Technical

report
2018/19
CONTENTS
OVERVIEW

4 6 16
Introduction Road The final
to Baku

22 24
The winning Results
coach

ANALYSIS

28 32 34
Talking Goals of Squad of
points the season the season

STATISTICS

36
Number
40
Team
56
Roll of
crunching profiles honour
INTRODUCTION

Group A Group B

Bayer 04 FC Zürich AEK PFC Ludogorets FC Salzburg Celtic FC RB Leipzig Rosenborg BK

Leverkusen (FCZ) Larnaca FC 1945 (SBG) (CEL) (LEI) (RBK)
(BL) (LAR) (LUD)

Group C Group D

FC Zenit SK Slavia Praha FC Girondins FC København GNK Dinamo Fenerbahçe SK FC Spartak RSC Anderlecht
(ZEN) (SLP) de Bordeaux (FCK) Zagreb (FEN) Trnava (AND)
(BOR) (DZ) (TRN)

Group E Group F

(From left): Savvas Constantinou, Ghenadie Scurtul, Jarmo

Matikainen, Stefan Majewski, Thomas Schaaf and Milenko
Ačimovič from the UEFA Technical Observers Group, and Frank
Ludolph, UEFA’s head of football education services, at the final Arsenal FC Sporting FC Vorskla Qarabağ FK Real Betis Olympiacos FC AC Milan F91 Dudelange
(ARS) Clube de Portugal Poltava (QAR) Balompié (OLY) (ACM) (DUD)
(SCP) (VOR) (BTS)

OBSERVING
Association (CFA) and a member of the Jira Group G Group H
Panel, provided detailed insight into how
Chelsea and Arsenal had made it an all-
English final, and Stefan Majewski, a former

THE TACTICAL
THE TACTICAL
Poland international and current sport
director of the Polish Football Association
(PZPN), provided some equally illuminating Villarreal CF SK Rapid Wien Rangers FC FC Spartak Eintracht SS Lazio Apollon Olympique
analysis of Slavia Praha’s captivating (VLR) (RPD) (RAN) Moskva Frankfurt (LAZ) Limassol FC de Marseille

TRENDS
TRENDS
(SPM) (EIN) (APO) (OM)
charge to the quarter-finals.
Ghenadie Scurtul, technical consultant Group I Group J
to the Kazakhstan Football Federation
(KFF), highlighted key tactical influences
in Chelsea’s final victory, while Jarmo
UEFA’s Technical Observers Group met after Matikainen, head coach of the Estonia

the final in Baku to analyse the season’s talking women’s national team and head of
women’s football development in Estonia,
points and key trends, with the aim of offering supplied detailed analysis of how the KRC Genk
(GNK)
Malmö FF
(MAL)
Beşiktaş JK
(BJK)
Sarpsborg 08 FF
(SAR)
Sevilla FC
(SEV)
FC Krasnodar
(KRA)
R. Standard de Liège
(STD)
Akhisarspor
Belediyespor
insight to coaches across the continent final was won, in addition to fascinating
observations regarding the tournament as
(AKH)

a whole. The former Slovenia and Crvena Group K Group L

This review of the 2018/19 UEFA Europa and their reports and reflections provided zvezda midfielder Milenko Ačimovič also
League season serves as a record of a the substance for the discussion that took contributed intriguing perspectives on
campaign that spanned 205 matches, place when they met together in Baku on another of the tournament revelations,
involving 56 clubs from 27 nations, from the morning after the final between Chelsea Eintracht Frankfurt.
the opening of the group stage in and Arsenal. Cristian Chivu, Jerzy Engel, Hans Leitert,
September 2018 and concluding with Thomas Schaaf, who guided Werder Ginés Meléndez, Mixu Paatelainen and FC Dynamo Kyiv Stade FC Astana FK Jablonec Chelsea FC FC BATE Borisov Vidi FC PAOK FC
(DK) Rennais FC (AST) (JAB) (CHE) (BTE) (VID) (PAO)
the final at the Olympic Stadium in Baku Bremen to the final of the UEFA Cup in 2009, Willibald Ruttensteiner also observed
(REN)
on 29 May 2019. It is a report offering chaired the review panel and led productive individual matches and, while not present
factual and statistical information about discussions with a group of experienced in Baku, their thoughts contributed to this Clubs joined from the UEFA Champions League
the tenth edition of the UEFA Europa coaches on the trends observed over the report, which is intended to provide coaches
League, with the aim of providing a deeper course of the tournament, analysing the across the continent with useful material
analysis of the action on the field of play tactical approaches of the coaches and for their own development. It will be made
through the interpretations of UEFA’s discussing the key moments on the road to available to members of the coaching family
Technical Observers Group. Baku, and in the final. throughout Europe and, hopefully, will help
This small group of coaches delivered Savvas Constantinou, the former Cyprus development coaches keep up to date with Club Brugge KV FC Internazionale SSC Napoli Galatasaray AŞ SL Benfica FC Shakhtar FC Viktoria Plzeň Valencia CF
their observations and analysis on every international goalkeeper and current the prevailing styles and strategies at the (BRU) Milano (NAP) (GAL) (SLB) Donetsk (PLZ) (VAL)

match from the round of 16 onwards technical director of the Cyprus Football top level of the club game. (INT) (SHK)

4 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 5

XX
S EA
XXSX
OXNX O
X V E RV I E W

THE ROAD TO
Teams from 27 nations
took part from the
GROUP STAGE
group stage onwards,

BAKU 9
but only one was Eintracht Frankfurt were back in the UEFA
Europa League for the first time since
to make it through, but an 81st-minute
penalty from Olympiacos captain Kostas
represented in the final reaching the last 32 in 2013/14, but the Fortounis proved decisive as Milan dropped

as two London rivals draw did not appear favourable to their

new coach Adi Hütter, who had arrived after
to third, ahead of the first Luxembourgish
club in the group stage, F91 Dudelange.
Nine clubs made
their group stage
advanced to the shores leading Young Boys to their first Swiss title Arsenal made it through Group E debut, with F91
of the Caspian Sea in 32 years. A trip to the Stade Vélodrome,
the home of 2018 runners-up Marseille, was
unbeaten, winning five and drawing
only once, 0-0 at home to Sporting CP,
Dudelange the first
from Luxembourg
a tricky first test for the Bundesliga side, but who joined them in the knockout stages.
one that they passed with flying colours, Together with Betis, the Gunners conceded

5
a late 2-1 win with only ten men setting a fewer than any other side in the group
positive tone for their campaign. Five more stage, their respective goals breached only
victories followed – including home and away twice. London neighbours Chelsea shipped
wins against Lazio – as the German side flew only one more, their record of five wins and
into the last 32. Joining them with a 100% a draw securing first place in Group L ahead Salzburg won their
record were Salzburg, who topped Group of BATE Borisov, ensuring both English group for a fifth
B ahead of Celtic, Leipzig and Rosenborg, clubs successfully cleared the first hurdle of time, on their
eighth appearance
scoring the same number of goals as what would prove to be five as they would
– both records
Frankfurt – 17 – and conceding only six. ultimately progress together to Baku.
It was also a successful group stage Elsewhere, Dynamo Kyiv edged out
for the Spanish contingent, with all three Rennes in Group K and Dinamo Zagreb
finishing first in their sections. Sevilla dropped just four points, finishing ahead
turned on the style in their 6-0 competition of Fenerbahçe in Group D in spite of a
record-equalling win over Akhisar, Roque 1-0 defeat to Slovakian side Spartak
Mesa’s opening goal the perfect conclusion Trnava on the final day that condemned
to a slick exchange of passes. Though winless Anderlecht to bottom spot.
they were beaten by Standard Liège and Genk kept the flag flying for Belgian
Krasnodar, they topped their group on goal football by topping Group I ahead of
difference ahead of the Russian club and Malmö, while Zenit emerged triumphant
scored more goals than any other side in Group C, Slavia Praha’s closing win
with 18. Both Villarreal and Real Betis came over the already-qualified Russian side
through tough sections without losing, ensuring they pipped Bordeaux to second.
with AC Milan the eminent victims in Betis’ Bayer Leverkusen flexed their muscles
group as Olympiacos snatched second to lead Zürich through from Group A.
place thanks to a dramatic 3-1 matchday
six win at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis.
The Rossoneri needed to avoid defeat in Rennes and Dynamo
Piraeus by more than a one-goal margin Kyiv took the top two
spots in Group K

Antonio Sanabria of Real Betis

(centre left) celebrates scoring
against Dudelange; Genk winger
Leandro Trossard on the ball
against Malmö (above)

6 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 7

SE ASO N OV E RV I E W

ROUND OF 32
Eight sides moved across from the UEFA
Champions League to join the 24 clubs
qualifying from the group stage in February’s
round of 32. Intriguing ties were provided
by the draw with Lazio facing Sevilla and
Frankfurt paired with Shakhtar Donetsk,
who had already beaten their Bundesliga
rivals Hoffenheim in the UEFA Champions
League group stage. A 2-2 draw in Ukraine
was the first time Frankfurt had failed to win
all season in the UEFA Europa League, but
with their unbeaten record still intact, their
attacking triumvirate of Sébastien Haller,
Luka Jović and Ante Rebić were all on target
in a convincing 4-1 second-leg success.
The participation of Frankfurt’s
Bundesliga fellows Bayer Leverkusen ended
with a 1-1 draw at home to Krasnodar, the
Russian side prevailing on away goals
thanks to a late free-kick from 19-year-old
Magomed Suleymanov. Internazionale
eased past Rapid Wien 5-0 on aggregate to
extend their unbeaten home record against
Austrian opponents to eight matches, and
they were joined in the last 16 by Napoli, who
completed a 5-1 aggregate win over Zürich
with goals from Simone Verdi and Adam
Ounas in Naples.
England’s two remaining sides both
progressed, although Arsenal had to
recover from a 1-0 defeat in the first leg
in Belarus to oust BATE Borisov back in
Krasnodar’s Viktor Claesson
London. Chelsea were also in the English and Leverkusen’s Mitchell
Weiser (above) jump for the
ball; Rapid Wien fans (right) put
on a show against Inter; Sevilla
players (above right) celebrate

1
knocking out Lazio

capital for their second leg, Olivier Giroud seven at home in UEFA club competition
scoring for a fifth straight UEFA Europa home matches in 2018/19 by beating Lazio
League fixture in a 3-0 defeat of Malmö that 2-0, completing a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Dinamo Zagreb became
completed a 5-1 aggregate win. Dinamo Valencia beat Celtic by the same scoreline
the first Croatian club
to play in the round of 32 Zagreb recovered from losing the first leg over two legs while Villarreal edged out
2-1 to beat Viktoria Plzeň 4-2, while there Sporting CP 2-1 on aggregate, benefiting
was also a comeback win for Salzburg who, from their 1-0 first-leg win in Lisbon.

5
having gone down 2-1 to Club Brugge in Elsewhere, Zenit recovered from a 1-0 loss
Belgium, struck four without reply in Austria. in Turkey to defeat Fenerbahçe 3-1 in Saint
One of Spain’s four remaining participants Petersburg, Benfica successfully defended
was eliminated in dramatic fashion, Betis their 2-1 win at Galatasaray with a goalless
Olivier Giroud’s second-leg unable to build on a 3-3 draw at Rennes draw in the return, Dynamo Kyiv edged out
goal against Malmö was the as they lost the Seville return leg 3-1. That Olympiacos 1-0 in Ukraine and 3-2 overall,
fifth straight match in which
result came 24 hours after the Spanish city and Slavia Praha saved their best for the
the Chelsea striker scored
had celebrated a now customary victory second leg, coming from a goal behind to
for Sevilla, who made it seven wins out of beat Genk 4-1 for the same aggregate victory.

8 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 9

SE ASO N OV E RV I E W

ROUND OF 16

3-0
Slavia’s reward was a last-16 meeting with Extra time was also needed to separate Valencia also made it through against
Sevilla and the Czech club, ranked 153rd Benfica and Dinamo Zagreb thanks to a Russian opponents, although they were
in UEFA’s club coefficients at the start of Jonas volley 19 minutes from time in the forced to work hard in both legs by
the season compared to the Spaniards’ second leg in Lisbon that levelled the tie Krasnodar, who were somewhat unfortunate
Chelsea and Napoli
lofty sixth place, managed to keep the tie at 1-1. The Portuguese side made seven to come away from Mestalla with a 2-1
both equalled
the biggest round alive after a frenetic first 90 minutes at the changes compared to their 1-0 defeat in the defeat. Their luck seemed to be turning
of 16 first-leg win Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. The efforts Croatian capital, but it was the impact of as they led the return leg 1-0 and were set
of goalkeeper Ondřej Kolář and his defence, their substitutes that made an even greater to progress on away goals until Gonçalo
who coped well with Sevilla’s high press, difference in the additional 30 minutes, Guedes broke their hearts in the third minute

10
ensured an upset was still on the cards Jonas setting up Alex Grimaldo for the third of stoppage time, rewarding the visitors for
when the teams travelled to Prague a week to finish off a Dinamo side reduced to ten a valiant response. Valencia may have left it
later level at 2-2. men shortly after Ferro had put the hosts in late, but their ability to keep their composure
Jindřích Trpišovský was bold in his team front on aggregate. and the gamble of pushing Mouctar
Spain and England selection for the second leg and it paid off Chelsea had a much easier passage Diakhaby up front late on paid dividends.
have had at least as his side took the lead at the Eden Arena. to the last eight, Olivier Giroud scoring a Napoli risked throwing away a 3-0 first-leg
one club in the last The teams then exchanged penalties before hat-trick in Kyiv to move on to nine goals for win over Salzburg in Austria, which had seen
16 in all ten seasons
Munir El Haddadi ensured the game went the season as Maurizio Sarri’s side cruised many a stirring performance in Salzburg’s
to extra time with a repeat of the first-leg to a 5-0 victory at Dynamo, completing an march to the 2017/18 semi-finals. This was
result. Franco Vázquez’s third away goal 8-0 aggregate win. Meanwhile, Villarreal no exception as, in scenes reminiscent of
for Sevilla meant Slavia had to score twice, made unexpectedly light work of Zenit, their remarkable comeback to beat Lazio in
and, in fairy-tale fashion, they levelled following up a 3-1 first-leg victory in the previous year’s quarter-finals, Salzburg
towards the end of the first half of extra Russia with an extension of their perfect responded to an Arkadiusz Milik opener
time through Mick van Buren and their record at home to Russian opponents that had opened up a 4-0 aggregate lead
dynamic, attacking play was rewarded as with a fifth win, former Chelsea defender to fall just one goal short of levelling the tie.
they scrambled a winner in the 119th minute Branislav Ivanović’s late goal only a There would be only one Serie A side in the
thanks to Simon Kjær’s own goal. consolation in a 2-1 defeat for Zenit. quarter-finals for the second year running,
however, as Napoli’s league rivals Inter felt
the full force of a Frankfurt side backed by
a substantial travelling support at San Siro,
losing 1-0 on the night and on aggregate
with Luka Jović’s sixth-minute strike making
the difference. The Nerazzurri perhaps
had one eye on the future, though, as they
gave Simone Esposito his debut at the age
of 16 years and 256 days, making him the
fifth youngest player to appear in the UEFA
Europa League.
Finally, Arsenal once again had to
recover from a first-leg defeat, although
their 3-1 loss against Rennes in Brittany –
the Gunners’ first defeat away to a French
club – left them with a tall order back in
London. Alex Iwobi had given Unai Emery’s
side the lead in the away leg, but he was
back on the bench in north London as
Alexandre Lacazette led the line. Pierre-
Emerick Aubameyang began the comeback
just five minutes in at the Arsenal Stadium,
with Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ first European
goal ten minutes later giving the home side
the advantage on away goals. As Rennes
pushed for an away goal of their own,
Emery did not panic but instead brought
on Iwobi rather than making a defensive
change. The Nigerian international’s
Pizzi congratulates Jonas (left)
for his goal that helped Benfica presence and energy disturbed Rennes’
beat Dinamo Zagreb; Slavia Praha dynamism and helped Arsenal run down
keeper Ondřej Kolář jumps for joy
the clock, with Aubameyang’s second of
(above); Rennes fans roar on their
team against Arsenal (top) the night sealing victory.

