Paris Saint-Germain’s defensive tactics against Barcelona failed but Atletico Madrid proved they can work
The Analyst Danny Higginbotham explains the French visitors left too many gaps to survive sitting so deep at the Camp Nou
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN'S tactic of sitting deep against Barcelona and hoping to keep them at bay ultimately failed in the thriller at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night.
But it is a tactic that has foiled Barca before.
The team who have done it with success is Atletico Madrid.
Keep up to date with ALL the Champions League
They beat Barca last season in the Champions League quarter-finals and were happy to sit deep and give up possession.
Maybe not as much possession as Unai Emery’s team gave up – they only completed four passes in the last 10 minutes and three of them were from kick-offs – but the philosophy was the same.
For that reason I can see why Emery gave it a go against Luis Enrique’s team. Especially as they were 4-0 up!
RELATED STORIES
However, Diego Simeone has his Atletico team so well drilled defensively that he could get away with it. There are no gaps.
They also broke with speed on Barca and that caused them real problems in that area.
Of course, it could have been different if PSG had taken either of their one-on-ones but they were rare chances on a remarkable night.