Beesotted contributor Jacob ‘The Gowler’ Gowler (@BeesBreakdown) gives us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s loss against Manchester City.
Keith Andrews switched to a back 5 to face Manchester City. Brentford’s back 5 consisted of Hickey, Collins van den Berg, Ajer, and Kayode. Damsgaard, Yarmoliuk, and Henderson made up the midfield trio. Schade and Thiago led the line up top, with Outtara sent back to the bench.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side came out in a 4-1-4-1. O’Reilly, Gvardiol, Dias, and Nunes formed the back 4 with Rodri the single defensive midfielder. Foden and Reijnders looked to get forward and into the half-spaces. Savinho and Bobb the wingers supporting Haalaand.
Brentford created 0.70 xG to Manchester City’s 0.85, with most of Brentford’s xG coming from Thiago’s big chance. Manchester City dominated possession while Brentford’s patient press waited for mistakes that never came.
Brentford tried to build out of the back, although the Bees rarely found success doing so. Manchester City’s press forced the ball into wide areas while still keeping a numerical advantage in the middle of the pitch.
City’s press forced Brentford wide and usually left Hickey no other option but to try to dribble out of danger. The few times he found Damsgaard could’ve led to City recovering possession in Brentford’s own third, but Damsgaard did well to keep possession in these instances.
Manchester City put on a clinic in possession even against Brentford’s midblock. Their clever movement found ways to drag Brentford out of position and create space in-behind.
Brentford didn’t resort to strictly launching it long, even ending with the fewest long pass attempt of the season, but City controlled the match throughout the first half.
After failing to win back the ball and failing to keep the ball, Brentford eventually shifted into a back 4 in possession with Kayode pushed forward on the right wing. This alleviated some of the issues in buildup and provided another outlet up top.
This adjustment, and game state, led to Brentford holding more possession in the second half and finally creating a few chances. After allowing City 9 shots in the first half, Brentford held them to only 1 low xG chance in the second half.
Brentford created the big chance to equalize but couldn’t find the back of the net. The patient press resigned possession to Manchester City and City stymied most of Brentford’s attempts to build out of the back.
