RB Leipzig in possession solutions in a 3412 vs.

Spurs 442
Andrew Stokes
Andrew Stokes
RB Leipzig’s Back Three and Positional Play:

Julian Nagelsmann is an innovative tactician who favours an attacking possession based style which constantly evolves. As
a manager he’s quoted in saying he develops ideas based on possession and finding creative solutions, putting the
opposition under pressure and having many solutions to build up play.

This ideology lends itself well to developing positional play in which RB Leipzig used to defeat Tottenham in the
Champions League Last 16. I like to think about positional play as a team’s desired structure, players using positioning and
rapid ball circulation to create superiorities that generate space for its best players to exploit and allows the team to
advance together towards goal creating more opportunities to get numbers in the box and scoring goals.

RB Leipzig in this match focused on Positional play in possession creating superiorities and moving past each defensive line
into advantageous situations with players creating, recognising and exploiting space. His three central defenders were
responsible for building up possession – Welsh International Ethan Ampadu in particular, was given responsibility for
playing the ball into the areas that encouraged more passing options, and to advance that possession. Throughout the
game they created different kinds of superiorities like qualitative, numerical and positional.

The idea of RB Leipzig’s build up was to create numerical superiority, sometimes centrally in a 3v2 to break 1st pressing line
and a box midfield to allow the team to attack vertically through quick forward passes or in wide areas especially on a
quick switch through creating a wide diamond which ball speed and connecting passes became essential.
Another factor was qualitative superiority in getting their best players in dangerous areas to exploit weaknesses in the
Spurs team. This finally led to positional superiority where once in final 3rd the players were in advantageous positions to
attack the box and exploit space.

This article will focus on the positional playa and the importance of creating solutions to the defensive strategy/problems
RB Leipzig encountered and exploited in this match.

Andrew Stokes
 RB Leipzig in possession solutions in a 3412 vs. Spurs 442

Problem- Tottenham defensively set up in a 442 mid block (See picture above) with Dele Ali & Lucus Moura as CFs. There
pressing triggers were to allow the outside CB to receive the ball then engaging a press whilst cover shadowing Leipzig’s
DCM, while the other CF (Moura in this situation) looks to be in a position to press the MCB and shadow cover Leipzig’s
opposite DCM. Tottenham’s Wide players would start narrow and as soon as the ball was played into RB Leipzig’s Wing
Backs they would aggressively press.

Andrew Stokes
Solution – Break Spurs 1st pressing line centrally and looking to attack vertically

Centrally in Build up – 3v2 (Zone 1) The three CBs would connect horizontally in the width of the 18yard box and have
both Wing backs wide & off the shoulders of Spurs wide men. They then enticed Spurs CFs to press outside centre backs
before moving ball quickly into MCB and out the other side to forcing opposite CF to engage the outside CBs. Once they
felt the distance between both CFs was big enough to exploit, Ampadu (MCB) would be in a position to receive from the
LCB in this situation and drive forward breaking the 1st defensive line as seen below.

Andrew Stokes
As Ampadu drives forward the team create a box in midfield (Zone 2) the two DCMs (Sabitzer and Laimer) play off the
shoulders of Spurs CMs opening passing lanes for vertical passes to CF and No.10/ACM who are in-between the midfield
line and defensive line.
Nkunku (No10/ACM) takes up a position in the half space of the pitch and in the middle of a defensive box (Space in-
between Spurs LB, LM, CB, CM). Receiving in this position allows qualitative superiority as the dangerous, and pacey
Nkunku can run at the back line with options to slip in the CF or create a numerical advantage 2v1 WB/ACM against the
LB.

Andrew Stokes
Another example below shows how positional play of Leipzig’s DCM and the movement of Werner (ACM) create problems
for Spurs.
In this situation, similar to the above, on the switch Werner takes up a position as a false full back to cause Spurs LM to be
in a pressing position which creates enough space for Nkunku to arrive in the half space. This also creates a numerical
Superiority 3v2 (WB, Werner & Nkunku) in a triangle/Rotation to move a rigid low block that helps create a 2v1 vs. Spurs
LB when the play advances with WB high off shoulder of LB. This also shows the tactical flexibility of RB Leipzig changing
positions to allow this positional play to be effective.

Andrew Stokes
Problem- Spurs attempt to stop this was to allow RB Leipzig’s outside CBs to step on and show them wide with the CFs
playing closer, stopping them playing through them centrally. Triggers now was for one CF engaging but in a positon to
pick up DCM and the other CF in a position to cut passes off centrally and passes into the MCB.

