MARCELO BIELSA

TACTICAL ANALYSIS
SITUATION 14

Exploiting a 2v1 Advantage Wide with the

Full Back in an Advanced Position

Content from Tactical Analysis of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United team

during the 2019/2020 season and the 2020/2021 Premier League season,
when they finished in 9th position.
y Analysis based on recurring patterns of play observed in Marcelo Bielsa’s team.
Once the same phase of play occurred a number of times (at least 10), the tactics
would be seen as a pattern.
y Tactical solutions displayed as examples of the team’s tactics being used effectively.
y Each action, pass, individual movement with or without the ball, and the positioning
of each player on the pitch including their body shape, are presented.
y The analysis is then used to create a training session to coach this tactical situation.

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Exploiting a 2v1 Advantage Wide with the Full Back in an Advanced Position

Target Area Out Wide (to Gain Advantage)

In the diagram, we show the area which will If Ayling (2) were to receive in a deeper
provide an advantage for Bielsa’s Leeds position than this, it would enable the
team if the full back Ayling (2) is able to opposing wide midfielder red No.11 to
receive. contest him and therefore prevent the 2v1
advantage from occurring.
This available space highlighted between
the opposing team’s midfield and
defensive lines, depends on the positioning
of the red left midfielder No.11.
If Ayling (2) receives the pass inside this
area, then he can potentially neutralise
the red No.11 and create a 2v1 situation out
wide with the right winger Raphinha (18)
against the opposing full back.

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Exploiting a 2v1 Advantage Wide with the Full Back in an Advanced Position

Moving the Ball to the Full Back in an

Advanced Position

In this example, the right back Ayling
(2) receives with an advantage against
his direct opponent red No.11 within
the highlighted space between the
opposition’s midfield and defensive lines.
Because Ayling (2) receives already a
few yards ahead of red No.11, he can avoid
any pressure from him and create a 2v1
situation against the red left back No.3.

ASSESSMENT:
The pass towards the full back in an advanced position is not always open.
The most effective way to play this pass is when a switch of play from one
side to the other is done quickly and the opposition are unable to shift across
in time. This 2v1 numerical advantage on the flank was the base for several
combinations used by the Leeds players to break the line of defence.

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Exploiting a 2v1 Advantage Wide with the Full Back in an Advanced Position

Areas to Move the Ball when Receiving in an

Advanced Wide Position

With the pass to the advanced full back
(right back Ayling 2 in diagram example),
Leeds manage to break two lines of the
red defending team by playing around (not
through) them.
When a full back received in an advanced
position, Bielsa’s Leeds players had
specific target areas to aim for, which are
highlighted in the diagram:
1. Behind the opposing full back
2. Towards the central key passing area
between the lines
Moving the ball behind the full back No.3
(crossing area) will break the third line and
enable Leeds to deliver an effective cross
into the box.
Moving the ball into the central area can
lead to playing a key pass.
The winger moves inside into the space
behind the full back, while the attacking
midfielder provides another option inside
(chain movements shown on next page).

