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Fri 16 Oct

Writer

Tom Whitfield

Senior Feature Writer

Long-form interviews and the stories behind the results.

Stories by Tom Whitfield

Illustration for the Tactics article “RB Salzburg v AC Milan: the Red Bull press against Italian structure”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

RB Salzburg v AC Milan: the Red Bull press against Italian structure

RB Salzburg against AC Milan sets the Red Bull school of high pressing and fast vertical…

Illustration for the Tactics article “How did Fabian Hurzeler rise from Germany's fifth tier to Brighton?”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

How did Fabian Hurzeler rise from Germany's fifth tier to Brighton?

Fabian Hurzeler got to the top quickly through a German coaching system that trains…

Illustration for the Tactics article “What NEC and Levski Sofia ask of each other in the Europa League”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

What NEC and Levski Sofia ask of each other in the Europa League

NEC and Levski Sofia meet in the Europa League. Without results or team news, the useful…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Read a goalkeeper's pass count as a guide to build-up structure”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Read a goalkeeper's pass count as a guide to build-up structure

When a goalkeeper completes more passes in a half than the central midfielders, the…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Offside timing and the penalty-box striker: the Haaland case”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Offside timing and the penalty-box striker: the Haaland case

ESPN reports that much of Erling Haaland's scoring rests on a skill that gets little…

Illustration for the Tactics article “The tactical questions behind a Villarreal and Napoli meeting”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

The tactical questions behind a Villarreal and Napoli meeting

A Champions League meeting between Villarreal and Napoli tests how each side builds play…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Slovan Bratislava v Stuttgart: what tactical problem does each pose?”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Slovan Bratislava v Stuttgart: what tactical problem does each pose?

When Slovan Bratislava meet VfB Stuttgart, a Slovak champion used to dominating at home…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Analyse the tactical contest between Real Betis and FC Porto”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Analyse the tactical contest between Real Betis and FC Porto

Search activity on Google in Portugal ties this fixture to Isco and Real Betis Balompié.…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Hansi Flick's high defensive line and counter-pressing system”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Hansi Flick's high defensive line and counter-pressing system

Hansi Flick's teams defend by stepping up, not dropping back. A very high back line, a…

Illustration for the Tactics article “How does a Champions League matchday shape the way teams play?”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

How does a Champions League matchday shape the way teams play?

A Champions League night is not a stand-alone game. The league format, goal difference,…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Analyse how a Norwegian side escapes Bayern Munich's counter-press”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Analyse how a Norwegian side escapes Bayern Munich's counter-press

A meeting between Viking FK and Bayern Munich is a test of contrasts: a Norwegian side…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Inter and Club Brugge: format, styles and the Champions League table”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Inter and Club Brugge: format, styles and the Champions League table

Inter against Club Brugge is a Champions League fixture between a Serie A club built on…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Blessin's first task at Gladbach: structure before a derby rebuild”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Blessin's first task at Gladbach: structure before a derby rebuild

Alexander Blessin takes over a Gladbach side that has started badly and is short of fit…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Rennes against Auxerre shows how the Ligue 1 table is built”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Rennes against Auxerre shows how the Ligue 1 table is built

Rennes against Auxerre gets attention because of the Ligue 1 table. Its real interest is…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Watch Virgil van Dijk's Role When Liverpool Meet Manchester City”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Watch Virgil van Dijk's Role When Liverpool Meet Manchester City

To read this fixture, watch Liverpool's back line rather than the ball. Look at where…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Goalkeepers joining late set pieces in the Canadian Premier League”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Goalkeepers joining late set pieces in the Canadian Premier League

When a team is chasing a goal in stoppage time, its goalkeeper may go forward for a set…

Illustration for the Tactics article “What does a Spalletti Juventus side ask of Cagliari tactically?”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

What does a Spalletti Juventus side ask of Cagliari tactically?

Cagliari against Juventus puts a coach known for positional possession and aggressive…

Illustration for the Tactics article “What tactical problem do Atalanta and Venezia set each other?”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

What tactical problem do Atalanta and Venezia set each other?

Atalanta and Venezia are trending together in Italy. Without line-ups or results, the…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Read Lazio v Monza as a tactical problem, step by step”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Read Lazio v Monza as a tactical problem, step by step

To analyse Lazio against Monza properly, set the scoreline aside and study the…

Illustration for the Tactics article “Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest: the fixture and the league table”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest: the fixture and the league table

Crystal Palace against Nottingham Forest is a Premier League match between a south…

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All ›

16 Oct, 18:00 Heerenveen v Excelsior Eredivisie
16 Oct, 18:30 Frankfurt v 1. FC Köln Bundesliga
16 Oct, 18:45 Frosinone v Sassuolo Serie A
16 Oct, 18:45 Le Mans v Toulouse Ligue 1
16 Oct, 19:00 Burnley v Wolverhampton Championship

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