Solution – Create a wide diamond and numerical advantage on the switch

“In this positional play”, the top of the diamond is the CF (Pins the LCB & LB keeping the space between the lines) who
again looks to be in the box with the outside diamonds being the wing back (touchline) and DCM (off shoulder of CM) and
the (RCB) bottom of the diamond. Spurs ask Winks (CM) to screen CF while Deli Ali screens Leipzig’s DCM creating a 5v4
overload defensively.
The positioning of Nkunku is also important in the 2nd box as he occupies 2 more players and narrows Spurs defensive
block allowing Leipzig to set up a numerical advantage and move importantly width on the other side.

Andrew Stokes
Below shows the positional play created on the opposite side when the RCB plays a pass into MCB to switch play to LCB
with importance on ball speed. The LWB takes up a position inside to lock the Spurs RB allowing Timo Werner to receive
wide in an advanced position.

Andrew Stokes
Rotation and getting players in qualitative superiority is a big factor to their play. Here is another example below that
shows this. Yet again they create a wide diamond but with the emphasis on breaking the final defensive line with Werner
(Key player). In this situation, on the switch Werner takes up the outside diamond role with the LWB advancing forward to
occupy the top of the diamond.

Andrew Stokes
Angelino (LWB) makes a forward run to drag Winks (CM) towards Spurs backline then checks towards Werner once
Werner receives the pass off LCB. This creates a numerical 2v1, but if you zoom out slightly it is actually 3v2 to Spurs,
timing and distance is everything here, Angelino has actually drawn 2 defenders with his supporting run.
This creates a bounce pass opportunity with Angelino being left footed allows him to play a pass 1st time into space
created by Angelino that key man Werner exploits.

Andrew Stokes
Problem - Spurs solution to stopping this was to stay in a 442 but when the diamond was being created getting the Full
back to go tight with top of the diamond of RB Leipzig and making it a 4v4 as seen below.

Solution - Switch play over, creating double width with Wing Back & ACM With having Ethan Ampadu playing as a MCB
who can also operate as a CM, Ampadu has the passing range to receive off the outside CB and hit a long diagonal pass to
ACM who would be positioned on touchline high with the wing back high supporting to create double width (See example
below).

Andrew Stokes
With the positional play set up on the opposite side (Overload to isolate) it was allowing RB Leipzig to have some success
with the double width and linking play with the CF (Schick) who’s hold up play and intelligence to link play was effective.
This set up corresponded with RB Leipzig taking the lead through patient build up on opposite side then Angelino (LWB)
receiving the ball on switch in an advanced area with Timo Werner creating the double width (Numerical advantage) and
(CF) Schick in a position to receive.

Andrew Stokes
Timo Werner made a great out to in run to receive off Schick and drive into a central area, this up, back and through
sequence allows Werner tp playi a clever ball into the path of Laimer making a forward run and being brought down by
Ben Davies (LB) for a penalty to RB Leipzig which was scored by Timo Werner.

Andrew Stokes
Another solution to Spurs locking on tight to RB Leipzig’s wide diamond was to trust the individuals receiving skills to
receive and break out of the diamond driving forward creating a numerical superiority on the Spurs back line. This was RB
Leipzig at they’re very best in positional but devastating fast attacking play.

Andrew Stokes
Spurs pressed high with creating a 4v4 against RB Leipzig’s wide diamond and (LB) Ben Davies tight to Nkunku at the top of
the diamond as the ball from RCB was played to his feet. This triggered RB Leipzig’s (CM) Lamer to make an in to out run
beyond Nkunku dragging Winks (CM) with him allowing Nkunku to receive on the outside of his foot driving infield into
space.

Andrew Stokes
In this situation the width is provided by the LWB (Angelino) positional superiority with the CF, ACM, RWB and ball carrier
(Nkunku) Attracting players by “driving and committing” which “moves defenders” in turn creates space behind the line of
pressure creates the 5v4 towards Spurs goal in which should have been scored to put the glossing on a brilliant attacking
play.

Andrew Stokes
Some of the key themes in RB Leipzig’s Positional play was the ever evolving tactical trends in allowing numerical
advantage in build up and exploiting space beyond pressing lines.
Creating false full back positions helped CBs to play vertical passes between lines to ACM, in half spaces whereas creating
the wide diamond exploited space between and create numerical superiority on switch including creating double width
against Full back in advanced areas with the purpose always generating space for its best players to exploit and allows the
team to advance together towards goal creating more opportunities to get numbers in the box. Yet again, the game
showed the excellent work of Julian Nagelsmann’s tactical influence on this RB Leipzig team against a renowned strategic,
pragmatic tactician in Jose Mourinho.

Andrew Stokes