The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast Champions League notebook
13 snips
Nov 6, 2025 
Mark Carey, a tactics writer at The Athletic, Liam Tharme, a football analyst, and Michael Cox, an experienced tactics journalist, dissect the latest drama in the Champions League. They explore Liverpool's tactical reset against Real Madrid, discuss whether their new compactness can withstand Man City's attacks, and analyze Bayern's aggressive press that led to victory over PSG. The trio also examines Barcelona's defensive woes and celebrates surprising performances from teams like Newcastle and Galatasaray in this thrilling European landscape.
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Early Heavyweight Overload
- The new Champions League format creates too many high-profile fixtures early, diluting drama and narrative build-up.
- Broad parity across fixtures makes it harder to gauge which matches truly matter in the league phase.
Midfield Familiarity Restores Balance
- Arne Slott's preferred midfield three restored Liverpool's compactness and out-of-possession control against Real Madrid.
- That midfield balance catalysed a purposeful high press and made central access difficult for Madrid.
Choose High Or Low Defending
- Avoid a mid-block; either press very high or sit very low to deny runs in behind, says Arne Slott's instruction after Liverpool-Real.
- Prioritise preventing space behind the defence rather than an in-between defensive shape.