10 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 11

SE ASO N OV E RV I E W

5
the Frankfurt Stadion a week later. In a
meeting of the Eagles, home coach Adi
Hütter shifted his entire team forward by
a good ten metres, making his intentions
Benfica made
abundantly clear. They pressed Benfica
their record fifth
high and wasted no time in getting the appearance in
ball forward to their wingers and strikers, the last eight
drawing first blood through Filip Kostić
before the break. Sebastian Rode added a

1
second midway through the second half,
at which point Hütter’s men retreated. It
was Benfica’s turn to attack and Frankfurt
rode their luck, but held on to prolong their
journey towards Azerbaijan. Arsenal were the
Their next opponents would be Chelsea, only quarter-finalists
although Maurizio Sarri’s side almost who reached the
same stage in
squandered a 4-1 lead with a spirited
2017/18
Slavia fighting back to make it 4-3 on the
night, a result that meant Chelsea equalled
Atlético de Madrid’s competition record of
15 consecutive games unbeaten. Form was
followed in the remaining two ties, Valencia
completing a 5-1 aggregate win over
Villarreal with a 2-0 triumph at home to set
up a semi-final against Arsenal, who beat
Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli 1-0 in Italy thanks
to an Alexandre Lacazette free-kick.

Aaron Ramsey
(above) puts Arsenal
QUARTER-FINALS ahead at home to
Napoli; Valencia’s
After the first legs of the quarter-finals in Antonio Lato (right)
celebrates with
April, it was already possible to get a good Gonçalo Guedes
indication of who might be moving to within after scoring against
one step of Baku. Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Villarreal; Sebastian
Rode’s crucial
surprise package Slavia set them up nicely strike (far right) put
for the return at Stamford Bridge, where Frankfurt through on
the Blues had won five out of five in Europe away goals

in 2018/19. Arsenal were in the driving

seat of their tie with Napoli, with Aaron
Ramsey’s last goal for the Gunners ahead
of a summer switch to Juventus helping
them establish a 2-0 home lead, while
Valencia made the short trip home through
the Comunidad Valenciana with a 3-1 win
at their local rivals Villarreal. Meanwhile,
Frankfurt’s campaign also appeared to
be over as they fell to a 4-2 defeat at a
João Félix-inspired Benfica after playing
for 70 minutes with ten men following Evan
N’Dicka’s early red card.
Football is a source of fairy tales,
however, and Eintracht delivered one at

12 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 13

SE ASO N OV E RV I E W

SEMI-FINALS
When Filip Kostić dribbled his way visiting fans wild with joy and anticipation,
characteristically down the left wing but Martin Hinteregger – so robust and
and delivered a cross for Luka Jović to reliable in his defensive duties – had his
nod in, Eintracht Frankfurt’s European penalty blocked by Kepa Arrizabalaga,
self-professed “madness” seemed set to and the pendulum slowly swung back in

9
continue. It served more as a pungent sting Chelsea’s favour. Another miss by Frankfurt
to Chelsea, however, and Pedro’s timely substitute Gonçalo Paciência allowed
equaliser on the stroke of half-time gave Eden Hazard to convert the hosts’ final
Eintracht were the first German the Londoners the momentum for a second spot kick and take the Blues through to an
club to reach the last four since half in which they squandered several all-English final.
Hamburg in 2010 opportunities to take an away win back Arsenal laid the foundations for their
home to Stamford Bridge. semi-final victory over Valencia with a 3-1
There was a sense that Chelsea may be first-leg win in London, thanks to Alexandre
made to pay for their profligacy and even Lacazette’s fourth career double in the

1
after Ruben Loftus-Cheek put them ahead UEFA Europa League. With the Spanish
on home soil, thoughts of an easy passage side forced to score at least two on
into the final crossed very few minds. After home soil, Unai Emery expected gaps to
Clockwise from left: Kepa Arrizabalaga
Jović levelled, it was Frankfurt’s turn to present themselves in Spain and his team
Chelsea’s shoot-out victory was Chelsea’s hero in the penalty
shoot-out; Makoto Hasebe of dominate in the second half and only some exploited them ruthlessly with supreme
against Eintracht was the first
Frankfurt battles with Chelsea’s desperate defending took Chelsea through counterattacking quality and Pierre-Emerick
time a semi-final was decided Olivier Giroud; Petr Čech clears his
to extra time, where they just held on to Aubameyang in punishing form, supplying
on penalties lines for Arsenal; Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang (centre right) celebrates force penalties. An early miss by César a hat-trick that earned Emery a place in his
his first goal against Valencia Azpilicueta sent the several thousand fourth UEFA Europa League final.

14 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 15

THE FINAL

Hazard proves
the difference
for Chelsea
Eden Hazard was at his
mesmerising best in his
final match for Chelsea,
as the Blues proved too
strong for Arsenal
Although it was an all-English final,
the language of Shakespeare was the
mother tongue of only one of the players
on the field at kick-off, Arsenal’s Ainsley
Maitland-Niles, with the presence of
15 different nationalities in the two
starting XIs lending a truly global appeal
to this UEFA Europa League final.
Both clubs crossed the continent on
their way to the Azerbaijan capital, almost
2,500 miles away from their homes in the
English capital, and their preparations
varied substantially: while Arsenal arrived
four days ahead of kick-off, Chelsea landed
in the early hours of Tuesday morning, less
than 48 hours before the first sound of
Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi’s whistle.
That shrill echoed around the Baku Olympic
Stadium at 23:00 local time, three hours
ahead of the 20:00 kick-off time for the
millions watching in the UK. The stadium
exterior replicated the orange hue created
by the setting sun earlier in the evening with
Eden Hazard signed
illuminated UEFA Europa League branding
off from Stamford
Bridge with a starring reminding everybody where European
role in Baku football’s focal point was that night.

16 UEFA E UROPA LEAGU E TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 17

THE FINAL

The sight of five Chelsea players racing

forward to receive a deep, angled punt
immediately from kick-off proved to be a
deceptive sign of attacking intent, however,
as both sides soon slipped into a more
cautious mode. “The first half was very much
about control,” said Jarmo Matikainen, one
of UEFA’s technical observers. “I also felt
that, interestingly, both teams wanted to
defend in the opponents’ half – stepping up
but being very cautious.”
The intent to win was therefore being
suppressed by the fear of losing that
first goal, with both sides trying to avoid
mistakes and denying their opponents
the chance to create opportunities.
Nevertheless, Matikainen added that “while
it was 0-0 in the first half, you felt there were
goals in the game”.
Aside from that initial Chelsea surge,
Arsenal had looked the more enterprising
earlier on, with Granit Xhaka conducting
affairs from the heart of midfield and seeking
out passes to launch attacks. They forged
a good opportunity when Maitland-Niles’
cross was punched out to Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang, but the Gabon forward
screwed his effort wide, while Xhaka took
aim from distance and grazed the crossbar
with an effort just shy of the half-hour mark.
Arsenal’s right wing-back was impressing
with his timing and tackling to ensure Eden
Hazard was not given any time or space on
the ball, with Chelsea using diagonal balls to
bypass the Gunners’ high press.
However, trying to keep the Belgian
completely out of danger is a futile
endeavour and as Hazard slowly started to
get his foot on the ball with more frequency, Arsenal fans (above through the Arsenal rearguard with a quick Sarri had been able to rotate players in key
the Blues began to gain authority to add left) show their support exchange of passes following a throw-in positions with greater regularity, without
for their players,
to their control. Off came the shackles too including Ainsley to break the deadlock early in the second altering the overall shape and structure of
as Maurizio Sarri’s men started stringing Maitland-Niles (left), half. It was the goal the game had been his team. This kept Chelsea’s energy levels
passes together and gradually the game but former hero Olivier crying out for. “The match needed a goal that little bit higher come the business end
Giroud (above) opened
started to open up. Hazard’s sumptuous the scoring for Chelsea to bring some movement into the game,” of the season, helping them also mount a
back-heel to flick Jorginho’s pass into the said Thomas Schaaf. “And exactly that late surge into the top three of the Premier
path of Emerson Palmieri saw the Italian happened. We saw a fast goal scored and League, securing UEFA Champions League
sting the palms of Petr Čech, who had to thanks to that more movement happened football, while Arsenal ultimately slipped out
get down low to make a fine one-handed on the pitch.” Generally, that movement was of the top four with three defeats in their
save to deny Olivier Giroud as Chelsea a steady flow in the direction of Čech’s goal final five league fixtures.
ended the half the stronger. A cutting edge as Arsenal succumbed to Chelsea’s superior “Chelsea have a longer substitutes’
was still lacking, though, and while Chelsea speed in possession as the Gunners’ energy bench,” Scurtul said. “The key positions
posed a threat when they bypassed the first levels slowly started to ebb. are the same, but especially in the flank
press and suddenly changed their tempo, The toils of a tiring, long season may also positions, the personnel were changed and
they had to wait until after a half-time have left more of a mark on Arsenal than on that makes a big difference because these
refreshment to reap their reward. Chelsea. For the Gunners, this was the 58th players are running a lot.” With Willian and
“Chelsea had the ingredients that were competitive fixture of the campaign while Pedro Rodríguez trading places seamlessly,
there in the first half, but now the final pass Chelsea, who reached a domestic League for example, Sarri did not need to alter the
and the final move were there too,” said Cup final, took to the field for the 63rd time. shape of his team, just add freshness in key
Matikainen, praising the way they tore Nevertheless, Ghenadie Scurtul felt that areas. And then there was Hazard.

18 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 19

THE FINAL

Eden Hazard is swamped

by his team-mates after
putting Chelsea 3-0 ahead
from the penalty spot
official, as tactical tweaks were delivered,
Emery ditching his three-man defence
in favour of a 4-2-3-1 with Iwobi and
Aubameyang providing the width. It was
a critical moment in the game as Arsenal
sought a second goal that would have set
up a grandstand finish.
Hazard had other ideas, and, within
minutes, he restored Chelsea’s three-goal
lead, starting and finishing a move that
effectively ended the game as a contest,
and rubber-stamped his nomination as
man of the match. “He was the engine in
midfield, dragging the whole team to attack,”
Majewski enthused. “Thanks to his actions
and his creativity, and also his ideas; things
he showed that no other player managed to
Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal
show. That was the big difference. If we look
Wednesday 29 May 2019
at the individual players, then both teams
are comparable, but this one player made
Baku Olympic Stadium
the big difference. He’s clever with the ball, Goals
he played the right passes, and in my opinion 1-0 Giroud 49, 2-0 Pedro 60, 3-0 Hazard 65 pen,
3-1 Iwobi 69, 4-1 Hazard 72
that was the key why Chelsea won it.”
Arsenal no longer had the energy or
Chelsea Arsenal
invention to respond once again, and the Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Čech; Papastathopoulos,
replacement of Mesut Özil by 19-year-old Christensen, David Luiz, Koscielny, Monreal (Guendouzi
Joe Willock with 13 minutes to play saw Emerson; Kanté, Jorginho, 66); Maitland-Niles, Torreira
Kovačić (Barkley 76); Pedro (Iwobi 66), Xhaka, Kolašinac;
Emery attempt something new. It was a (Willian 71), Giroud, Hazard Özil (Willock 77); Lacazette,
change that carried a degree of regret too, (Zappacosta 89) Aubameyang
since Emery’s No10 – a runner-up for Werder Coach Maurizio Sarri Coach Unai Emery
Bremen in the last UEFA Cup ten years ago
– had struggled to make the sort of impact Yellow cards
Chelsea Pedro 56, Christensen 68
his opposite number had. His coach for
that 2-1 final defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in Referee
Gianluca Rocchi (ITA)
Istanbul was Thomas Schaaf, who knows
the Germany midfielder better than many. Attendance
“This player has such extraordinary skills, 51,370

fantastic abilities,” said Schaaf, who chaired

UEFA’s Technical Observers Group review
“How do you stop players with the quality a foul by Andreas Christensen that saw panel. “He wants to go forward, he wants Match statistics
like Hazard? That is already a very, very the Chelsea defender become the second to try to find the net, with his acceleration
Chelsea Arsenal
difficult question,” said Milenko Ačimovič. name in Rocchi’s book. “Iwobi coming and pace and, with the help of his magic left
“He’s a player who finds freedom, and it’s on was a really important change, and I foot, he wants to dictate a match.” 4 GOALS 1
difficult for me even to say how to stop him; think that Arsenal then also showed more Instead, it was the blue No10 who
48 POSSESSION % 52
he was the key of Chelsea’s game, for scoring attacking power,” said Stefan Majewski. “But condemned Arsenal to a third UEFA final
and winning.” After teeing up Pedro to side- the difference was that Chelsea always defeat in 19 years, and earned Chelsea 14 TOTAL ATTEMPTS 15
foot a second, Chelsea’s No10 stroked home stuck to their playing system, while Arsenal their third final victory in seven years, after
8 ATTEMPTS ON TARGET 2
the third from the penalty spot to give his tried to do something after having already winning their first UEFA Champions League
side a firm grasp on the title. conceded three goals.” From the resulting title in 2012 and the UEFA Europa League 7 CORNERS 5
Unai Emery was already planning his free-kick, the ball eventually fell for the a year later. They achieved it as the first
2 YELLOW CARDS 0
first changes as he watched the penalty Nigerian to strike the sweetest of volleys to team ever to come through an entire UEFA
from the touchline and felt emboldened to reduce the arrears and hint at a dramatic Europa League campaign unbeaten. While 0 RED CARDS 0
make an attack-minded substitution with twist in the denouement. Sarri takes an informal approach to his own
the game slipping even further away, with The technical areas did not seem appearance, religiously sporting a tracksuit 433 PASSES 452
the introduction of Alex Iwobi. The Nigerian expansive enough to contain either Emery on the touchline, he does seek beauty in 373 PASSES COMPLETED 394
became the 16th different nationality on the or Sarri as they delivered orders from the the football his side displays. Casual off the
Baku pitch, and he immediately lifted the touchline. Every centimetre closer they A second goal from Eden field, he wants elegance and refinement 86% PASSING ACCURACY 87%
Hazard made it 4-1 and put
drooped heads of his team-mates with a could get to their team was exploited, on it, and few could deny the smart 101,603m DISTANCE COVERED 95,957m
the game beyond Arsenal
powerful burst down the left wing, inducing under the monitoring glances of the fourth sophistication his team had shown.

