Match date: 24 February 2015

Juventus have had a relatively easy domestic campaign, especially compared to Dortmund, whose struggles in the Bundesliga have been well documented this season. They have hit some form recently, winning their last three domestic matches, but still find themselves in the lower half of the table. However, Dortmund’s Champions League campaign has been much better, as they topped their group.

Massimiliano Allegri named arguably his strongest XI in a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield of Pirlo, Pogba, Marchisio, and Vidal. Further up the pitch, Tevez was partnered with Morata rather than Fernando Llorente.

Jurgen Klopp has had injuries make it almost impossible to name his strongest XI throughout the season until recently when players began returning to fitness. With Subotic still out, Sokratis partnered Hummels in the back four and Nuri Sahin acted as the sole holding midfielder in what was much more of a 4-3-3 from Klopp than his more typically 4-2-3-1.

4-4-2 Diamond v 4-3-3, Dortmund’s Press, Juventus’ Bypass

The formations meant that they match was always going to be an interesting one. With Juventus playing in a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield, it meant that they would always have an extra man in one of the central zones against Dortmund’s 4-3-3. Dortmund always look to press high up the pitch (this will be covered later) and they clearly targeted Pirlo, who is key to setting Juventus’ tempo and starting attacks from deeper positions. With pressing Pirlo a big part of Klopp’s tactical plan, it meant that either Mkhitaryan or Gündoğan would step up to put pressure on the 35 year old Italian regista, this meant, however, that Dortmund were always going to be outnumbered 3v2 further up the pitch. At times Dortmund were very successful in closing down Pirlo and closing down Juventus in general. Dortmund had excellent possession of the ball in Juventus’ half throughout the match and when they lost it deep within the Italian side’s half, they would swarm the ball carrier, winning it back quickly. This led to Juventus being forced to simply clear the ball up the field rather than look to play out.

The problem with Dortmund’s fervent pressing was that, at times, Juventus were able to get by and left Dortmund short at the back. Interestingly, however, these chances were never really when Dortmund had possession deep in Juventus’ half and had committed players forward, it was rather when Juventus had comfortable possession between Bonucci and Chiellini. When this happened, Dortmund would sit in a mid block, with Immobile pressing the centre backs, but as mentioned above one of either Mkhitaryan or Gündoğan, usually the latter, would push to Pirlo to make sure the deep lying playmaker wasn’t able to get on the ball. However, this led to two things happening. It would leave Pogba (usually) or Marchisio free behind Dortmund’s midfield press with Sahin occupied by Vidal and would also open up the passing lanes to Tevez and Morata. Below is a perfect example of this, Pogba is free and the passing lane for Bonucci to Tevez is open with the Argentine checking into midfield.

Bonucci’s long passing became incredibly important as Pirlo was marked out of the game relatively well by Dortmund and then was ultimately substituted through injury. Juventus’ second goal is a perfect example of how the centre backs passing and the gaps left by Dortmund in their pressing allowed Tevez and Morata to receive the ball far too easily. It also showed an excellent example of the Dortmund back line not following the strikers tightly enough when they checked into midfield.

Morata was just as good as Tevez at giving Chiellini and Bonucci an option with the long forward pass to bypass the Dortmund midfield and gave the Juventus centre backs more options as Morata is more capable of receiving aerial balls and controlled the ball well numerous times with his chest before bringing others into play.

Dortmund’s Attack

Another part of the match that became incredibly important because of the formations was the wide areas. With Juventus playing a diamond midfield, it meant that they were always going to be particularly narrow, which is troublesome against a team like Dortmund who like to play in the wide areas, overloading one side and then quickly switching to the weak side. Pogba, Marchisio, and later Vidal, did a fairly good job of tracking the forward runs by Schmelzer and Piszczek and it was certainly made easier for Pogba when Sokratis and later Kirch were at right back, with neither very good attacking options.

Despite the running of the two Juventus shuttlers, Dortmund were still able to find times when they had numbers up in the wide areas. In the second half especially, Aubameyang was often in 1v1 situations, but more often than not, and this was the case for many of Dortmund’s attacks, the final ball was lacking and sloppy. The German sides crossing, as well, was very poor and most of their chances came from central areas and shots outside the box. In fact, they managed just one shot on target from inside the penalty area and if was a half chance with Immobile off balanced when he struck the ball into Buffon’s hands.

2nd Half Notes

Dortmund had most the possession in both halves and there were times Juventus sat very deep, allowing the German side to have the ball, which didn’t suit the fast paced style that Dortmund wanted to play, but Juventus also looked satisfied with their one goal advantage, knowing that conceding another away goal was more damaging than the rewards of extending the scoreline.

Though primarily focused on defending, Juventus had two very good to extend their lead. Tevez had a shot that went just wide of the post, while Pereyra also had an excellent chance to put Juventus up 3-1.

Klopp made a change at half time, bringing on Kirch for Sokratis at right back, but Kirch struggled during his time on the pitch. He didn’t add any sort of an attacking option for Dortmund, in fact looking a bit frazzled at times when he had the ball in Juventus’ half. Klopp’s other change was bringing on Blaszczykowski for Immobile, which moved Aubameyang to the centre forward position. Overall, however, none of the changes by either manager had much of an impact on the match.

Conclusion

Dortmund will feel hard done by how they conceded, especially the first goal in which Weidenfeller parried the ball straight into the path of Tevez. The second goal was much better play by Juventus, but Morata was allowed far too much space and time inside Dortmund’s six yard box.

Juventus will feel just as aggrieved by how Dortmund got their goal with Chiellini slipping, allowing Reus to pick up the ball and finish well past Buffon.

The second leg will be very interesting as Dortmund need just a 1-0 win at home to go through.