed one after another.
Fortunately, Burki in front of the goal reacted quickly and swatted the football away with one palm!
Piszczek in the penalty area immediately threw his legs to clear the ball, and the football quickly flew towards the frontcourt.
Unfortunately, Weigel on the wing in the frontcourt did not catch the football at all, and the football was jumped high by Akanji who rushed out and pushed it out of the sideline.
Beautiful defense, Tong Yi also kept applauding.
So far, the two teams appear to be evenly matched. After all, Dortmund has a higher ball possession rate, but AC Milan has more offensive threats to the goal.
So, at this point, it's really unclear who can win this game.
However, Tong Yi is full of confidence in this game!
After all, their offense is more threatening at the moment.
Dortmund quickly threw the ball out from the sideline, and they started passing the ball in the midfield again. The passing and controlling abilities of their players are indeed very strong, but the fatal threat is still a bit lacking. They can only take long shots from the front of the penalty area.
But AC Milan simply did not give the Dortmund people a comfortable shooting opportunity from the front of the penalty area!
Therefore, the Dortmund people's long-range shots at this time are not very reliable.
Favre on the sidelines asked the players in the frontcourt to increase their interspersed running, especially to increase their penetration into the opponent's penalty area, so that they can be more threatening to the opponent's goal!
Dortmund's players nodded and understood.
But to be honest, this is difficult. AC Milan defends their forward penetration very strictly, and it is difficult to have a good passing opportunity. Otherwise, why do they frequently take long shots in front of the penalty area? Because there is no other way!
So far, AC Milan's defense has made them very
Very uncomfortable, almost only a few long-range shooting opportunities!
This is the time to show the ability of Zhengyin forward.
It's a pity that Dortmund doesn't have it now!
Favre shook his head slightly, feeling very sorry. He felt that if they could have a genuine striker in this game, this game would not be like this. They would definitely be able to get more opportunities and score goals.
Now, this situation is quite bad. It is difficult to hit the opponent's penalty area with football!
it is a pity!
At this time, AC Milan's midfielder stole the ball again.
It was still Goretzka who stole the ball. He beat Weigel to death and intercepted Weigel's pass. Favre on the sidelines was speechless. What is all this?
He was very dissatisfied and immediately roared at Weigel, reminding Weigel to be more flexible.
Weigel immediately nodded and understood.
At this time, the football has been pushed to the left side of the frontcourt. Davis on the wing was holding the ball and seemed to be making a pass.
Seeing this, Favre couldn't help but feel that AC Milan was advancing too fast!
Davis suddenly made a cross pass, but did not make the pass.
The football rolled to the feet of Brandt in the middle. After receiving the ball, Brandt gently moved the football to the left and instantly avoided Delaney who was rushing towards him. Delaney was shocked and immediately reached out to pull Brandt, but he didn't pull at all. Brandt bypassed Delaney, controlled the football, and immediately headed towards Dortmund's penalty area.
Dortmund's center back Hummels immediately stepped forward and intercepted Brandt.
Brandt made an easy diagonal push, pushing the football past Hummels and towards Lautaro in the penalty area!
Lautaro used his body to resist Schultz on the outside, easily stopped the football, and then fired a sweep!
The football shot quickly towards the far lower corner of the goal!
Burki in front of the goal was well prepared and immediately jumped out, his fingertips touching the football. But it didn't stop the football from rolling into Dortmund's goal!
In the 27th minute of the first half, AC Milan, playing at home, finally took the lead, and Lautaro scored!
It was Brandt who provided the assist for Lautaro!
See, this is the ability of Zhengyin forward. If Dortmund could have a regular striker in this game, this game wouldn't be so uncomfortable.
Favre has no good solution for this!
At this time, Favre asked Sancho and Gotze to switch positions, and asked Sancho to go to the front line!
Sancho moved to the forward position and was immediately hit by a double blow from Joan Armene and Dias. He really couldn't even catch the ball comfortably. Many times he stopped the ball too wide. Can't even catch the ball!
Sancho's flexibility and speed advantages are not reflected!
Seeing this, Favre also
Spreading his hands means that he is at a loss for a while!
He immediately signaled the players to go two more wings, using the wings to break through and cut inside to threaten the opponent's goal.
But the effect is not very ideal, because AC Milan knows that Dortmund does not have a high center in the center, so when the Dortmund players go down, they always let the Dortmund players pass the ball and keep an eye on the inward line. Dortmund's two wingers have almost no chance to cut inside, they can only pass from the wing!
The ball passed in was almost controlled by the AC Milan people. It was really difficult for the Dortmund people to threaten AC Milan's goal. Their only threatening attack was a long shot near the penalty area. Not to mention, it almost made them score!
After Thorgan Hazard continuously moved sideways with the ball at the front of the penalty area, he suddenly took off and shot into the far corner, slightly missing the goal.
This kick is full of threats. This is the closest Dortmund has come to scoring a goal so far in the first half.
Tong Yi also stood up immediately and signaled the AC Milan players to strengthen their defense at the front of the penalty area and not to give their opponents such a chance again. This time it was really dangerous, and Tong Yi couldn't stand it anymore.
Favre felt it was a pity. If this goal had been scored, the game would have been completely different.
It's a pity, this is indeed a pity!
However, Favre signaled to the Dortmund players to keep up their efforts and strive to take more long-range shots from the front of the penalty area!
Yes, at this time Favre also gave up the idea of letting the players hit the AC Milan penalty area, and just took crazy long shots from the front of the penalty area. Just seize one or two opportunities!
In this game, they and Dortmund will definitely win!
Dortmund's players immediately raised their hands to Favre to indicate that they had received the order.
The game restarted, and AC Milan's offense advanced quickly and came directly to the feet of James on the wing. James immediately swung his leg and looked like he was passing, but in fact he was actually cutting inside with a fake move and quickly entered Dortmund's penalty area. This frightened the Dortmund players. Fortunately, James' inverted triangle return pass did not find Haaland near the penalty spot, but was destroyed by Hummels.
If this ball is passed, Dortmund will be in danger!
However, the football that was pushed out fell directly to the feet of Brandt at the front of the penalty area. Brandt hardly made any adjustments on his side. He directly met the ball and hit the goal with a heavy kick.
With a bang, the football shot out instantly, like a bolt of lightning.
The Dortmund players in front of the goal were shocked and used their bodies to block the flying football. But the ball was too fast. Hummels and others in the penalty area did not block the football at all. Instead, they somewhat blocked the view of goalkeeper Burki in front of the goal!
Then the football flew past Hummels like a gust of wind and flew quickly towards the goal.
At this moment, Burki in front of the goal made a save!
Favre's eyes darkened on the sidelines, and he was instantly desperate!