20 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 21

THE WINNING COACH

“O
ur objective is beauty. We like to replace Antonio Conte – the man he would Benítez and he took them to the top of
enjoy ourselves and to entertain, later succeed at Chelsea – Sarri guided Serie A for the first time in 25 years, since
and if these match our results, Tuscan side Arezzo to draws at Juventus, the last time they won the Scudetto. He
then that’s a pleasure.” That, in his own Napoli and Genoa, all of whom would showed an immediate affinity for the UEFA
words, is the philosophy of Maurizio be promoted to Serie A at the end of the Europa League by guiding the Partenopei
Sarri, who got the combination right in season. His team even had AC Milan on the to six wins out of six in the group stage,
the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League to lift ropes in the Coppa Italia having already scoring 22 goals and conceding just three
his first major trophy with Chelsea. knocked out Serie A side Livorno. Carlo – all records for the Serie A outfit. Another
“Sarri’s Chelsea are the most beautiful Ancelotti’s Rossoneri went on to lift the club record was set with an eighth straight
advertisement for football,” said Sky Sport UEFA Champions League that season and Serie A victory in February 2016, but despite
Italia pundit Daniele Adani after the Naples- while Sarri was replaced by Conte following Napoli’s highest-ever haul of 82 points, from
born coach finally got his hands on some a disagreement with club president Piero an unprecedented 25 wins and 106 goals
silverware. It was not the first time Sarri had Mancini, it was not before Mancini had in all competitions, they finished second to
lifted a trophy, but you would have to go defined Sarri as the “Michelangelo of Juventus. He smashed his own records a
back a long way to find the last. At the helm football”. Sarri’s Italian travels then took year later, with 86 points, 26 wins and 115
of AC Sansovino, from the Tuscan town of in Avellino, Verona, Perugia, Grosseto, goals, and raised the bar even higher in his
Monte San Savino, Sarri won the Coppa Alessandria and Sorrento before he arrived third season, with 91 points and 28 wins,
Italia for clubs in Serie D, then the fifth tier in Empoli in 2012. but Juve proved to be their nemesis each
of Italian football. That was 2003 and it was “He’s one of the best coaches I ever had,” time. All the while, Sarri was winning more
just the start of a remarkable story. former Italy international Francesco Baiano, and more admirers for his brand of football.
Sarri was already touring Europe before who played under Sarri at Sangiovannese, “When I was watching Cagliari v Napoli, I got
that first footballing triumph, gaining told Italian daily Il Mattino. “For the way he a call from [Pep] Guardiola telling me, ‘Look
experience in England, Luxembourg and works on the field and prepares games, I’d at how well they play – this Napoli side are
Switzerland, albeit far from a football field. say that he’s unique. Sarri needs a club who spectacular!’ Even he was impressed,” Arrigo
A talented individual in the banking sector, trust his project and give him a competitive Sacchi told a Neapolitan radio station.
Sarri visited some of the world’s biggest squad and the necessary time for the results Sacchi, one of the world’s greatest
financial centres, although his passion to arrive.” Empoli reaped their reward for coaching innovators, had a tough start when
for football kept him occupied after office their unstinted belief in their coach, despite he arrived at AC Milan in 1987, but went
hours. That is up until he followed his heart a haul of just four points from his first nine on to bring silverware to the club, drawing

BANKING ON
and dedicated himself to the beautiful games. After missing out on promotion to parallels with Sarri’s season at Chelsea.
game. His passion and drive – some may Serie A via the play-offs in 2013, they were “We were in trouble in January and
say obsession – eventually earned him a promoted automatically a year later. “I’m February but we reacted and it’s not easy
place in the world’s most revered coaching getting paid for doing what I’d have done in to react in the Premier League,” Sarri said
fraternity, although he climbed the ladder, the evenings, after work and for free,” Sarri after lifting the UEFA Europa League. “In the

A winner
rung by rung, to get there. said when he finally arrived in Serie A as the end we qualified for the Champions League,
After guiding Sansovino to promotion league’s lowest-paid coach, recalling his won 12 Europa League matches, reached
from the sixth tier of football to the fifth, banking days when he filled life outside work the League Cup final – we deserved this.
one year on the cusp of semi-professional with football. “I’m a lucky man.” Since we lost 6-0 to Manchester City we
football convinced him he needed to After keeping Empoli in the top flight, did something different.” Like Sacchi, Sarri’s
dedicate more than just his evenings to Napoli appointed Sarri to succeed Rafael style did not always earn universal approval
coaching. That was the summer of 2002 in London, but Chelsea now have one more

Having given up a career in and, 12 months later, he crowned his first

year as a full-time coach with victory in the
trophy in their cabinet.
After ditching his trademark tracksuit on
finance to pursue his obsession Coppa Italia for Serie D, his Sansovino team a triumphant night in Baku, Sarri emerged

with football, Maurizio Sarri’s emerging victorious from 162 clubs. Sarri
moved onwards and upwards, taking the
for his post-match media obligations
donning a suit he may well have last worn
long wait to lift a major trophy reins of Sangiovannese in Serie C2, Italy’s at a crossroads in his life back in 2002.

was finally rewarded in Baku fourth flight, where immediate promotion to ‘He’s one of the best That was when he hung it in the wardrobe,
Serie C1 was followed by an eighth-place
finish in the third tier, and another rise to
coaches . . . for the way leaving the banking world poorer and the
footballing world eminently richer. From the
Pescara in Serie B. Saving them from the he works on the field bank to the bench, as Sarri embarks on
drop was the first of many of Maurizio’s
masterpieces, followed by another at
and prepares games, the next stage of his career back in Italy at
Juventus, he now has a trophy to go with
Arezzo, back in Tuscany. Appointed to I’d say that he’s unique’ his pursuit of beauty.

22 23
R E S U LT S

Fenerbahçe take
on Dinamo Zagreb
in Group D

44 6-0 6
results
Villarreal striker Carlos Bacca scored Sevilla’s matchday three win against Salzburg advanced through the group stage with
the first goal of the campaign after Akhisar Belediyespor equalled the a 100% record for a record third time; Eintracht
44 seconds against Rangers record margin of victory Frankfurt also won all of their group games

September 2018 December 2018

GROUP STAGE
Group A P W D L F A Pts Group B P W D L F A Pts Group C P W D L F A Pts Group G P W D L F A Pts Group H P W D L F A Pts Group I P W D L F A Pts
Bayer 04 Leverkusen 6 4 1 1 16 9 13 FC Salzburg 6 6 0 0 17 6 18 FC Zenit 6 3 2 1 6 5 11 Villarreal CF 6 2 4 0 12 5 10 Eintracht Frankfurt 6 6 0 0 17 5 18 KRC Genk 6 3 2 1 14 8 11
FC Zürich 6 3 1 2 7 6 10 Celtic FC 6 3 0 3 6 8 9 SK Slavia Praha 6 3 1 2 4 3 10 SK Rapid Wien 6 3 1 2 6 9 10 SS Lazio 6 3 0 3 9 11 9 Malmö FF 6 2 3 1 7 6 9
AEK Larnaca FC 6 1 2 3 6 12 5 RB Leipzig 6 2 1 3 9 8 7 FC Girondins de Bordeaux 6 2 1 3 6 6 7 Rangers FC 6 1 3 2 8 8 6 Apollon Limassol FC 6 2 1 3 10 10 7 Beşiktaş JK 6 2 1 3 9 11 7
PFC Ludogorets 1945 6 0 4 2 5 7 4 Rosenborg BK 6 0 1 5 4 14 1 FC København 6 1 2 3 3 5 5 FK Spartak Moskva 6 1 2 3 8 12 5 Olympique de Marseille 6 0 1 5 6 16 1 Sarpsborg 08 FF 6 1 2 3 8 13 5

20/09 AEK Larnaca 0-1 Zürich 20/09 Leipzig 2-3 Salzburg 20/09 København 1-1 Zenit 20/09 Villarreal 2-2 Rangers 20/09 Marseille 1-2 Frankfurt 20/09 Beşiktaş 3-1 Sarpsborg
20/09 Ludogorets 2-3 Leverkusen 20/09 Celtic 1-0 Rosenborg 20/09 Slavia Praha 1-0 Bordeaux 20/09 Rapid Wien 2-0 Spartak Moskva 20/09 Lazio 2-1 Apollon 20/09 Genk 2-0 Malmö
04/10 Leverkusen 4-2 AEK Larnaca 04/10 Rosenborg 1-3 Leipzig 04/10 Bordeaux 1-2 København 04/10 Spartak Moskva 3-3 Villarreal 04/10 Apollon 2-2 Marseille 04/10 Malmö 2-0 Beşiktaş
04/10 Zürich 1-0 Ludogorets 04/10 Salzburg 3-1 Celtic 04/10 Zenit 1-0 Slavia Praha 04/10 Rangers 3-1 Rapid Wien 04/10 Frankfurt 4-1 Lazio 04/10 Sarpsborg 3-1 Genk
25/10 Zürich 3-2 Leverkusen 25/10 Salzburg 3-0 Rosenborg 25/10 Zenit 2-1 Bordeaux 25/10 Rangers 0-0 Spartak Moskva 25/10 Frankfurt 2-0 Apollon 25/10 Sarpsborg 1-1 Malmö
25/10 AEK Larnaca 1-1 Ludogorets 25/10 Leipzig 2-0 Celtic 25/10 København 0-1 Slavia Praha 25/10 Villarreal 5-0 Rapid Wien 25/10 Marseille 1-3 Lazio 25/10 Beşiktaş 2-4 Genk
08/11 Leverkusen 1-0 Zürich 08/11 Rosenborg 2-5 Salzburg 08/11 Bordeaux 1-1 Zenit 08/11 Spartak Moskva 4-3 Rangers 08/11 Apollon 2-3 Frankfurt 08/11 Malmö 1-1 Sarpsborg
08/11 Ludogorets 0-0 AEK Larnaca 08/11 Celtic 2-1 Leipzig 08/11 Slavia Praha 0-0 København 08/11 Rapid Wien 0-0 Villarreal 08/11 Lazio 2-1 Marseille 08/11 Genk 1-1 Beşiktaş
29/11 Zürich 1-2 AEK Larnaca 29/11 Salzburg 1-0 Leipzig 29/11 Zenit 1-0 København 29/11 Spartak Moskva 1-2 Rapid Wien 29/11 Frankfurt 4-0 Marseille 29/11 Sarpsborg 2-3 Beşiktaş
29/11 Leverkusen 1-1 Ludogorets 29/11 Rosenborg 0-1 Celtic 29/11 Bordeaux 2-0 Slavia Praha 29/11 Rangers 0-0 Villarreal 29/11 Apollon 2-0 Lazio 29/11 Malmö 2-2 Genk
13/12 AEK Larnaca 1-5 Leverkusen 13/12 Leipzig 1-1 Rosenborg 13/12 København 0-1 Bordeaux 13/12 Villarreal 2-0 Spartak Moskva 13/12 Marseille 1-3 Apollon 13/12 Beşiktaş 0-1 Malmö
13/12 Ludogorets 1-1 Zürich 13/12 Celtic 1-2 Salzburg 13/12 Slavia Praha 2-0 Zenit 13/12 Rapid Wien 1-0 Rangers 13/12 Lazio 1-2 Frankfurt 13/12 Genk 4-0 Sarpsborg

Group D P W D L F A Pts Group E P W D L F A Pts Group F P W D L F A Pts Group J P W D L F A Pts Group K P W D L F A Pts Group L P W D L F A Pts
GNK Dinamo Zagreb 6 4 2 0 11 3 14 Arsenal FC 6 5 1 0 12 2 16 Real Betis Balompié 6 3 3 0 7 2 12 Sevilla FC 6 4 0 2 18 6 12 FC Dynamo Kyiv 6 3 2 1 10 7 11 Chelsea FC 6 5 1 0 12 3 16
Fenerbahçe SK 6 2 2 2 7 7 8 Sporting Clube de Portugal 6 4 1 1 13 3 13 Olympiacos FC 6 3 1 2 11 6 10 FC Krasnodar 6 4 0 2 8 8 12 Stade Rennais FC 6 3 0 3 7 8 9 FC BATE Borisov 6 3 0 3 9 9 9
FC Spartak Trnava 6 2 1 3 4 7 7 FC Vorskla Poltava 6 1 0 5 4 13 3 AC Milan 6 3 1 2 12 9 10 R. Standard de Liège 6 3 1 2 7 9 10 FC Astana 6 2 2 2 7 7 8 Vidi FC 6 2 1 3 5 7 7
RSC Anderlecht 6 0 3 3 2 7 3 Qarabağ FK 6 1 0 5 2 13 3 F91 Dudelange 6 0 1 5 3 16 1 Akhisarspor Belediyespor 6 0 1 5 4 14 1 FK Jablonec 6 1 2 3 6 8 5 PAOK FC 6 1 0 5 5 12 3

20/09 Spartak Trnava 1-0 Anderlecht 20/09 Sporting CP 2-0 Qarabağ 20/09 Dudelange 0-1 Milan 20/09 Sevilla 5-1 Standard Liège 20/09 Rennes 2-1 Jablonec 20/09 PAOK 0-1 Chelsea
20/09 Dinamo Zagreb 4-1 Fenerbahçe 20/09 Arsenal 4-2 Vorskla 20/09 Olympiacos 0-0 Real Betis 20/09 Akhisar 0-1 Krasnodar 20/09 Dynamo Kyiv 2-2 Astana 20/09 Vidi 0-2 BATE
04/10 Fenerbahçe 2-0 Spartak Trnava 04/10 Vorskla 1-2 Sporting CP 04/10 Real Betis 3-0 Dudelange 04/10 Krasnodar 2-1 Sevilla 04/10 Jablonec 2-2 Dynamo Kyiv 04/10 BATE 1-4 PAOK
04/10 Anderlecht 0-2 Dinamo Zagreb 04/10 Qarabağ 0-3 Arsenal 04/10 Milan 3-1 Olympiacos 04/10 Standard Liège 2-1 Akhisar 04/10 Astana 2-0 Rennes 04/10 Chelsea 1-0 Vidi
25/10 Anderlecht 2-2 Fenerbahçe 25/10 Qarabağ 0-1 Vorskla 25/10 Milan 1-2 Real Betis 25/10 Standard Liège 2-1 Krasnodar 25/10 Jablonec 1-1 Astana 25/10 Chelsea 3-1 BATE
25/10 Spartak Trnava 1-2 Dinamo Zagreb 25/10 Sporting CP 0-1 Arsenal 25/10 Dudelange 0-2 Olympiacos 25/10 Sevilla 6-0 Akhisar 25/10 Rennes 1-2 Dynamo Kyiv 25/10 PAOK 0-2 Vidi
08/11 Fenerbahçe 2-0 Anderlecht 08/11 Vorskla 0-1 Qarabağ 08/11 Real Betis 1-1 Milan 08/11 Krasnodar 2-1 Standard Liège 08/11 Astana 2-1 Jablonec 08/11 BATE 0-1 Chelsea
08/11 Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 Spartak Trnava 08/11 Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 08/11 Olympiacos 5-1 Dudelange 08/11 Akhisar 2-3 Sevilla 08/11 Dynamo Kyiv 3-1 Rennes 08/11 Vidi 1-0 PAOK
29/11 Anderlecht 0-0 Spartak Trnava 29/11 Qarabağ 1-6 Sporting CP 29/11 Milan 5-2 Dudelange 29/11 Krasnodar 2-1 Akhisar 29/11 Astana 0-1 Dynamo Kyiv 29/11 BATE 2-0 Vidi
29/11 Fenerbahçe 0-0 Dinamo Zagreb 29/11 Vorskla 0-3 Arsenal 29/11 Real Betis 1-0 Olympiacos 29/11 Standard Liège 1-0 Sevilla 29/11 Jablonec 0-1 Rennes 29/11 Chelsea 4-0 PAOK
13/12 Spartak Trnava 1-0 Fenerbahçe 13/12 Sporting CP 3-0 Vorskla 13/12 Dudelange 0-0 Real Betis 13/12 Sevilla 3-0 Krasnodar 13/12 Rennes 2-0 Astana 13/12 PAOK 1-3 BATE
13/12 Dinamo Zagreb 0-0 Anderlecht 13/12 Arsenal 1-0 Qarabağ 13/12 Olympiacos 3-1 Milan 13/12 Akhisar 0-0 Standard Liège 13/12 Dynamo Kyiv 0-1 Jablonec 13/12 Vidi 2-2 Chelsea

