Benfica 0-1 Chelsea tactical breakdown
 Benfica and Chelsea met yesterday at the Luz to see which team would go through to the next stage of this season’s Champions League. What we saw was a typical display of this competition, with the underdogs playing better football and the powerhouse withstanding one attack after another (and almost conceding a goal), only to score in the last minutes of the match in a quick breakaway.
Benfica manager Jorge Jesus chose his expected eleven, with Gaitan and Bruno Cesar on the wings, and Aimar behind Cardozo. On the contrary, Chelsea interim coach Roberto Di Matteo changed half his team and left Bosingwa, Cahill, Essien, Lampard, Sturridge and Drogba on the bench (with even Paulo Ferreira getting a highly unlikely nod), clearly stating his mission for this leg - and showing that every player in the Chelsea roster will have his moment.
Chelsea’s game plan was clear: sit back, soak up pressure, lots of time on the ball (even if it didn’t necessarily mean progressing up the field with it) and a breakaway, when possible. With Benfica wary of exerting their usual full-on pressure on the opponent’s defensive line, Chelsea defenders and midfielders had numerous moments where they could slow the tempo of the game, annoying the Eagles’ fans. Di Matteo had clearly done his homework and played the more industrious and defensively aware Kalou on the left wing, in order to try to check Benfica’s preferential attacking route - the right wing. Additionally, Torres was told to drift toward that space in order to take advantage of Maxi Pereira’s bold positioning - and dragging his direct marker with him.
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Torres connects to the long ball behind Maxi Pereira, dragging Luisao with him. Kalou runs into the space his team-mate opened up.
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Here, Luisao tries to get back to his position and Javi Garcia compensates his team-mate.
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This simples movement gives Meireles space to shoot (because he is already late, Maxi tries to take Javi Garcia’s place)
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As usual, Benfica attacked down the right, with Gaitan, Witsel and Aimar all taking turns to push up, trying to drag both Meireles and Mikel out of position - which they did at times, even though not as frequently as expected. The problem was the infamous weakest link: the left wing. Even though Emerson has taken a lot of flack throughout the season, it hasn’t always been his fault, and last night was just another example. Ramires, playing to the right, but narrower than Kalou, helped create numerical superiority in midfield and often tried to take on Emerson, since Bruno Cesar (and then Gaitan, after his permanent move to the left) rarely tracked back, leaving acres of space for the Blues midfielder, nicknamed “the Kenyan” at Benfica, to exploit (see the yellow area in the top diagram). As it turned out, that would be Benfica’s fatal mistake.
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Ramires (no. 7), a nominal right-winger, played narrow
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Even though this seems a counter-attack, it is just normal play - and already Ramires has lots of space to run into
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With both teams in similar formations, it would all come down to speed and creativity. Chelesa, as stated elsewhere, are much more calm and collected, and better organised, which meant they would be less vulnerable to breaking runs and counter-attacks. Paulo Ferreira was essential for the Londoners’ newfound stability on the right, since he is much more reliable defensively and has a deeper understanding of a fullback’s duties. The Eagles would have to step up for the second half.
And that’s exactly what they did. As so often happens in the latter stages of this competition, the favourites were constantly subject to attacks during the second half’s first 15 minutes, a period in which Benfica could (and should) have scored. Cech made a great save, Luiz bravely saved Cardozo’s effort off the line and it seemed Chelsea’s fortress was about to collapse. It was plain to see that the increase in speed from Witsel (showing that he is just the man Benfica needed for this sort of match), Aimar and Gaitan (much better on the left) was making Meireles and - particularly - Mikel uncomfortable, especially because Torres was back to his old self, unable to hold on to a single ball. With Mata off his game (it’s clear that he shouldn’t start his moves from the middle), Ramires was the only out-ball the Blues had.
Jesus was desperate to win the match and replaced Aimar and Bruno Cesar with Rodrigo and Matic, meaning that Witsel would go right, Matic would take his place beside Javi Garcia and Rodrigo would play just off Cardozo - and that’s when it all started to crumble. As has often been the case, Benfica’s attempt to win the match unbalanced the whole team. Witsel’s influence on the right was diminished and the Portuguese team started losing control. While Chelsea’s goal was a confirmation of their strengths (experience, resilience, a more compact midfield and breakaways), it was also something that we have seen all too often with Benfica: their will to win at any cost often means that the team lose their balance.
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This would lead to Chelsea’s goal. Notice how high up Emerson is, with no offensive coverage.
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After Ramires’ impressive run, it’s up to Torres to proceed. Matic shows once again he still has a lot to learn. The green arrow indicates where he should be providing coverage.
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There is one last issue being mentioned. Managers keep telling us that there is always some strategy behind their decisions, but it’s sometimes hard to understand what it is. What’s the logic in shuffling Witsel to the right, only to bring him back to the middle ten minutes later? Mind you, Jesus is far from being the only manager to do that, and we can only hope that some day we will get a straight answer to this question from a manager.
by Vasco Mota Pereira
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In that I agree with you, Orlando. Manager can't let them come out as flat as they did.
