SC Braga 3-3 Leicester City
- Musrati (4’)
- Paulinho (24’)
- Fransergio (90’)

- Barnes (9’)
- Thomas (78’)
- Vardy (95’)

Full-time thoughts (a short thread).

#BrgLei

I’ve spoken on countless occasions that Ünder/Barnes as wingers isn’t the balance Rodgers wants, but if you play Iheanacho you can have two “runners” as the wide-players - because Iheanacho drops.

I’d argue there wasn’t much connective play in this front-line.

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The initial pivot (Choudhury/Praet) struggled. When playing as the two, you need to offer for the ball constantly (because they’re the central option), but they were both absent.

It made attacking very disjointed, it went from wing to the other bypassing the midfield.

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In transition from defence to attack, the midfield line was too deep during the first-half. It resulted in a lot of turnovers in SC Braga’s favour, because the second-ball wasn’t contested.

One of Praet/Choudhury needed to step up/sit, but they didn’t have the synergy.

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Decision-making was poor in the first-half.

Too often, #LCFC tried hopeful long-balls into space instead of using simple passing lanes. When reclaiming possession, they tried to play first-time and lose it, instead of controlling the ball & rebuilding.

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This is supported by the passing statistics for the first-half.

#LCFC are a team that wants to build-up, utilise the five “defensive” players to move the oppositions structure & they completed only 81% of the passes. That’s 49 misplaced passes/turnovers of possession.

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Most chances, in the first-half, came from errors on SC Braga’s part, rather than moments of creativity.

I think the composition of wingers didn’t work for Rodgers, it was worth a try with Iheanacho at ST, but it forced long-balls (because the running was in behind).

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The introduction of Tielemans/Maddison gave a line-breaking passer & someone who thrives in the half-spaces/finds pockets.

That’s what #LCFC missed in the first-half, it was far too linear & easy to negate (i.e. force the defenders into going long).

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Vardy offered penetrative movement, which complimented the midfield composition (Tielemans/Maddison).

Adding players like Pérez also offered between-the-lines options in possession, which made #LCFC two-dimensional in the attacking sequences.

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The tempo increased, #LCFC rotated the ball much quicker during the second-half.

Maddison (94.1% pass completion) & Tielemans (86%) recycled play more effectively & accurately, both very good in their decision-making - amplified by Maddison’s involvement in the goals.

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All three goals were exceptional.

Barnes’ finish was very instinctual on his left, it’s nice to see him confident enough to use his weaker foot in front of goal.

That also bodes well for a wide-forward who wants to add extra goals into his game.

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Maddison was instrumental in the second/third.

Brilliant spacial awareness to create the second goal, good delivery - again on a weaker foot - and Thomas operated in a smart area in the box (he finds space here frequently - when the winger occupies width).

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For me, the third was the best. The ball from Albrighton was unbelievable.

He had a single option in the box, and he picked out Vardy - who had elite movement in the box, to get a deserved draw. Maddison’s composure was also great, recycled the play well.

#BrgLei

I was underwhelmed by the first-half, disjointed is the best way of describing it.

An unused pivot, a weird front-line & you become limited in your means of progression.

This changed drastically in the second-half, and fluidity resumed.

#BrgLei