24 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 25

R E S U LT S

7
BATE’s Igor Stasevich (above) and Willian
6
Only Radamel Falcao (7) has scored more
18
Chelsea set a new unbeaten run of 18 UEFA
of Chelsea provided the most assists with UEFA Europa League semi-final goals than Europa League matches, surpassing the
seven. Frankfurt’s Mijat Gaćinović had six Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette previous best of 15 set by Atlético de Madrid
The finalists make
their way out on to
the pitch in Baku

February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019

ROUND OF 32 ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS

12, 14, 20 and 21 February 7 and 14 March 11 and 18 April 2 and 9 May

Fenerbahçe 1-0 Zenit Galatasaray 1-2 Benfica Frankfurt 0-0 Inter Arsenal 2-0 Napoli Benfica 4-2 Eintracht Frankfurt Arsenal 3-1 Valencia
Zenit 3-1 Fenerbahçe Benfica 0-0 Galatasaray Inter 0-1 Frankfurt Napoli 0-1 Arsenal Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 Benfica Valencia 2-4 Arsenal
Zenit win 3-2 on aggregate Benfica win 2-1 on aggregate Frankfurt win 1-0 on aggregate Arsenal win 3-0 on aggregate Aggregate 4-4; Frankfurt win on away goals Arsenal win 7-3 on aggregate

Rapid Wien 0-1 Internazionale Viktoria Plzeň 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 Benfica Villarreal 1-3 Valencia Slavia Praha 0-1 Chelsea Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea
Internazionale 4-0 Rapid Wien Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 Viktoria Plzeň Benfica 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb Valencia 2-0 Villarreal Chelsea 4-3 Slavia Praha Chelsea 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Internazionale win 5-0 on aggregate Dinamo win 4-2 on aggregate Benfica win 3-1 on aggregate after extra time Valencia win 5-1 on aggregate Chelsea win 5-3 on aggregate Aggregate 2-2 after extra time; Chelsea win
4-3 on penalties

Slavia Praha 0-0 Genk Club Brugge 2-1 Salzburg Sevilla 2-2 Slavia Praha
Genk 1-4 Slavia Praha Salzburg 4-0 Club Brugge Slavia Praha 4-3 Sevilla
Slavia win 4-1 on aggregate Salzburg win 5-2 on aggregate Slavia win 6-5 on aggregate after extra time

Krasnodar 0-0 Leverkusen Zürich 1-3 Napoli Rennes 3-1 Arsenal

Leverkusen 1-1 Krasnodar Napoli 2-0 Zürich Arsenal 3-0 Rennes
FINAL
29 May
Aggregate 1-1; Krasnodar win on away goal Napoli win 5-1 on aggregate Arsenal win 4-3 on aggregate

Rennes 3-3 Real Betis Malmö 1-2 Chelsea Zenit 1-3 Villarreal
Real Betis 1-3 Rennes Chelsea 3-0 Malmö Villarreal 2-1 Zenit
Rennes win 6-4 on aggregate Chelsea win 5-1 on aggregate Villarreal win 5-2 on aggregate

Olympiacos 2-2 Dynamo Kyiv Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 Frankfurt Chelsea 3-0 Dynamo Kyiv
Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 Olympiacos Frankfurt 4-1 Shakhtar Donetsk Dynamo Kyiv 0-5 Chelsea
Dynamo win 3-2 on aggregate Frankfurt win 6-3 on aggregate Chelsea win 8-0 on aggregate

Lazio
Sevilla
0-1
2-0
Sevilla win 3-0 on aggregate
Sevilla
Lazio
Celtic
Valencia
0-2
1-0
Valencia win 3-0 on aggregate
Valencia
Celtic
Napoli
Salzburg
3-0
3-1
Napoli win 4-3 on aggregate
Salzburg
Napoli
Chelsea
4-1 Arsenal

BATE 1-0 Arsenal Sporting CP 0-1 Villarreal Valencia 2-1 Krasnodar

Arsenal 3-0 BATE Villarreal 1-1 Sporting CP Krasnodar 1-1 Valencia
Arsenal win 3-1 on aggregate Villarreal win 2-1 on aggregate Valencia win 3-2 on aggregate

26 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 27

A N A LY S I S

SARRIBALL REAPS REWARD

Maurizio Sarri’s trademark playing style paid off in Baku

With victory in the final, Chelsea became the first English why he is one of the best coaches in Europe. Everybody

TALKING
side to win 12 major European games in a single season. wanted to see him in Napoli; to see how he works, discover
With three draws thrown in, the Blues went unbeaten his secrets – he has lots of admirers.”
on their way to a second UEFA Europa League title, and In Italy, Sarri’s football was already earning widespread
much of the credit for that must go to their coach Maurizio praise and acclaim. Manchester City manager Pep
Sarri, who has only ever lost twice in the competition. The Guardiola declared following his side’s UEFA Champions

points
60-year-old first got a taste of the competition in 2015/16, League clash with the Partenopei that they were one of
winning six group games out of six at the Napoli helm, the best teams he’d faced in his career – “or maybe the
before suffering his first loss in the subsequent round of 32 very best”. Sarri has altered his strategy from 4-2-3-1 to
at Villarreal. A 3-1 reverse to Leipzig in Naples last season 4-3-1-2 during his Empoli days – his first taste of Italy’s
is the only other blot on an otherwise outstandingly clean Serie A – to the 4-3-3 with which he enjoyed sustained
copybook that boasts 20 wins in 25 UEFA Europa League success with Napoli and, ultimately, earned his first major

As Sarri and Hütter benefited from a positive fixtures, and now bears the hallmark of a champion.
He did it in his own, almost inimitable way, with his
trophy with Chelsea. The high pressing, quick combinations
and short passing to open up opponents can only be
approach, Slavia showed that the underdog own style. Indeed Sarriball, or ‘Sarrismo’ – a word that successful with the right tools, however, and Sarri identified

can still have its day – even if two English was added to the Treccani Italian dictionary in 2018 – is
a philosophy, based on movement, fluidity and, perhaps
this immediately after arriving in London in 2018, signing
Italy international Jorginho from his former club.
powerhouses ultimately contested the final above all, participation. “Chelsea play their football “Jorginho is the key player in Sarri’s philosophy,”
getting everybody involved – every single one of them,” said Ghenadie Scurtul. “He really does a lot in game
said Sky Sport Italia pundit Daniele Adani, analysing organisation and also in the defensive line. This player
Chelsea’s final performance, which, he added, provided plays in front of the central defenders, and he is like an
“the most beautiful example this year, certified right at ice breaker. He is reading the game very well, and his role
the end when everybody touched the ball; 11 players got in the team’s tactics I think is crucial. He is one of the key
a touch before their opponents did.” players around whom the structure and set-up of the
That move, coming towards the end of the Baku final, coach is based, both in attacking and in defending.”
may not have resulted in a goal, but it was a perfect Sarri also had further key structural players such as
example of the brand of football Sarri seeks from his team. N’Golo Kanté and the reliable alternative resources he
“I don’t know the exact answer to why he is so good, but needs, like Mateo Kovačić, to ensure the freshness that
it’s nice to watch Chelsea,” said Milenko Ačimovič, one was so important to victory in the final, and to execute a
of UEFA’s Technical Observers Group. “He showed again brand of football that is gradually gaining a hallmark.

THE EMERY LEAGUE

Arsenal coach’s European nous shone through again

There was something distinctly familiar about the 2019 of the game,” noted Hans Leitert, as attack-minded
UEFA Europa League final. A third of the previous nine players Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were both
editions since the competition changed its name from almost counter-intuitively introduced when Rennes were
the UEFA Cup had featured Unai Emery in one of the threatening another twist in their dramatic last-16 tie.
dugouts. Emery’s name is inextricably linked with the UEFA Within minutes, Mkhitaryan exchanged passes with Aaron
Europa League; his success in leading Sevilla to three Ramsey before feeding Sead Kolašinac to set up Arsenal’s
consecutive titles between 2014 and 2016 almost led to third and seal their place in the quarter-finals.
the name being changed again – to the Emery League. The Armenian filled a key role in the success of
With an impressive record reading 42 wins and just 13 Emery’s side; in a position where Ivan Rakitić and
defeats in 74 UEFA Europa League matches, the 47-year- Éver Banega had been pivotal in his successes with
old certainly knows what it takes to lead a team to the Sevilla, and where Mesut Özil was a crucial connection
final, and he underlined it once again on his way to Baku. in Arsenal’s fluid, counterattacking combinations.
With many quick counterattacking goals, his Arsenal “Many think he’s walking on the pitch, but tactically
side bore a strong resemblance to his Sevilla side he [Özil] does an amazing job,” added Constantinou
synonymous with success prior to Emery’s move to Paris of the German attacking midfielder. “He’s establishing
Saint-Germain in 2016. “Emery knows how to get his team numerical advantage and making combinations on the
to react on the pitch,” said Savvas Constantinou, who sides and creating great problems from the flanks.”
lauded Arsenal’s transformation in the first leg of their It may not have ultimately sufficed for a fourth UEFA
semi-final against Valencia. Feeling the pressure, a few Europa League title, yet Emery’s achievements in
tactical tweaks from Emery sparked a positive reaction guiding Arsenal to the final in his first season cannot
inherent to his side all season. Indeed, the Gunners came be overstated. “Emery has won the final already three
Unai Emery took from behind on two occasions after first-leg defeats in the times with Sevilla, and now he made it into the final again
Arsenal to their
first European final round of 32 at BATE Borisov and in the last 16 at Rennes. with a different team – this is, I think, an extraordinary
since 2006 “His substitutions had a very good impact on the course performance,” said Thomas Schaaf.

28 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 29

A N A LY S I S

ALL ENGLAND CLUB (ranked 16), København (43) and Bordeaux – the club who,
inspired by Zinédine Zidane, had ended Slavia’s hitherto
With top coaches joining top players in the Premier League, an all-English final did not come as a surprise
best European run, when Karel Poborský and Vladimir
Šmicer featured in the team that went all the way to the
For the first time since the inaugural edition of the coaches are moving to England,” he said. “It’s not only
1996 UEFA Cup semi-finals. This season, having emerged
UEFA Cup back in 1971/72, when Tottenham Hotspur the budget – they always had that – it’s not only the
from their group, Slavia then swept Genk (57) aside with a
got the better of Wolverhampton Wanderers over a competition either; it’s that European coaches, or the
4-1 second-leg win in Belgium in the round of 32.
two-legged final, two English sides contested the UEFA international coaches who have moved there, have
An even greater challenge lay in store in the last 16, but
Europa League showpiece. That is perhaps where the influenced the game in England. They have changed the
Sevilla – champions in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and ranked
similarities end, however. English football has come a DNA of the game.”
sixth in Europe – were beaten after extra time of an epic
long way over the intervening 47 years, with a notable The influence of the manager, as their role is more
encounter at the Eden Stadium. That set up a clash
acceleration in recent seasons. commonly referred to in Britain, has developed at a pace.
with Chelsea that made the Blues’ coach Maurizio Sarri
“Something changed, I think, in the game of the Premier They have embraced the inherent attractions of Premier
particularly wary. He paid no notice of the Czech club’s
League,” said Savvas Constantinou. “We used to see in League football – its speed, intensity and competitiveness
ranking and, in the role of David, there was nevertheless a
the league long balls, but now they try to play; they try to right to the final whistle – and raised the tactical level,
touch of Goliath about Slavia. “They are the tallest in the
adapt to European needs with the coaches influencing thanks to some of the finest tools on the continent.
Europa League,” Sarri said after his side slew the giant-
the game in the Premier League. Now they are at the top.” “I think the biggest factor for English teams to lead
killers in the quarter-final. “I always knew it would be a
There has always been an allure to English football European football is that the best players in the world
tough game for us. I was a bit worried because they were
and while it has never been uncommon to see some are moving to England now,” added Constantinou. “And I
still running flat out while we were running out of petrol.
of the best players strutting their stuff in front of think this is the key why the English teams are now at the
“This team were the surprise of the Europa League,
packed stadia the envy of many in Europe, an extra top of Europe.” Together with Liverpool and Tottenham
the Ajax of the Europa League – extremely tough
dimension has recently been added to the game, and Hotspur contesting the UEFA Champions League final,
opponents – so a bit of suffering is fine,” added Sarri
Constantinou believes it is a significant one. “The best English clubs certainly set the benchmark in 2018/19.
after Slavia became one of just four sides to score
three or more goals against Chelsea at Stamford
Bridge in European competition, and the first to do so
in the UEFA Europa League.
“For me, I have to say, it was a good surprise from
Slavia because they are not afraid to build up from
HATS OFF TO HÜTTER their own goal, and they play a very positive style,” said
Ghenadie Scurtul, who analysed the first leg of that
Positive approach takes Frankfurt far
semi-final tie, which Chelsea edged 1-0. “They tried
to play with ball possession and, knowing that Sarri
Eintracht Frankfurt started their mesmerising run to the knocked them down, but they lifted themselves back up
Ibrahim-Benjamin is using high pressure, they nevertheless tried to be
semi-finals with a 2-1 win at 2018 runners-up Marseille, to win the return leg 2-0 and progress to the final four Traoré scored in
constructive in the very beginning.
setting the tone for a campaign that captured the on away goals. Slavia Praha’s
campaign “I think it’s a club philosophy and a good approach for
imagination of not only their sizeable travelling support, Eventual champions Chelsea were on the ropes at
the young football players, also as an example of how
but of football fans all over Europe. With more than Stamford Bridge before a penalty shoot-out ended
maybe you do not have the big stars or famous players,
15,000 fans following the Eagles on their trip to San Siro, Frankfurt’s fairy tale – or ‘madness’ as their official
but you can still try to play in a constructive way.”
where they defeated Internazionale to secure a place in social media accounts called it. That did not stop the GIANT-SLAYING SLAVIA That is precisely what they did in Prague, going for
the quarter-finals, rarely has a club benefited so greatly compliments arriving for a team who have gone from
Czechs defy rankings to give underdogs bite a win even against a side ranked 140 positions higher
from their 12th man. strength to strength under the guidance of Adi Hütter,
than them in the club coefficients. “They could have
The encouragement undeniably lifted the team, but who had ended Young Boys’ 32-year wait for their 12th
Bravery, determination and defiance. Those are the key played for 0-0 – I really think so – but at the end of the
with the football they were witnessing it was hard not Swiss title in 2017/18, before replacing Bayern München-
attributes conveyed in the biblical account of David’s game they changed: they wanted to win even against
to be enthusiastic. “You look at teams like Eintracht bound Niko Kovać after the Croatian had led the Eagles
unlikely victory over Goliath; a triumph of small over big. Chelsea, a big name. It’s a good sign for other clubs. I
Frankfurt who not necessarily many people were to victory in the German Cup. “It was not an easy decision
In the case of the 2018/19 edition of the UEFA Europa think it’s also, more generally, an observation from the
reckoning with, and these teams managed to convince to come after this big season of Eintracht Frankfurt and
League, Slavia Praha showed such characteristics Europa League that all teams are trying to play in a very
also because they played a courageous football, he continued even better, I think,” said Milenko Ačimovič.
throughout a remarkable journey that demonstrated how constructive way. Slavia Praha should be congratulated
because they pushed forward bravely, because they “Frankfurt looked even more dangerous.”
both a positive approach and preparation can take you a for this beautiful game against Chelsea.”
risked a lot and because they were very active,” said Hütter’s underdogs succeeded thanks to an excellent
long way in the UEFA Europa League. The Czech club ended the season 73rd in the rankings
UEFA technical observer Thomas Schaaf, who sat on the approach that, even in adversity, did not fluctuate,
“They were really well prepared and in good physical – a leap of 80 places – but perhaps equally importantly,
Frankfurt bench in the 2014/15 season. as seen in their fightback against Benfica. “I was so
condition,” said Stefan Majewski. “If we look at their team, they brought the best out of talents such as Tomáš
With their exciting attacking triumvirate of Sébastien impressed with the fact that not only were they reacting,
also the forwards and midfielders, how much they ran in Souček, Miroslav Stoch and Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui,
Haller, Luka Jović and Ante Rebić, supported so well but they were being proactive and on the front foot,
their defensive and attacking work, it’s unbelievable.” It who benefited from working under Trpišovský. “I think it’s
by Filip Kostić and Mijat Gaćinović, Frankfurt made a playing 70 minutes with ten players against Benfica
was a mindset they adopted no matter who they were part of the philosophy of the coach; this philosophy of a
tricky group look simple with six wins from six against away and scoring two goals, and they could have scored
playing. Coach Jindřích Trpišovský, a man earning a positive way that develops the players,” noted Scurtul.
Marseille, Lazio and Apollon Limassol, scoring 17 goals even more,” said Jarmo Matikainen. “It means that, even
reputation locally as the Czech Jürgen Klopp, and not “Perhaps because these clubs are not so big, they are
in the process. Six more followed as they made light though they were very brave and very good in defending,
just because he sports a baseball cap, had instilled a working more to create good players, maybe for big
work of Shakhtar Donetsk in the round of 32 before and happy to play one-on-one defending the opponents,
level of belief that saw a side ranked 153rd in the UEFA clubs, and this constructive way of thinking develops
that solitary strike sufficed at San Siro. A 4-2 defeat at they were clearly defending to attack. And that was one
club coefficients emerge from a group featuring Zenit the players as well.”
Benfica in the first leg of their quarter-final tie may have of the very, very impressive features with Eintracht.”

