BRUClub BruggeClub page
AVLAston VillaClub page
Squad value€199m
Squad value€586.3m
Key playerJoel Ordóñez
Key playerJohan Manzambi
Head coachIvan Leko
Head coachUnai Emery
Club Brugge build slowly and Aston Villa are not going to come and stop them. Expect long spells of nothing much.
Aston Villa break fast and Club Brugge leave a high line to break into.
They are the champions, but they look a gear slower than last year. Belgian pundits say the football is comfortable rather than dangerous, and the wingers are not producing what Christos Tzolis did before he left.
“Het voetbal is momenteel te gezapig en mist versnelling.”At the moment the football is too sluggish and lacks acceleration. our translation
Brugge want to pin you inside your own penalty area and win the ball straight back when it comes out. Ivan Leko judges his team on shots and sprinting, not on how much of the ball they have.
“Ik houd ervan als we de tegenstander wegduwen in hun box, want dat betekent dat je goed voetbalt.”I love it when we push the opponent back into their own box, because that means you are playing well. our translation
Against a team that packs its own box, though, Brugge can get stuck passing sideways and backwards. After the local derby their coach complained they had played more balls to their own goalkeeper than to their striker.
“We speelden meer naar onze doelman dan onze spits.”We played more towards our own goalkeeper than towards our striker. our translation
Villa defend in two tight lines and shut off the middle of the pitch. Teams end up passing sideways in front of them for long spells.
“Arsenal had to be patient in possession, as Villa deployed a compact 4-4-2 structure that restricted central progression.”The danger comes the second they win the ball. Their new striker runs straight in behind, and Villa try to get him the ball before you can get back.
“Villa also carried a threat on the counter-attack, primarily utilising the pace of new signing Nicolas Jackson in transition.”They will not chase you around the pitch. Villa drop off, hold their shape and wait for you to make the mistake.
“Out of possession they sat deeper, prioritising structure over higher pressure.”