I will say the way Chelsea approached Benfica tactically was correct, but DiMateo is no great shakes as a manager. If anything he's been shouted down by Terry and the vets.
You stated that: "Chelesa, as stated elsewhere, are much more calm and collected, and better organised, which meant they would be less vulnerable to breaking runs and counter-attacks."
i think what you meant is that they have a better manager..
1) I definitely agree with Nathan. Even though they have underachieved here and there, let's not forget that Chelsea are more than used to this stage of the competition. When they met FC Porto, it was the exact same thing: the Portuguese team seemed to be steamrolling, only to see Shevchenko score from an isolated play. Therefore, experience matters a great deal, in the Champions League.
2) Ideas for the second leg? To be honest, I don't think the secret lies in the line-up, rather in a quicker, more intense style of play. Chelsea will keep doing what they did at the Luz (and even more so) - Terry and Luiz will pass the ball back and forth until an opponent gets there - and they will try to slow the tempo as much as possible. Benfica need to score twice to go through (it doesn't matter whether Chelsea score themselves or not). Therefore, I still believe that it would be in Benfica's best interest to be more aggressive and quicker in their combination plays. Mikel, Essien and Lampard are all much slower than Witsel, Aimar, Gaitán or Rodrigo.
I been saying it all season, aside from Emerson, it's not our defence as such that is bad...Garay has been great, Luisao his consistent self, and Artur at times magnificent and really gaining us points in the Liga with his saves. What does this tell us? That the defence is having to work harder than it should have to, and that it is our defensive midfield which continuously lets us down. There is way too often too much space between the midfield and the centre-backs and teams exploit this space with dangerous counters.
The point made in the article regarding the Chelsea goal is spot on! While Emerson can be blamed for being out of position and Jardel for not fouling Torres to break down the attack...more important is the amount of room Ramires had to operate and start the attack, and Matic making the wrong decision and not covering Jardel on Torres's run. Another goal we suffered recently which highlights my point is the James Rodriguez goal for Porto, when he was allowed to run 40 yards from the halfway line towards our goal. That wasn't the fault of our central defence, it was clearly the defensive midfield which allowed him through way too easily. This problem for us has to be resolved real soon.
As for the questions on the best line-up to employ for the second leg, in my opinion we have to change it. I have been critical of 4-4-2 on many occasions this season, and have only thought it should be used when we have to chase a situation of being behind in a match/tie, and this is the time to play it. We need to score 2 goals at least, so let's make sure Cardozo isn't isolated again, and play Rodrigo alongside him. I personally wouldn't start Aimar, he is too easily bullied out of a game these days, and i expect the same would happen at Stamford Bridge. Garcia and Axel in the middle (and playing DEEP to protect the defence), Cesar and Gaitan/Nolito on the flanks, with 2 up front, is what I'd go with. I'd also love to see Capdevila at left back, but it's unlikely to happen is it? We have to pray Emerson plays the game of his life next week lol!! We can do it and qualify if we get back to playing our normal attacking game...
Any ideas about how Benfica should line up in the second leg?
They will definitely have to play like the Benfica of old. While I prefer the 4-2-3-1 in big games, Benfica seemed way too cautious yesterday. The most offensive variation of this formation would have Nolito, Aimar, and Gaitan play in the "3", but all 3 players (especially Nolito and Gaitan) haven't been playing very well recently.
JJ may partner Rodrigo with Cardozo, but I think that Oliveira is a better partner to Cardozo than Rodrigo. However, while Oliveira has loads of potential, I don't know if I'd start him due to his lack of maturity and poor decision making.
Anyways, I think that Benfica should start the match with a
4-2-3-1, but I would start Nolito instead of Cesar. Bruno Cesar is a good player, but Nolito is more direct, and when he's playing well, he can be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
I would also like to see Capdevila get the start over Emerson. Neither of them are blessed with much speed, but Capdevila has tons of experience. Emerson is clearly our weakest link.,
I doubt that JJ will do this, but I would start Miguel Vitor over Jardel if Garay still isn't fit. Jardel is stronger physically but Vitor is a quicker, more talented, and a more intelligent defender.
-------------------------------Cardozo---------------------------------------
Nolito--------------------Aimar---------------------------Gaitan
--------------------------------------Witsel-------------------------------
-----------------------Garcia---------------------------------Maxi
Capdevila------Garay/Vitor---------Luisao------------------
---------------------------------Artur---------------------------------
This breakdown was excellent. Really disappointing to see us lose the match in the fashion that we did. Especially since i don't think Chelsea deserved the win either.
But what this brings to light is our short comings and what Rui Costa and co need to focus on upgrading after the season is done.