30 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 31

A N A LY S I S

TOP TEN GOALS

1
Ismaïla Sarr
Rennes v Jablonec
Group K
First-time volley from distance

Goals of
with the power and direction to
curl beyond the keeper’s reach.

2
Pedro Rodríguez
Chelsea v Slavia Praha

the season
Quarter-final, second leg
Fine chip over the onrushing
keeper to conclude an outstanding
sequence of slick, one-touch passes.

3
David Faupala
Apollon Limassol v Lazio
Group H
Ismaïla Sarr’s sweet volley for Rennes Perfectly timed overhead kick with
a fine connection following a cross
stood out from a fine selection of goals from the right wing.

4
The UEFA Technical Observers Group had unstoppable long-range strike against Tobias Heintz
their work cut out picking the best ten goals Akhisar also making it into the top ten. Sarpsborg v Beşiktaş
Group I
from a total of 565 – a joint second-highest That was topped by his team-mate Munir Long-distance lob over the keeper, executed
haul for a single UEFA Europa League El Haddadi in the second leg of Sevilla’s to perfection to dip under the crossbar.
season, bettered only in 2011/12. When the ill-fated round of 16 tie with Slavia Praha, his
observers met on the day after the final in left-foot volley from long range nestling in the

5
Baku, the list had to be whittled down from top left-hand corner of Ondřej Kolář’s goal, Ari
50 eye-catching strikes. well beyond the reach of the fully stretched Krasnodar v Akhisar Belediyespor
Group J
After careful consideration, a top ten Slavia keeper, and levelling the tie at 4-4 on Delightful, delicate dink over the goalkeeper
was identified, with Ismaïla Sarr’s strike in aggregate. It was one of many long-range from the edge of the penalty area.
the group stage ultimately chosen as the goals that demonstrated players were not
first choice. The Senegalese forward gave afraid to shoot from distance, although

6
Rennes fans a treat half an hour into their Sporting CP’s Nani showed there was also Munir El Haddadi
opening UEFA Europa League fixture at another route to goal against Qarabağ. Slavia Praha v Sevilla
Roazhon Park, with their first European goal The ball appeared to be glued to the Round of 16, second leg
Clockwise from above: Stunning left-footed volley from long
of the season proving to be the pick of the Portuguese attacking midfielder’s boot Ismaïla Sarr’s powerful distance, leaving the keeper no chance.
bunch for its outstanding technical value. as he dribbled his way through the volley was judged this
season’s best goal; Pedro’s
Cutting in from the left wing, Sarr played Azerbaijan club’s defence before keeping

7
chipped finish was the result
a one-two with skipper Benjamin Andre to his composure to apply the finish. That was of fine teamwork; David Tomike Okriashvili
establish room for a finely struck first-time another example of excellent individual Faupala’s acrobatic goal Krasnodar v Sevilla
completed the top three Group J
volley from outside the penalty area that quality, as was the overhead kick with Precise overhead kick into the bottom
was still rising as it hit the roof of the net. which David Faupala opened the scoring corner with his back to the goal.
The individual quality in Sarr’s strike was in Apollon Limassol’s 2-0 win over Lazio –
matched by Chelsea’s Pedro Rodríguez, one of many mesmerising moments in the

8
although his goal in Chelsea’s quarter-final 2018/19 UEFA Europa League season. Nani
win over Slavia Praha caught the eye more Qarabağ v Sporting CP
Group E
for the stunning build-up. The Blues strung Magnetic close control to dribble
together nine passes, mostly one-touch, through four defenders and supply
a composed finish.
including a neat back-heel from César
Azpilicueta and consecutive one-twos to

9
pave the way for Pedro’s delightful finish. It
Jaromír Zmrhal
was the opening goal on the night and set Slavia Praha v Bordeaux
Chelsea on their way to the semi-finals. Group C
Followers of Group J and in particular Powerful left-foot diagonal drive that scrapes
the underside of the crossbar on its way in.
Krasnodar were in for a treat as they
witnessed outstanding goals from Ari, who

10
lobbed the Akhisar Belediyespor goalkeeper Roque Mesa
from the edge of the penalty area, and Sevilla v Akhisar Belediyespor
Tomike Okriashvili, with a spectacular Group J
Unstoppable long-range shot into the
overhead kick against Sevilla. The Spanish top corner, crowning a slick sequence
side’s fans had a stunning goal of their own of one-touch passes.
to celebrate, however, with Roque Mesa’s
Visit UEFA.com to see all the goals

32 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 33

 A N A LY S I S

Squad of The UEFA Technical Observers Group met in Baku on the morning
after Chelsea’s second UEFA Europa League triumph to name a

the season
representative squad of the season. Unsurprisingly, eight members
of the triumphant Blues’ team were recognised in the squad of the
season, with beaten finalists Arsenal supplying three players.
Only four clubs were represented in total, with beaten semi-
finalists Eintracht Frankfurt providing five players, underscoring how
well head coach Adi Hütter had his team playing with both a solid
spine, provided by Kevin Trapp and Makoto Hasebe, and an exciting
Finalists Chelsea and Arsenal provide more than half of attacking edge, supplied by winger Filip Kostić and striker Luka Jović.

the observers’ all-star squad, with rising star João Félix The team they defeated in the quarter-finals – Benfica – were also
represented at both ends of the pitch, including one of the hottest
also impressing enough to make the final cut prospects in the competition, 19-year-old João Félix.
GOALKEEPERS

DEFENDERS

MIDFIELDERS

FORWARDS
Kevin Kepa Alex Sead Laurent David César Danny Makoto Filip Jorginho N’Golo Pierre-Emerick Olivier Luka João Pedro Eden
Trapp Arrizabalaga Grimaldo Kolašinac Koscielny Luiz Azpilicueta da Costa Hasebe Kostić Kanté Aubameyang Giroud Jović Félix Rodríguez Hazard

The German The blueprint Had a great Offered Arsenal An excellent The leader of A solid leader A key feature A player who Seems to have The key link A player with His lightning The An extremely A 19-year-old Quality, energy The No10
goalkeeper of a modern impact on good width all-round the Chelsea of Maurizio of Frankfurt’s always managed been born with in Chelsea’s a positive pace made him tournament’s hard-working to keep an eye and outstanding almost single-
provided the goalkeeper, Benfica’s going forwards, defender who defence, Sarri’s team, attacking play to find the right the ball at his game plan, mentality and a particularly top scorer with forward with on. A hat-trick technique handedly
solid foundations combining attacking where he is strong in the the Brazilian providing and transitions, position and feet, such is connecting the an unparalleled uncomfortable 11 goals, Giroud excellent and assist in defined the first decided the
for Frankfurt’s bravery and game down helped give challenge on combined balance forming a was invariably his comfort defensive and work ethic, opponent to was a constant strength and the quarter- player to lift the final with his
remarkable excellent the flank, while them numerical the ground and strength in the and looking formidable involved in the and ease attacking lines invariably defend, with threat in and composure finals against UEFA Europa irresistible
campaign, shot-stopping his pinpoint advantages, in the air, while tackle with confident in partnership build-up of running down with discipline the winner his dribbling around the combined, Frankfurt League, UEFA dribbling skills
making an skills with fine deliveries from and was he has the the quality, the tackle. His with Filip Kostić Frankfurt’s game. the left wing and intelligence in 1v1s and a skills and penalty area making him a highlight his EURO, UEFA and ability to
impressive footwork and open play equally confidence and intelligence and 86% passing on the left Excellent match and delivering and showing focal figure work rate one and crowned real handful for all-round Champions drive through
45 saves and the ability to and set plays comfortable assuredness to vision to build accuracy from – a source of understanding, dangerous a solid game in Chelsea’s dimension of an outstanding defenders. attacking League, the defences and
giving his build play from were second fulfilling his run the ball out up from the 416 passes great danger relieving pressure crosses, or understanding. transitions, his game, and campaign with qualities and English Premier both create
defence the back. He to none. defensive from the back. back and give underlined his for the Eagles. on his back line cutting inside providing his shooting his goal in deadly finishing League and the and conclude
confidence conceded just duties, boasting An important his team-mates important role and distributing to shoot. balance with quality another. the final. ability. FIFA World Cup. chances.
upon which eight goals in the energy to presence in confidence. in the team’s passes in the Jorginho.
they could 1,200 minutes, perform the Arsenal build-up play. transitions.
build their with seven both roles. rearguard.
attacking game. clean sheets.

34 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 35

S TAT I S T I C S

Number 4
ROUTE TO GOAL TOP SCORERS
With 565 goals in the competition
proper, the 2018/19 campaign was
the joint second-most prolific in the
11 Olivier Giroud There were only four goalless

CRUNCHING
ten-year UEFA Europa League era, Chelsea draws in the knockout stage.
eclipsed only by the 585 scored in
2011/12. Winners Chelsea managed

3
the highest number of goal attempts
Luka Jović
per game (16.2) – considerably
higher than any of their last-16 rivals
10 Frankfurt
– showing that structured attacking
Olivier Giroud (Dynamo Kyiv v
play with a well-executed end
The key facts and figures from the 2018/19 campaign, from product was duly rewarded.
Pierre-Emerick Chelsea, 14/03/19), João Félix

goal attempts and super subs to possession and passing 8 Aubameyang (Benfica v Eintracht Frankfurt,
11/04/19) and Pierre-Emerick
Arsenal
Aubameyang (Valencia v
Arsenal, 09/05/19) joined
How the goals
Munas Dabbur 15 other players who have
GOAL ATTEMPTS GOALS FROM were scored 8 Salzburg scored a competition hat-trick.

6
Not only were Chelsea shooting more often important,” noted Savvas Constantinou. SET PLAYS
than their rivals, their accuracy was among “That is why Eden Hazard always tried to

15
Among the 565 goals scored,
the highest too, with an average of 6.75 go vertical when he received the ball, with Wissam Ben Yedder
attempts for each of their tournament-high combinations, from the sides or through
marginally more than a quarter
– 147 – came as a result of set Free-kick goals in the group stage,
8 Sevilla
36 goals. Sevilla and Valencia were the the middle.” The sides who were able
pieces, highlighting how important Chelsea’s Willian and Olivier Giroud
most efficient, their counterattacking and to build up quickly and who had clinical
dedicating training time to supplying two of them. Alexandre Lacazette’s three
direct styles showing how speed is of the finishers, with many goals scored from a
preparing set pieces was. Most Fredrik Gulbrandsen goals for Arsenal in the
essence when it comes to building up play. first-time finish, were unsurprisingly top in
of these set-piece goals came 5 Salzburg semi-final win over Valencia
“The tempo of players in transition is very the efficiency stakes.

17
from corners, albeit not in a direct took him to 15 in the knockout
manner. “We’ve seen teams play stages: eight for Lyon and
short corners in order to open up seven for Arsenal.
Sébastien Haller
Goal attempts (round of 16 teams) the play, to create a new situation,” 5
said Thomas Schaaf, highlighting Penalties scored in the group stage, Frankfurt

52
Team Matches Total Ave attempts On target Goals Ave attempts the numerous successful examples Sevilla benefiting four times with Éver
attempts per match per goal of sides playing several short Banega supplying three and Pablo
passes from a corner, following Sarabia the other. Apollon Limassol Alexandre Lacazette
Chelsea 15 243 16.2 89 36 6.75
a carefully planned routine, to also earned two spot kicks. 5 Arsenal
Arsenal 15 202 13.47 76 30 6.73 create a different route to goal. 52 goals were scored by
Slavia Praha, meanwhile, made substitutes in the group stage,

63
Frankfurt 14 202 14.43 70 30 6.73 the most of their height to score with AC Milan’s Patrick Cutrone
Giovani Lo Celso
Villarreal 12 179 14.92 65 20 8.95
with headers direct from corners 5 Betis
and Vágner Love of Beşiktaş
against Genk, Sevilla and Chelsea making an impact on three
Salzburg 10 178 17.8 63 25 7.12 in each of their knockout fixtures, occasions, the former levelling
while Sevilla were spot on with five Headed goals in the group stage. for the Rossoneri against
Slavia Praha 12 160 13.33 57 17 9.41 successfully converted penalties. Olympiacos and Astana both scored Pedro Rodríguez Olympiacos before scoring their
Sevilla 10 139 13.9 56 26 5.35
four, with three of the latter’s coming 5 Chelsea
third nine minutes later. Lucas
10% from corners. Alario and Julian Brandt struck
Direct three of Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s
Rennes 10 139 13.9 51 16 8.69 free-
14% kick four goals in their 4-2 win over
Krasnodar 10 131 13.1 43 11 11.91 2% AEK Larnaca – the only three
Following Following
a free-kick
Dinamo Zagreb 10 129 12.9 54 16 8.06 a penalty
WHY SCORING FIRST MATTERS goals scored by substitutes
for the Bundesliga club.
Dynamo Kyiv 10 93 9.3 41 13 7.15 The recent trend of comeback wins was hard to come by. Arsenal twice overturned
reversed in 2018/19 with the side who first-leg deficits to eliminate BATE Borisov
Valencia 8 89 11.13 32 14 6.36

11
got the first goal on the board showing a and Rennes, while Salzburg won the second
Napoli 6 86 14.33 28 9 9.56 23% greater tendency to go on and win. Of 205 legs of both their knockout fixtures after
Direct matches, the team who opened the scoring losing the first leg, although their 3-1 win
from
Benfica 6 79 13.17 31 9 8.78 corner went on to win 136 times, with a score over Napoli proved insufficient after a 3-0
(one
27% reversal happening only 25 times and 28 defeat in Italy. Eintracht Frankfurt came Olivier Giroud (11 goals) and
Zenit 10 77 7.7 26 11 7.00 Following
touch) games ending in a score draw. back from a 4-2 defeat at Benfica to win Luka Jović (10) became only the
a corner
Internazionale 4 49 12.25 17 5 9.80 24% While comebacks in single matches were their quarter-final on away goals thanks fifth and sixth players to reach
Penalty rare, turnarounds over two legs were not so to a 2-0 home success. double figures in a season.

