The weekend opener between Köln and Dortmund proved to be more interesting than expected. The home team managed to go toe-to-toe against title contenders Dortmund for at least 85 minutes. In the end, Dortmund was able to turn the game around and secured three vital points with a 3-1 away victory.
Our tactical analysis will examine the different tactics of both teams and show how Dortmund was able to take home the win.
Line-Ups
Both teams played in a rather conservative formation without being too adventurous. Köln coach Achim Beierlorzer used a standard 4-4-2 system with two classic strikers, Jhon Córdoba, and Anthony Modeste. Dortmund coach Lucien Favre, on the other hand, has the luxury of selecting between 15 or 16 high-class players. He opted for a 4-2-3-1 system and looked once again for stability fielding Julian Weigl alongside Axel Witsel in the defensive midfield.
On paper, the front three of Jadon Sancho, Marco Reus, and Thorgan Hazard behind sole striker Paco Alcácer seemed to promise a lot of firework potential.
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