yesterday 09:04
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Slovan caught Olympiakos by surprise. In the suburbs of Athens, he was better than the home team and was very close to a well-deserved victory. In the end, he did not achieve it, but he still has a real chance to advance to the play-offs for the group stage of the European League.
Of course, restraint is in order. He won a similar opportunity once in this year’s edition of the European Cup. Even better, because Budapest won 2:1 in the Champions League qualifiers at Ferencváros. A draw at home was enough for him. However, he lost 1:4 in the unsuccessful rematch.
Paradoxically, he moved down one competition, but the draw determined him an even stronger opponent on paper than Budapest’s FTC. In addition, the club from Piraeus kicked him out of the European League a year ago. At that time, he won 3:0 in his own stadium, and he made the decisive decision in the first match.
Now everything was different. Whites gave a comprehensive performance. Much more complex than last year, they even surpassed their performance in the Groupama arena two weeks ago. Although they defended excellently against Fradi, they allowed themselves to be pushed too deep into their penalty area for too long. In addition, their offensive bursts were less frequent and less impactful.
However, the Bratislava team is getting more and more settled. Despite the fact that he currently has to do without his best player Weiss Jr. In addition to this substitute, it was also necessary to solve the absence of a full-fledged striker. Šaponjič could not play for the Cards, and Ramirez was limited by several factors when he was placed in the starting eleven. In the summer, he came to Tehelné pole without match practice, and moreover, he was constantly limited by injuries since his arrival.
Trainer Vladimír Weiss senior. this time he removed any defects as a precaution. After the rematch with Ferencváros, where he made mistakes, he was more prudent against the Greek champions. He once again instructed his wards to use a 3-4-3 formation, but now he strictly stuck to it the whole time.
The individual parts of the puzzle fit together better. He elastically reinforced the five-member axis in the center with three stoppers and the vanguard of Kucka – Kankava. On the left, the mobile Zmrhal got priority, and on the right Pauschek, who replaced Medvedev. He suffered a concussion last Wednesday, so the Slovan protege represented a more rational solution. After all, it turned out to be one of the key ones. The 3-4-3 system is typologically tailored to Pauschek. Thanks to the triple security in defense and a solid center, it can more freely support the attack. It naturally holds a higher position.
The whole team played higher, therefore it was more compact. Players closer to each other could help each other more in defending, but at the same time combine more effectively. Barsejgan benefited from Pauschek’s activity. He could afford to be essentially a free offensive player. He did a great job of finding and finding space between the opponent’s lines, keeping him in check.
In the opposite guard, Zmrhal oscillated along the line. Chakvetadze was absolutely different. The Georgian virtuoso bypassed opponents when he wanted and how he wanted. Not without a purpose, but with a clear plan. Disrupt the enemy’s defenses, bring chaos and sow panic into them. It worked.
The well-organized Slav held at the back and threatened at the front. Green as a modern “nine” has finally found a suitable application on the international field as well. Once in the intermediate spaces, then again in the attack behind the defensive line. He passed to Barseghjanu in a great chance, scored a goal and still managed to be in other dangerous actions.
The Slovak champion played it brilliantly. He was winning the battle for the midfield and thus overall. In the end, he could not resist the emotional pressure of the home team. He did not guard one cross from the corner, more precisely the joker El Arabi in the air. It happened, it won’t stay. A 1:0 victory would be nicer and more promising. Even a draw is fine.
It is essential to realize that a rich and favored opponent is both vulnerable and defeatable. It is enough to play the same way as on his ground, only more efficiently in the end and even more concentrated in front of his own goal. Slovan had more and cleaner chances in Piraeus, was more dangerous and better organized. He threatened from counterattacks, but also from a gradual attack. He defended higher and more compactly. He has perfected the 3-4-3 system and is aware of the high price of wisdom he had to pay with Ferencváros Budapest.
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