36 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 37

S TAT I S T I C S

PASSING Jesé Rodríguez of Real

How the last 16 compared
Betis battles for the ball
It will come as no surprise to see whose Napoli side continued to
with Mexer of Rennes in
that Chelsea led the way in terms employ a similar, if perhaps more the round of 32 Team Attempted passes Completion
of passes attempted. With 665.13 direct style to the one Sarri had per match rate
passes per game – an impressive 89% established at the Italian club. The
of which reached their targets – they presence of Internazionale ahead Chelsea 665.13 89%
were averaging almost 75 more than of Arsenal and Sevilla in the ranking
their nearest last-16 rivals Napoli. The further suggests how much of an Napoli 590.33 84%
legacy Maurizio Sarri left behind in emphasis the Serie A clubs placed
Naples lives on under Carlo Ancelotti, on circulating the ball.
Internazionale 540.5 84%

Arsenal 534.6 86%

Top ten teams (overall)
Sevilla 526.1 83%
Team Attempted passes per match Completion rate

Villarreal 524.92 86%

Chelsea 665.13 89%

Krasnodar 507 83%

Betis 653 90%
Benfica 496 81%
Leverkusen 600.13 86%
Salzburg 472.9 81%
Napoli 590.33 84%
Valencia 463 85%
Marseille 544.83 86%
Dynamo Kyiv 461.9 84%

PAOK 542.17 86%

Zenit 421.2 81%

Internazionale 540.5 84%

Rennes 419.2 81%

Anderlecht 536.5 85% Slavia Praha 402.67 78%

Celtic 535.38 83% Frankfurt 391.79 77%

Arsenal 534.6 86% Dinamo Zagreb 319.7 75%

POSSESSION
As in 2017/18, only three of the sides who
boasted the highest average possession Possession average per game (%)
reached the last 16, and once again it
was Chelsea who ranked the highest
among them – just behind Betis – with
an average of over 60% per game.
It was observed, though, that many
comparably smaller clubs were taking
much bolder approaches and not letting
their opponents keep the ball for so
long without a challenge. “These teams
convinced also because they played
courageous football,” said Thomas
63.75% 61.8% 60% 60% 58.38% 57.38% 57.17% 56.75% 56.5% 56.5%
Schaaf. “They pushed forward bravely,
took a lot of risks and were very active.” BETIS CHELSEA GALATASARAY ANDERLECHT LEVERKUSEN GENK PAOK INTERNAZIONALE NAPOLI PLZEŇ

38 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/1 9 39

 ARSENAL FC SL BENFICA
England Portugal

Coach Team shape Coach Team shape

Unai Emery From second leg of semi-final v Valencia Bruno Lage From first leg of QF v Frankfurt
Born: 03/11/1971, Hondarribia (ESP) Born: 12/05/1976,
Nationality: Setubal (POR)
Spanish Nationality:
Head coach: Portuguese
14 9 79 83
Since 23/05/2018 Head coach:
10 11 27
European trophies won: 3 Since 14/01/2019
5 22
TOTAL W D L TOTAL W D L
11 34
Matches in UEFA Matches in UEFA 3 7
31 15
Europa League/UEFA Cup* 82 45 24 13 Europa League/UEFA Cup* 6 3 1 2 33 6
18 5
Matches in European 6 Matches in European
club competition** 132 68 33 31 club competition** 6 3 1 2
1 99
*Group stage to final **Including qualifying *Group stage to final **Including qualifying

Group E Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group E (UEFA Champions League) Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
VOR QAR SCP SCP VOR QAR BTE BTE REN REN NAP NAP VAL VAL CHE BAY AEK AJX AJX BAY AEK GAL GAL DZ DZ EIN EIN
W 4-2 W 0-3 W 0-1 D 0-0 W 0-3 W 1-0 L 1-0 W 3-0 L 3-1 W 3-0 W 2-0 W 0-1 W 3-1 W 2-4 L 1-4 L 0-2 W 2-3 L 1-0 D 1-1 L 5-1 W 1-0 W 1-2 D 0-0 L 1-0 W 3-0* W 4-2 L 2-0**

Dark orange = home, yellow = away, white = final; see page 5 for full club names Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names *After extra time **Frankfurt win on away goals

Players used Team statistics Players used Team statistics

App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards

Goalkeepers
1 Petr Čech 11 990
30 13 202 76 17 2
Goalkeepers
99 Odisseas Vlachodimos 6 570
9 6 79 31 10 0

19 Bernd Leno 3 270 2 own goals 13.5 per match 5.1 per match Sent off: 13.2 per match 5.2 per match
Lacazette v BTE (a),
Defenders
26 Emiliano Martínez 1 90 Time scored Time scored
Papastathopoulos v REN (a) 3 Alex Grimaldo 5 434 1 1
7 2 2 2 2
Defenders 6
5 6 Rúben Dias 6 570 1 1
5 Sokratis Papastathopoulos 12 975 2 4 4
3 7 Sébastien Corchia 3 246 1
6 Laurent Koscielny 10 840
1 15 Yuri Ribeiro 2 136
12 Stephan Lichtsteiner 6 524 1
0 0 0 33 Jardel 2 180 0 0 0 0 0
16 Rob Holding 5 420 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120
18 Nacho Monreal 12 858 1 34 André Almeida 3 289
20 Shkodran Mustafi 6 469 1 97 Ferro 4 390 1
25 Carl Jenkinson 3 240 Averages Key features Midfielders
Averages Key features
Arsenal Benfica
31 Sead Kolašinac 10 726 2 • 1-3-4-3; also 1-4-2-3-1 • 1 -4-4-2; also 1-4-2-3-1
Possession 5 Ljubomir Fejsa 3 300 Possession
47 Zechariah Medley 2 57 Max. 71% v BATE (a) •G
 ood use of wing-backs in Max. 65% v Dinamo Zagreb (h)
and 1-3-4-1-2 when
56% 8 Gabriel 4 259 52% chasing game
Midfielders
Min. 33% v Napoli (a) fast attacking transitions Min. 34% v Galatasaray (a)
17 Andrija Živković 3 71 •D
 eep and well organised
4 Mohamed Elneny 7 460 1 • Predominantly
Passes attempted counterattacking style 18 Eduardo Salvio 2 66 1 Passes attempted defence
7 Henrikh Mkhitaryan 11 671 3
Max. 739 v Vorskla (h) favouring quick transitions 20 Filip Krovinović 2 99 Max. 817 v Dinamo Zagreb (h) •E
 mphasis on attacking
8 Aaron Ramsey 7 479 2 1 535 Min. 273 v Napoli (a) 496 Min. 293 v Galatasaray (a)
• Fluid, one-touch 21 Pizzi 4 246 1 quickly, often with
10 Mesut Özil 10 651 1 1 direct balls
combinations 22 Andreas Samaris 3 158
11 Lucas Torreira 12 618 1 Passing accuracy Passing accuracy
•G
 ood links between the •G
 ood use of width with
15 Ainsley Maitland-Niles 10 804 1 2 Max. 92% v Vorskla (h) 27 Rafa Silva 5 315 Max. 87% v Dinamo Zagreb (h)
86% lines with Xhaka key player 81% overlapping full-backs and
17 Alex Iwobi 11 556 2 2 Min. 69% v Napoli (a) Min. 70% v Frankfurt (a)
61 Florentino 3 238 targets in wide positions
in build-up
22 Denis Suárez 2 28 79 João Félix 6 493 3 1 • Influential midfielders
• Excellent attacking
29 Matteo Guendouzi 11 664 1 83 Gedson Fernandes 6 428 able to hold possession
support from Özil
34 Granit Xhaka 9 760 3 Player statistics Player statistics confidently or connect
•F
 ast, powerful forwards Forwards
43 Charlie Gilmour 2 20 with forwards and wingers
Shots T OT G Aubameyang and Shots T OT G
10 Jonas 3 100 1 1 •Q
 uick wingers, confident
Forwards 1 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 48 22 8 Lacazette 1 João Félix 14 5 3
11 Franco Cervi 4 285 1 and effective dribbling
9 Alexandre Lacazette 10 651 5 2 2 Alexandre Lacazette 21 9 5 •P
 ositive impact from 2 Jonas 10 5 1
14 Haris Seferović 5 335 1 the ball
14 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 12 934 8 3 3= Alex Iwobi 12 5 2 substitutions, displaying 3 Haris Seferović 9 6 1
strength in depth 73 Jota 1 62 •E
 xcellent passing game;
23 Danny Welbeck 4 291 2 3= Aaron Ramsey 12 5 2 T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals
switching the game or
49 Eddie Nketiah 2 180 T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals
playing penetrating passes
55 Emile Smith Rowe 4 265 2 Passes A C % Passes A C % •D
 angerous from open
59 Joe Willock 3 193 1 1 Matteo Guendouzi 621 566 91% 1 Rúben Dias 319 270 85% play and set pieces with
87 Bukayo Saka 2 112 2 Granit Xhaka 596 516 87% 2 Alex Grimaldo 285 223 78% great variety and excellent
3 Sokratis Papastathopoulos 580 539 93% 3 Gabriel 208 172 83% delivery
App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

40 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE | TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/ 19 41

 CHELSEA FC GNK DINAMO ZAGREB
England Croatia

Coach Team shape Coach Team shape

Maurizio Sarri From second leg of QF v Slavia Praha Nenad Bjelica From first leg of last 16 v Benfica
Born: 10/01/1959, Naples (ITA) Born: 20/08/1971,
Nationality: Osijek (CRO)
Italian Nationality:
Head coach: Croatian
18 21
From 14/07/2018 to 16/06/2019 10 11 Head coach:
European trophies won: 1 Since 15/05/2018 99 7 92

TOTAL W D L TOTAL W D L
Matches in UEFA 8 7 Matches in UEFA 14 34
Europa League/UEFA Cup* 25 19 4 2 17 Europa League/UEFA Cup* 9 5 2 2
33 28
Matches in European 30 27 Matches in European 22 66 28 30
club competition** 41 26 6 9 club competition** 30 14 9 7
1 40
*Group stage to final **Including qualifying *Group stage to final **Including qualifying

Group L Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group D Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
PAO VID BTE BTE PAO VID MAL MAL DK DK SLP SLP EIN EIN ARS FEN AND TRN TRN FEN AND PLZ PLZ SLB SLB
W 0-1 W 1-0 W 3-1 W 0-1 W 4-0 D 2-2 W 1-2 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 0-5 W 0-1 W 4-3 D 1-1 D 1-1* W 4-1 W 4-1 W 0-2 W 1-2 W 3-1 D 0-0 D 0-0 L 2-1 W 3-0 W 1-0 L 3-0*

Dark orange = home, yellow = away, white = final; see page 5 for full club names *Won 4-3 on penalties Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names *After extra time

Players used Team statistics Players used Team statistics

App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards

Goalkeepers
1 Kepa Arrizabalaga 13 1200
36 10 243 89 17 0
Goalkeepers
40 Dominik Livaković 10 930
16 8 129 54 29 2

13 Willy Caballero 2 180 1 own goal 16.2 per match 5.9 per match
Defenders
12.9 per match 5.4 per match Sent off:
Stojanović v SLB (a),
Defenders Time scored Time scored T-Catherine v AND (a)
8 2 Sadegh Moharrami 1 90 4 4
7
2 Antonio Rüdiger 4 360 6 6 13 Amir Rrahmani 7 615 3
5
3 Marcos Alonso 4 335 2 1 22 Marin Leovac 4 315 2 2
3
21 Davide Zappacosta 10 719 1 28 Kévin Théophile-Catherine 9 840 1
1
24 Gary Cahill 4 360 0 0 0 30 Petar Stojanović 9 824 2 0 0 0 0
1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120
27 Andreas Christensen 15 1334 31 Marko Lešković 1 90
28 César Azpilicueta 9 695 55 Dino Perić 4 235
30 David Luiz 6 570 Averages Key features 66 Emir Dilaver 8 706 1 Averages Key features
Chelsea Dinamo
33 Emerson Palmieri 11 1020 2 • 1-4-3-3 Midfielders • 1-4-2-3-1, transitioning
Possession Possession
Max. 72% v Vidi (a) • Full-backs participating Max. 57% v Spartak Trnava (a)
to 1-4-1-4-1 or 1-4-4-2 in
Midfielders 62% 4 Tongo Doumbia 1 9 44% defending
Min. 48% v Arsenal (n) in attacking actions Min. 35% v Benfica (a)
4 Cesc Fàbregas 5 385 2 5 Arijan Ademi 6 540 •V
 ery compact, schooled
•B
 uilding up from the
5 Jorginho 11 740 Passes attempted back, employing 7 Dani Olmo 10 925 2 2 Passes attempted defensive line
7 N'Golo Kanté 10 579 Max. 833 v BATE (a) deep-lying midfielder 8 Izet Hajrović 7 568 3 1 Max. 423 v Spartak Trnava (a) •G
 ood midfield and
665 Min. 433 v Arsenal (n) 320 Min. 242 v Anderlecht (a)
8 Ross Barkley 12 805 2 1 •H
 igh pressing; quick 14 Amer Gojak 10 807 2 defensive organisation
attempts to regain with efficient transitions
10 Eden Hazard 8 451 2 2 16 Mario Šitum 4 117
Passing accuracy possession Passing accuracy back to defence
11 Pedro Rodríguez 14 944 5 4 Max. 95% v Malmö (a) 27 Nikola Moro 4 181 Max. 80% v Anderlecht (a)
89% •E
 ffective short passing 75% •U
 sed transitions well while
Min. 81% v Frankfurt (h) Min. 69% v Benfica (h), Fenerbahçe (a)
12 Ruben Loftus-Cheek 11 716 4 3 34 Ivan Šunjić 8 413 1 maintaining discipline
and use of triangles
15 Victor Moses 2 49 92 Damian Kądzior 5 190 •C
 onfident and effective
•C
 alibrated and quick
17 Mateo Kovačić 12 915 movements of players 99 Mislav Oršić 10 851 3 1 counterattacking game
Player statistics on and off the ball
Player statistics •S
 trong, athletic players;
20 Callum Hudson-Odoi 9 416 4 2 Forwards
22 Willian 15 899 3 7 Shots T OT G •C
 onfident in possession Shots T OT G successful in 1v1 battles
9 Mario Budimir 2 6
44 Ethan Ampadu 3 128 1 Olivier Giroud 47 20 11 with dynamic movement 1 Mislav Oršić 26 10 3 •C
 onsistent attacking
11 Mario Gavranović 8 412 1 3 set-play threat with high
2 Pedro Rodríguez 31 12 5 •S
 trong in one against one 2 Izet Hajrović 19 10 3
Forwards situations; individuals with 20 Iyayi Atiemwen 2 37 quality delivery
3 Willian 27 9 3 3 Dani Olmo 16 8 2
9 Gonzalo Higuaín 1 24 good dribbling skills 21 Bruno Petković 9 514 2 3 •G
 ood link-up play through
T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals
18 Olivier Giroud 14 1124 11 5 95 Komnen Andrić 1 1 Petković, with strong ability
to hold up the ball
29 Álvaro Morata 4 231 2 Passes A C % Passes A C %
1 Andreas Christensen 1061 1004 95% 1 Dani Olmo 331 238 72%
2 Mateo Kovačić 761 705 93% 2 Mislav Oršić 297 219 74%
3 Emerson Palmieri 703 623 89% 3 Amer Gojak 296 248 84%
App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

