Chelsea 3-1 Manchester City

xG: 2.99-1.44
Possession avg. time (sec): 13-16
Entrances in final third: 44-35
Entrances in oppositions' box: 18-14

Graphic: Shots

So, the first thing I notice while (re) watching this game is Chelsea's plan to avoid Bronze and Stokes to be involved in the build up. If the CBs have the ball, Chelsea waits. If the ball goes wide, it's engage time.

They *really* went on hard on Bronze.

If we check the ground challenges / tackles for Chelsea, there's a huge concentration on where Man City's RB or LB would have the ball

This is a great example of selective pressing by Chelsea and defensive positioning on oponent's build-up.
- Ji patrols Walsh, the first pass on the MF.
- Kerr doesn't press to win the ball, but to cut the easy pass to Bronze
- Keeper forced to go long, possession lost

Another example. Cuthbert waits a bit to create a false sense of security on the pass to Bronze, but engages quickly and wins the ball. This is a absolutely brilliant by Chelsea.

But Chelsea won the game scoring, so, what was the plan?

Leupolz was playing as a 6, Ji had more liberty to float around, Harder dropped to occupy spaces and fight the ball, Cuthbert tucked so Andersson made a 3-1-5-1 at times

Man City also wanted to cut the circuits of Chelsea from the back but Chelsea wasn't afraid to go long. Between Harder and Kerr there's enough to win aerial duels, then Ji and Cuthbert won the second ball quickly to seize spaces.

Again, Chelsea not afraid of go long (this is literally a long pass and not a ball pumped forward just because), Ji floats around near the aerial duel to get the ball and drive forward

Ji moved around the midfield with a duel role: Fight and patrol Walsh when in defense, so she cannot operate. And then, look for the opportunity to move the ball forward, specially after a duel.

How to summarise Chelsea against City? The second goal. Keeper going long, precisely, Ji moving the ball forward, Fran Kirby exploiting spaces, low cross, goal. Perfect move, only took 3 passes.

Third goal wasn't really different. Lavelle press *WAY* too high, as if she was the main striker, creating massive holes in midfield since the rest had to push a bit forward. Cuthbert is absolutely alone and just had to see the run for the third. But look who's Ji pointing out

This is it for now for this game, probably in a bit I'll do something similar with Goteborg - Uppsala. Hope you enjoyed it with a monday without much WoSo