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Exploiting a 2v1 Advantage Wide with the Full Back in an Advanced Position
1A) The Winger Attacks the Space Behind the Full Back to Receive
The simplest option is to move the ball
behind the red full back No.3 and break the
last line of defence.
This is achieved with the winger Raphinha
(18) moving inside as soon as the ball is
directed to Ayling (2), and then attacking
the space behind red No.3.
This option is used when the opposing full
back marks the Leeds winger closely after
Ayling (2) receives. It would be difficult for
Raphinha (18) to receive the next pass if
the red defender No.3 stayed in his original
position.
As soon as Ayling (2) receives, Raphinha
(18) moves towards the inside and takes up
a position between the red centre No.5 and
the left back No.3. This positioning helps
him stay free of marking and also attack
the space behind red No.3.
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If No.3 moves to press Ayling (2), even
more available space will be created behind
him, as shown in the diagram.
However, even if red No.3 stays to defend
the space, Raphinha (18) is still in a
favourable position to attack the space
behind him.
The diagonal run of Raphinha (18) is
followed by the forward run of the
attacking midfielder Klich (43) to provide
an option for an inside pass within the key
central area. Playing a pass in between the
lines may not break the last line of the red
team’s defence, but it definitely increases
the possibility of playing a key pass to one
of the forwards. These chain movements of
the two players are triggered at the same
time.
MARCELO BIELSA - ATTACKING TACTICS AND SESSIONS
Exploiting a 2v1 Advantage Wide with the Full Back in an Advanced Position
2) Receiving within the Key Central Area and Playing a Final Pass into the
Space Between Defenders (and into the Box)
In this variation of the previous example,
the red centre back No.5 shifts across in
time to follow Raphinha’s (18) movement
and marks him during his run behind the
red left back No.3.
This movement stretches the lines
vertically, as the rest of the red defenders
are forced to drop back and across
towards the strong side. More space is
created between the red team’s midfield
and defensive lines. The shifting of the
defenders can also create gaps between
them if they decide to stay in balanced
positions or available space on the weak
side if they decide to shift in coordination
towards the ball area.
In the diagram example, the red right back
No.2 and centre back No.4 shift towards the
strong side following the extensive shifting
towards the side-line of No.5.
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The red defenders retain balance to
cover as much space (width) as possible.
However, this reaction creates gaps
between them, one of which is exploited by
the forward run of the attacking midfielder
Rodrigo (20). The other attacking
midfielder Klich (43) receives the inside
pass from Ayling (2) within the key central
area and plays a lofted pass towards into
the space behind red No.4. Rodrigo (20)
receives on the run and scores.
ASSESSMENT:
The space created between the lines due
to the vertical line stretching can get even
bigger if the red central midfielders No.6
and No.8 do not drop back quickly enough.
The inside passing option towards Klich
(43) is created due to the well-coordinated
chain movements carried out by Raphinha
(18) and Klich (43).
MARCELO BIELSA - ATTACKING TACTICS AND SESSIONS
TRAINING SESSION BASED ON
TACTICS OF MARCELO BIELSA

Exploiting a 2v1
Advantage Wide
with the Full Back
in an Advanced
Position

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Session for MARCELO BIELSA Tactics - Exploiting a 2v1 Advantage Wide with Advanced Full Back
PROGRESSION
2. Exploiting a Numerical Advantage Out Wide to Attack the
Available Spaces in a Functional Practice
Phase 1/2: Exploiting the Available Space in Behind the Full Back
Description (Phase 1/2)
• This is a progression of the previous
practice.
• In the first phase of the practice
(diagram above), there are 4 red
defenders.
• The white players have to read the
positioning of the opposing full back
(No.2 or No.3) and the reaction of the
centre back on the strong side e.g. No.5
in diagram, to carry out the correct
combination (see analysis pages).
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• The aim is to either break the last line of
pressure by moving the ball in behind
the red full back and deliver a cross or
move the ball inside into the key central
area and play a key pass.
• In the diagram example, the right back
(2) receives in an advanced position
and the opposing left back No.3 moves
forward.
• This creates space for the right winger
(18) to receive the next pass in behind
and then deliver a cross into the box.
MARCELO BIELSA - ATTACKING TACTICS AND SESSIONS
Session for MARCELO BIELSA Tactics - Exploiting a 2v1 Advantage Wide with Advanced Full Back

Phase 2/2: Exploiting the Available Space Inside (in Between the Lines)

Description (Phase 2/2) Coaching Points

• In the second phase, we add two 2 1. Decision making is key to success in this
central midfielders (No.6 and No.8), which practice. In the diagram above, the full
makes it more challenging for the whites back reads the situation well (the red
to make the best decision and score, centre back shifting across) to see that
as they now have to deal with 6 active winger is marked and there is available
players. space inside towards the attacking
• In this example, the red centre back midfielder.
No.5 shifts across to cover the run of the 2. Quick and accurate passing,
right winger (18) and puts him under combination play, runs, and finishing.
immediate pressure if the pass is played
into the space on the flank.
• Although this pass is now covered,
space is available inside and between the
lines. The right back (2) passes to the
attacking midfielder (43), who can move
forward and play a key pass.

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 Football Coaching Specialists Since 2001

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