42 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE | TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/ 19 43

 FC DYNAMO KYIV EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
Ukraine Germany

Coach Team shape Coach Team shape

Aleksandr Khatskevich From first leg of last 16 v Chelsea Adolf Hütter From first leg of semi-final v Chelsea
Born: 19/10/1973, Born: 11/02/1970,
Minsk (BLR) Hohenems (AUT)
Nationality: Nationality:
Belarusian Austrian 8
Head coach: 43 Head coach: 11
Since 02/06/2017 Since 01/07/2018 10
24
29 10 15
TOTAL W D L TOTAL W D L
Matches in UEFA 8 5 Matches in UEFA 17 5
Europa League/UEFA Cup* 20 8 7 5 Europa League/UEFA Cup* 33 16 10 7 20
16 94
Matches in European 30 26 Matches in European 3 13 19
club competition** 31 12 12 7 club competition** 45 20 10 15
71 31
*Group stage to final **Including qualifying *Group stage to final **Including qualifying

Group K Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group H Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
AST JAB REN REN AST JAB OLY OLY CHE CHE OM LAZ APO APO OM LAZ SHK SHK INT INT SLB SLB CHE CHE
D 2-2 D 2-2 W 1-2 W 3-1 W 0-1 L 0-1 D 2-2 W 1-0 L 3-0 L 0-5 W 1-2 W 4-1 W 2-0 W 2-3 W 4-0 W 1-2 D 2-2 W 4-1 D 0-0 W 0-1 L 4-2 W 2-0* D 1-1 D 1-1**

Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names *Won on away goals **Lost 4-3 on penalties

Players used Team statistics Players used Team statistics

App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards

Goalkeepers
1 Georgiy Bushchan 1 90
13 17 93 41 23 1
Goalkeepers
1 Frederik Rønnow 2 180
30 14 202 70 39 3

71 Denys Boyko 9 810 9.3 per match 4.1 per match Sent off: 31 Kevin Trapp 12 1110 2 own goals 14.4 per match 5 per match Sent off:
Shepeliev v REN (a) Willems v OM (a),
Defenders Time scored Defenders Time scored Stendera v APO (a),
4 6 6 6 N’Dicka v SLB (a)
9 Mykola Morozyuk 4 177 1 2 Evan N'Dicka 9 708 1 5
3
16 Vitaliy Mykolenko 8 720 1 2 2 2 3 Simon Falette 7 598 1 3 3
17 Sidcley 5 370 1 1 13 Martin Hinteregger 7 660 1 1
23 Josip Pivarić 2 180 0 0 0 0 15 Jetro Willems 11 512 1 0 0 0
1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120
26 Mykyta Burda 10 900 19 David Abraham 8 728
30 Artem Shabanov 3 270 23 Marco Russ 4 292
44 Tamás Kádár 7 630 Averages Key features 24 Danny da Costa 14 1256 2 2 Averages Key features
Dynamo Kyiv Frankfurt
94 Tomasz Kędziora 10 900 1 1 • 1 -4-2-3-1; also 1-4-5-1 or 33 Taleb Tawatha 3 165 1 • 1 -3-5-2; also 1-3-4-1-2
Possession Possession
Max. 62% v Jablonec (h)
1-4-1-4-1 when defending Max. 56% v Shakhtar Donetsk (a)
and 1-4-4-2
Midfielders 49% Midfielders 47%
Min. 39% v Chelsea (h) •D
 eep defensive blocks with Min. 36% v Marseille (a), Chelsea (h) • Well-organised and
5 Serhiy Sydorchuk 8 468 counterattacking focus 5 Gelson Fernandes 9 772 confident defence,
6 Tchê Tchê 4 208 1 Passes attempted •D
 efending in two blocks 6 Jonathan de Guzmán 9 372 3 Passes attempted supported by 20 Hasebe
7 Benjamin Verbič 7 600 3 Max. 642 v Jablonec (h) of four defenders and five 10 Filip Kostić 12 1035 4 2 Max. 487 v Shakhtar Donetsk (a) •G
 ood team shape,
462 Min. 384 v Chelsea (h) 392 Min. 290 v Chelsea (h)
8 Volodymyr Shepeliev 9 634 midfielders 11 Mijat Gaćinović 14 1126 2 6 structure and organisation
10 Mykola Shaparenko 7 551 1 • Influential goalkeeper, 16 Lucas Torro 3 185 1 • Good cooperation
Passing accuracy strong in 1v1 situations Passing accuracy and distances between
15 Viktor Tsygankov 9 804 2 4 Max. 90% v Olympiacos (a) 17 Sebastian Rode 8 615 1 1 Max. 86% v Shakhtar Donetsk (a)
84% •A
 thletic, strong and hard- 77% the lines
Min. 80% v Rennes (a), Olympiacos (h) Min. 68% v Chelsea (h)
18 Oleksandr Andriyevskiy 2 18 20 Makoto Hasebe 14 1232
working players • Predominantly attack-
19 Denys Garmash 8 399 2 21 Marc Stendera 4 103 minded approach; all
• Energetic players
29 Vitaliy Buyalskiy 7 600 2 2 (Garmash, Shaparenko) 27 Nicolai Müller 4 139 lines contributing to
Player statistics covering a lot of ground
Player statistics attacking game
40 Heorhii Tsitaishvili 1 31 Forwards
45 Yevhenii Smirniy 2 10 Shots T OT G •T
 actical flexibility with Shots T OT G •B
 all moved forward
4 Ante Rebić 9 503 1 2 quickly with confident
99 Mikkel Duelund 3 21 1 Viktor Tsygankov 14 8 2 midfield adjustments 1 Luka Jović 46 17 10
2 Vitaliy Buyalskiy 11 5 2 8 Luka Jović 14 953 10 1 players in possession
•D
 anger from set pieces; 2 Mijat Gaćinović 27 13 2
Forwards 3= Benjamin Verbič 9 5 3 good execution and 9 Sébastien Haller 10 770 5 2 • Wing-backs providing
3 Sébastien Haller 25 10 5
9 Fran Sol 2 172 1 3= Denys Garmash 9 4 2 deliveries from Tsygankov 39 Gonçalo Paciência 6 66 1 consistent support
T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals
3= Serhiy Sydorchuk 9 4 0 to attack
41 Artem Besedin 2 156
T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals •S
 trong, athletic and
43 Nazariy Rusyn 4 165 Passes A C % hard-working players
Passes A C %
89 Vladyslav Supriaha 2 17 1 Makoto Hasebe 598 522 87%
1 Mykyta Burda 572 518 91%
2 Tomasz Kędziora 453 359 79% 2 Filip Kostić 432 303 70%
3 Volodymyr Shepeliev 415 383 92% 3 Kevin Trapp 416 274 66%
App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

44 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE | TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/ 19 45

 FC INTERNAZIONALE MILANO FC KRASNODAR
Italy Russia

Coach Team shape Coach Team shape

Luciano Spalletti From first leg of last 16 v Eintracht Frankfurt Oleg Fomenko From first leg of last 16 v Valencia
Born: 07/03/1959, Born: 03/08/1972,
Certaldo (ITA) Grozny (RUS)
Nationality: Nationality:
Italian Russian 16
10 6 7
Head coach: 44 16 Head coach:
09/06/2017 to 30/05/2019 Since 04/05/2018 14
20
TOTAL W D L TOTAL W D L 8
77
Matches in UEFA 77 8 Matches in UEFA
Europa League/UEFA Cup* 41 24 6 11 Europa League/UEFA Cup* 10 4 3 3 89 98
5 4
Matches in European 18 37 6 33 Matches in European
club competition** 118 61 21 36 club competition** 10 4 3 3
1 39
*Group stage to final **Including qualifying *Group stage to final **Including qualifying

Group B (UEFA Champions League) Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group J Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
TOT PSV BAR BAR TOT PSV RPD RPD EIN EIN AKH SEV STD STD AKH SEV BL BL VAL VAL
W 2-1 W 1-2 L 2-0 D 1-1 L 1-0 D 1-1 W 0-1 W 4-0 D 0-0 L 0-1 W 0-1 W 2-1 L 2-1 W 2-1 W 2-1 L 3-0 D 0-0 D 1-1* L 2-1 D 1-1

Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names *Krasnodar win on away goals

Players used Team statistics Players used Team statistics

App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards

Goalkeepers
1 Samir Handanovič 4 360
5 1 49 17 12 0
Goalkeepers
1 Stanislav Kritsyuk 4 360
11 12 131 43 23 1

12.3 per match 4.3 per match 39 Matvei Safonov 5 450 13.1 per match 4.3 per match Sent off:
Defenders Ramirez v SEV (a)
Time scored 88 Andrei Sinitsin 1 90 Time scored
6 Stefan de Vrij 3 270 2 5
Defenders
13 Andrea Ranocchia 2 118 1
1 1 1 3 Jón Gudni Fjóluson 2 180
18 Kwadwo Asamoah 3 270 2 2
4 Aleksandr Martynovich 9 810 1 1
21 Cédric 4 253 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Uroš Spajić 9 810
23 João Miranda 2 103 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120
6 Cristian Ramirez 8 678
33 Danilo D'Ambrosio 3 188 22 Ivan Taranov 1 1
37 Milan Škriniar 3 257 Averages Key features 49 Roman Shishkin 1 13 Averages Key features
Internazionale Krasnodar
Midfielders • 1 -4-2-3-1; switch to 98 Sergei Petrov 10 801 2 • 1 -4-2-3-1; switch to
Possession Possession
Max. 67% v Rapid Wien (a)
three-man defence Max. 64% v Standard Liège (h)
1-4-4-2 when pressing
8 Matías Vecino 4 360 1 57% with wing-backs when Midfielders 50% high; to 1-4-3-3 when
Min. 47% v Frankfurt (a) Min. 33% v Leverkusen (h)
11 Keita Baldé 1 90 chasing game 7 Wanderson 10 850 1 2 chasing game
14 Radja Nainggolan 2 172 Passes attempted •T
 actical flexibility, able 8 Yuri Gazinski 9 748 1 1 Passes attempted •H
 igh and disciplined
Max. 661 v Rapid Wien (h) to react well to in-game 14 Kristoffer Olsson 4 311 Max. 689 v Akhisar (h) defensive line; high
16 Matteo Politano 4 272 1 541 507
Min. 433 v Frankfurt (h) situations Min. 313 v Leverkusen (h) pressing
16 Viktor Claesson 9 772 2 1
20 Borja Valero 4 270 •B
 uilding from the back • Tactical flexibility
17 Pavel Mamaev 2 142 1
44 Ivan Perišić 4 328 1 1 Passing accuracy from goalkeeper; rarely Passing accuracy with impact players
Max. 89% v Rapid Wien (h) using long balls 20 Christian Cueva 6 259 Max. 89% v Akhisar (h) on the bench
77 Marcelo Brozović 2 152 84% 83%
Min. 77% v Frankfurt (a) Min. 71% v Leverkusen (h)
•P
 atient build-up with 33 Mauricio Pereyra 9 492 1 • Full-backs attacking
87 Antonio Candreva 4 224 1 short passing style 50 Artem Golubev 2 11 wide areas and
•G
 ood use of width with 70 Tornike Okriashvili 1 6 1 providing support
Forwards
Player statistics wingers (Politano, Perišić) Player statistics when going forward
10 Lautaro Martínez 3 246 1 77 Charles Kaboré 9 772 1
cutting inside to deliver • Composed and
Shots T OT G 89 Dmitri Stotski 8 482 Shots T OT G
68 Davide Merola 1 10 shots or crosses comfortable under
1 Ivan Perišić 9 4 1 93 Magomed Suleymanov 8 129 3 1 Wanderson 28 9 1 pressure
70 Sebastiano Esposito 1 17 •D
 efending in numbers;
2 Matteo Politano 6 2 1 2 Viktor Claesson 21 6 2
swift reorganisation to Forwards •C
 onstructive build-up from
3 Matías Vecino 5 2 1 drop behind ball 3 Ivan Ignatyev 15 5 0 the back with good use of
T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals
9 Ari 6 387 2 1 T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals full width of the pitch
• Intermediate midfield
pressing, high defensive 85 Ivan Ignatyev 6 305 •E
 ffective wing play with
Passes A C % press on occasions Passes A C % Wanderson quick, agile
1 Matías Vecino 223 190 85% •C
 onsistent threat from 1 Yuri Gazinski 538 457 85% and dangerous in 1v1s
2 Kwadwo Asamoah 208 181 87% deep, with three goals 2 Charles Kaboré 535 442 83% •G
 ood movement between
3 Borja Valero 205 182 89% and two assists from 3 Aleksandr Martynovich 525 469 89% the lines by Gazinski,
midfielders orchestrating transitions
App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

46 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE | TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/ 19 47

 SSC NAPOLI STADE RENNAIS FC
Italy France

Coach Team shape Coach Team shape

Carlo Ancelotti From first leg of last 16 v Salzburg Julien Stéphan From second leg of last 16 v Arsenal
Born: 10/06/1959, Reggiolo (ITA) Born: 18/09/1980,
Nationality: Rennes (FRA)
Italian Nationality:
Head coach: French
11
Since 23/05/2018 14 99 Head coach:
European trophies won: 6 Since 03/12/2018
18
14 7
TOTAL W D L TOTAL W D L
20 8 5 7
Matches in UEFA Matches in UEFA
8 21
Europa League/UEFA Cup* 32 17 6 9 Europa League/UEFA Cup* 5 3 1 1
6 26 19 23 15 27
Matches in European Matches in European 4 3
club competition** 208 116 47 45 club competition** 5 3 1 1
1 40
*Group stage to final **Including qualifying *Group stage to final **Including qualifying

Group C (UEFA Champions League) Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group K Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
CRV LIV PAR PAR CRV LIV FCZ FCZ SBG SBG ARS ARS JAB AST DK DK JAB AST BTS BTS ARS ARS
D 0-0 W 1-0 D 2-2 D 1-1 W 3-1 L 1-0 W 1-3 W 2-0 W 3-0 L 3-1 L 2-0 L 0-1 W 2-1 L 2-0 L 1-2 L 3-1 W 0-1 W 2-0 D 3-3 W 1-3 W 3-1 L 3-0

Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names

Players used Team statistics Players used Team statistics

App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards

Goalkeepers
1 Alex Meret 6 540
9 7 86 28 11 0
Goalkeepers
16 Abdoulaye Diallo 3 270
16 16 139 51 23 0

1 own goal 14.3 per match 4.7 per match 40 Tomáš Koubek 7 630 2 own goals 13.9 per match 5.1 per match
Defenders
Time scored Defenders Time scored
2 Kevin Malcuit 2 102 1 3 3 3
6 Mário Rui 4 289 1 2 Mehdi Zeffane 6 463 2
2 2 2 2 2
3 Damien Da Silva 10 900
13 Sebastiano Luperto 3 138 1 1 1 1 1 1
4 Mexer 7 630
19 Nikola Maksimović 4 316 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 Ramy Bensebaini 9 690 1
21 Vlad Chiricheş 3 224 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120
20 Gerzino Nyamsi 1 74
23 Elseid Hysaj 4 360 24 Ludovic Baal 1 27
26 Kalidou Koulibaly 5 450 Averages Key features 26 Jérémy Gelin 7 298 Averages Key features
Napoli Rennais
31 Faouzi Ghoulam 3 237 • 1 -4-4-2; also 1-4-4-1-1 when 27 Hamari Traore 8 676 • 1 -4-2-3-1; also 1-4-1-4-1
Possession Possession
Max. 67% v Arsenal (h)
Insigne supported Milik Max. 62% v Astana (h)
and 1-4-4-2
Midfielders 57% Midfielders 50%
Min. 39% v Salzburg (a) •C
 ompact defence with Min. 27% v Betis (h) • Tactical flexibility
5 Allan 6 443 zonal defending and 6 Jakob Johansson 4 208 and ability to adapt
8 Fabián Ruiz 5 443 1 Passes attempted clear tactical discipline 7 Ismaïla Sarr 9 734 4 3 Passes attempted to opponents and
Max. 712 v Zürich (h) • Predominantly patient 8 Clément Grenier 9 756 2 1 Max. 585 v Astana (h) game situations
11 Adam Ounas 4 115 1 1 590 Min. 444 v Salzburg (a) 419 Min. 247 v Betis (h)
build-up with Fabián Ruiz 12 James Lea Siliki 6 278 1 •A
 ctive early pressing
20 Piotr Zieliński 6 476 1 and Allan key players and high defensive line
14 Benjamin Bourigeaud 10 648 1 1
42 Amadou Diawara 4 161 Passing accuracy in midfield Passing accuracy • Compact, disciplined
Max. 88% v Zürich (h) 21 Benjamin Andre 8 708 1 Max. 86% v Astana (a)
84% •B
 uild-up also with 81% defence, supported
Forwards Min. 76% v Salzburg (a)
vertical passes 22 Romain Del Castillo 4 150 Min. 73% v Jablonec (a)
by forward-thinking
7 José Callejón 5 450 1 2 bypassing the midfield 23 Adrien Hunou 6 276 2 goalkeeper
9 Simone Verdi 1 90 1 • Switching play 28 Denis Will Poha 2 167 • Excellent off-ball
Player statistics with diagonal balls Player statistics movement and
14 Dries Mertens 5 360 2 Forwards recovery skills
Shots T OT G •C
 reative wing play Shots T OT G
24 Lorenzo Insigne 5 319 1 with dangerous crosses 9 Theoson Siebatcheu 3 184 1 •G
 ood occupation of
1 Arkadiusz Milik 16 8 2 1 M'Baye Niang 20 5 1
34 Amin Younes 3 39 • Quick combinations 11 M'Baye Niang 9 542 1 1 the field and links
2= Lorenzo Insigne 10 3 1 2 Ismaïla Sarr 19 9 4
with rapid transitions 18 Hatem Ben Arfa 9 594 2 1 between lines
99 Arkadiusz Milik 6 388 2 1 2= Fabián Ruiz 10 2 1 3= Clément Grenier 16 7 2
•G
 ood play between the •G
 ood use of width with
2= Piotr Zieliński 10 2 1 3= Ramy Bensebaini 16 2 1
lines through Insigne, quick transitions and
T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals
Callejón, Fabián Ruiz attacks over the wings
Passes A C % and Zieliński Passes A C % •E
 xcellent work ethic
1 Fabián Ruiz 358 310 87% 1 Clément Grenier 511 411 80% throughout team;
2 Kalidou Koulibaly 335 297 89% 2 Damien Da Silva 414 360 87% forwards tracking back
3 Piotr Zieliński 314 275 88% 3 Benjamin Andre 357 290 81% to assist midfielders
App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

48 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE | TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/ 19 49

 FC SALZBURG SEVILLA FC
Austria Spain

Coach Team shape Coach Team shape

Marco Rose From first leg of last 16 v Napoli Pablo Machín From second leg of last 16 v Slavia Praha
Born: 11/09/1976, Born: 07/04/1975,
Leipzig (GER) Soria (ESP)
Nationality: Nationality:
German Spanish 19 9
Head coach: 9 18 Head coach:
01/07/2017 to 30/06/2019 28/05/2018 to 15/03/2019
13 7 17
TOTAL W D L TOTAL W D L
16 42 21 10 16
Matches in UEFA Matches in UEFA
8
Europa League/UEFA Cup* 24 15 5 4 Europa League/UEFA Cup* 10 6 1 3
3 4 6
Matches in European 17 6 15 22 Matches in European
club competition** 34 21 9 4 club competition** 16 12 1 3
33 1
*Group stage to final **Including qualifying *Group stage to final **Including qualifying

Group B Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group J Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
LEI CEL RBK RBK LEI CEL BRU BRU NAP NAP STD KRA AKH AKH STD KRA LAZ LAZ SLP SLP
W 2-3 W 3-1 W 3-0 W 2-5 W 1-0 W 1-2 L 2-1 W 4-0 L 3-0 W 3-1 W 5-1 L 2-1 W 6-0 W 2-3 L 1-0 W 3-0 W 0-1 W 2-0 D 2-2 L 4-3*

Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names *After extra time

Players used Team statistics Players used Team statistics

App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards

Goalkeepers
33 Alexander Walke 10 900
25 12 178 63 21 0
Goalkeepers
1 Tomáš Vaclík 10 885
26 12 139 56 20 3

Defenders
1 own goal 17.8 per match 6.3 per match 13 Juan Soriano 1 45 2 own goals 13.9 per match 5.6 per match Sent off:
Gómez v AKH (a),
Time scored Defenders Time scored Sarabia v STD (a),
5 Albert Vallci 1 13 7 7 Vázquez v LAZ (h)
6 Jérôme Onguéné 5 450 5 3 Sergi Gómez 9 806 1 5 5
15 André Ramalho 9 810 1 4 4 4 Simon Kjær 7 660 3 3
17 Andreas Ulmer 10 900 5 2 2 11 Aleix Vidal 3 232 1 2
1 1
22 Stefan Lainer 10 900 2 0 0 0 14 Maximilian Wöber 1 45 0 0 0
1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120
34 Marin Pongračić 6 527 1 18 Sergio Escudero 4 261

Midfielders 23 Guilherme Arana 4 301 2

Averages Key features 24 Joris Gnagnon 2 180 Averages Key features
4 Amadou Haidara 4 360 1 Salzburg Sevilla
• 1 -4-3-1-2; 1-4-4-2 with 25 Gabriel Mercado 6 540 1 • 1-3-5-2
7 Reinhold Yabo 2 76 Possession Possession
Max. 66% v Celtic (h)
midfield diamond Max. 67% v Standard Liège (a) • Well-organised defence
8 Diadié Samassékou 10 885 54% Midfielders 55%
Min. 45% v Club Brugge (h), Leipzig (a) •H
 igh pressing starting with Min. 49% v Lazio (h) led by Kjær
13 Hannes Wolf 10 772 1 3 forwards on opposition 5 Ibrahim Amadou 6 190
•H
 igh pressing with quick
14 Dominik Szoboszlai 1 74 1 Passes attempted defenders 6 Daniel Carriço 6 451 Passes attempted transitions when regaining
16 Zlatko Junuzović 8 516 1 Max. 659 v Celtic (h) •G
 ood off-ball movement 7 Roque Mesa 9 661 1 1 Max. 629 v Krasnodar (h) possession
473 Min. 304 v Club Brugge (h) 526 Min. 441 v Slavia Praha (h)
18 Takumi Minamino 10 396 4 1 with forwards dropping 8 Nolito 4 186 1 1 •D
 eep playmaker Banega,
deep to recover dropping to build attacks
24 Christoph Leitgeb 3 27 1 10 Éver Banega 8 716 4 3
Passing accuracy possession Passing accuracy out of defence; providing
42 Xaver Schlager 8 626 1 1 Max. 88% v Celtic (h) 15 Maxime Gonalons 1 46 Max. 90% v Krasnodar (h)
81% •V
 ery fast transitions to 83% balance
Min. 71% v Leipzig (h), Leipzig (a) Min. 73% v Slavia Praha (a)
45 Enock Mwepu 5 200 attack, with Schlager and 16 Jesús Navas 8 632 2
•P
 atient build-up from deep,
Junuzović dynamic players 17 Pablo Sarabia 8 445 2 2 but quicker transitions in
Forwards
•Q
 uick combinations to 20 Marko Rog 3 115 more advanced positions
9 Munas Dabbur 10 856 8 Player statistics Player statistics
break through 22 Franco Vázquez 9 615 2 • Wing-backs penetrating
11 Smail Prevljak 4 25
Shots T OT G • Determined, committed Shots T OT G forward when attacking;
20 Patson Daka 4 156 2 and willing players with Forwards good cross delivery
1 Munas Dabbur 37 17 8 1 Éver Banega 19 5 4
21 Fredrik Gulbrandsen 9 429 5 1 positive mentality 9 Wissam Ben Yedder 8 621 8 • Attacking midfielders
2 Fredrik Gulbrandsen 29 13 5 2 Wissam Ben Yedder 17 12 8
30 Erling Braut Håland 1 4 • Attack-minded philosophy 12 André Silva 6 313 making runs beyond
3 Hannes Wolf 24 6 1 3 Quincy Promes 15 7 1
• Overlapping full-backs, 14 Luis Muriel 5 242 2 2 forwards
T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals
using full width and 19 Munir 3 199 2 •C
 onfident in possession
delivering dangerous and when under pressure;
Passes A C % crosses 21 Quincy Promes 10 757 1 3 Passes A C % positive mentality
1 André Ramalho 556 504 91% 1 Éver Banega 641 543 85% •D
 etermination to control
2 Andreas Ulmer 515 414 80% 2 Sergi Gómez 472 410 87% games with variety of
3 Stefan Lainer 489 377 77% 3 Roque Mesa 462 414 90% attacking approaches
App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

50 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE | TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/ 19 51

 SK SLAVIA PRAHA VALENCIA CF
Czech Republic Spain

Coach Team shape Coach Team shape

Jindřích Trpišovský From second leg of last 16 v Sevilla Marcelino From second leg of semi-final v Arsenal
Born: 27/02/1976, Born: 14/08/1965,
Prague (CZE) Villaviciosa (ESP)
Nationality: Nationality:
Czech Spanish
9 19
Head coach: 17 Head coach:
Since 22/12/2017 21 Since 23/05/2017
7 18
TOTAL W D L 33 27 TOTAL W D L
18 28
Matches in UEFA 22 Matches in UEFA 17 10
Europa League/UEFA Cup* 24 8 5 11 Europa League/UEFA Cup* 30 18 6 6
14 21
Matches in European 19 13 15 Matches in European 5 24
club competition** 33 15 6 12 club competition** 40 22 9 9
1 13
*Group stage to final **Including qualifying *Group stage to final **Including qualifying

Group C Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group H (UEFA Champions League) Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
BOR ZEN FCK FCK BOR ZEN GNK GNK SEV SEV CHE CHE JUV MU YB YB JUV MU CEL CEL KRA KRA VLR VLR ARS ARS
W 1-0 L 1-0 W 0-1 D 0-0 L 2-0 W 2-0 D 0-0 W 1-4 D 2-2 W 4-3* L 0-1 L 4-3 L 0-2 D 0-0 D 1-1 W 3-1 L 1-0 W 2-1 W 0-2 W 1-0 W 2-1 D 1-1 W 1-3 W 2-0 L 3-1 L 2-4

Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names *After extra time Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names

Players used Team statistics Players used Team statistics

App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards

Goalkeepers
1 Ondřej Kolář 12 1110
17 14 160 57 31 0
Goalkeepers
13 Neto 8 720
14 10 89 32 15 0

1 own goal 13.3 per match 4.8 per match 11.1 per match 4 per match
Defenders Defenders
Time scored Time scored
5 Vladimír Coufal 9 803 1 1 5 4 Facundo Roncaglia 3 238 5
12 Jaroslav Zelený 1 90 4 5 Gabriel 6 495
3 3 3
13 Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui 11 941 1 2 12 Mouctar Diakhaby 6 540 1
15 Ondřej Kúdela 9 840 1 1 1 14 José Gayà 4 360 1 1 1 1
18 Jan Bořil 11 1020 0 0 0 15 Lato 4 360 1 1 0 0 0 0
1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120
19 Simon Deli 9 662 1 21 Cristiano Piccini 5 346
25 Michal Frydrych 6 124 24 Ezequiel Garay 5 383
33 Alex Král 6 467 1 Averages Key features Midfielders
Averages Key features
Slavia Valencia CF
Midfielders • 1 -3-5-2; also 1-4-3-1-2 • 1 -4-4-2; also 1-5-3-2 for
Possession 6 Geoffrey Kondogbia 2 180 Possession
Max. 56% v København (h)
and 1-4-2-3-1 Max. 58% v Arsenal (h)
first leg of semi-final
6 Jan Sýkora 2 124 48% 7 Gonçalo Guedes 8 507 3 1 47%
Min. 42% v Sevilla (a) • Dynamic defensive Min. 39% v Celtic (a) • Deep, compact defence
8 Jaromír Zmrhal 12 883 2 structure with cover 8 Carlos Soler 7 508
•Q
 uick transitions from
10 Josef Hušbauer 7 543 2 Passes attempted from midfield when left 10 Daniel Parejo 7 557 1 1 Passes attempted defence to attack
17 Miroslav Stoch 12 888 2 1 Max. 472 v Zenit (a) wing-back Bořil advances 11 Denis Cheryshev 4 194 1 2 Max. 605 v Celtic (h)
403 Min. 325 v Sevilla (a) 463 Min. 381 v Krasnodar (a) • Counterattacking
20 Alexandru Băluţă 4 60 •B
 alance provided by 17 Francis Coquelin 7 439 style; forwards
Souček, occupying a free positioning themselves
22 Tomáš Souček 11 1020 2 3 18 Daniel Wass 7 545 1 1
Passing accuracy role ahead of defence Passing accuracy for quick breaks
23 Petr Ševčík 3 258 2 1 Max. 84% v Bordeaux (a), Zenit (a) 20 Ferrán Torres 4 260 Max. 90% v Celtic (h), Arsenal (h)
78% • Hard-working, energetic 85% • Direct approach to attack
Min. 68% v Sevilla (a) Min. 74% v Krasnodar (a)
27 Ibrahim-Benjamin Traoré 11 862 1 1 players with much Forwards •F
 ull-backs and midfielders
28 Lukáš Masopust 5 341 movement
9 Kevin Gameiro 8 382 3 1 supporting attacks
• Excellent tactical
Forwards Player statistics 16 Kangin Lee 2 36 Player statistics •D
 isciplined team with
organisation with players
9 Peter Olayinka 9 467 19 Rodrigo 5 344 2 2 hard-working players
able to adapt to different
Shots T OT G Shots T OT G • Well-prepared attacking
11 Stanislav Tecl 2 108 positions 22 Santi Mina 6 299
1 Miroslav Stoch 33 9 2 1 Kevin Gameiro 11 6 3 set plays
16 Jan Matoušek 4 177 1 •B
 uilding up from the back, 23 Rubén Sobrino 4 227 1 1 2 Daniel Parejo 10 4 1
2 Jaromír Zmrhal 18 6 2
14 Mick van Buren 4 64 1 looking for wide areas 3= Daniel Wass 9 5 1
3 Josef Hušbauer 17 4 0 with high wing-backs
21 Milan Škoda 8 360 2 1 3= Gonçalo Guedes 9 3 3
T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals
•Q
 uick transitions with 3= Rodrigo 9 3 2
fast, skilful players T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals
Passes A C % • Immediate pressing Passes A C %
1 Tomáš Souček 579 460 79% and transition down to 1 Daniel Parejo 475 426 90%
2 Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui 457 385 84% defence with good cover 2 Francis Coquelin 315 288 91%
3 Jan Bořil 426 329 77% 3 Daniel Wass 288 242 84%
App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

52 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE | TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/ 19 53

 VILLARREAL CF FC ZENIT
Spain Russia

Coach Team shape Coach Team shape

Javier Calleja From second leg of last 16 v Zenit Sergei Semak From first leg of last 16 v Villarreal
Born: 12/05/1978, Born: 27/02/1976,
Alcala de Henares (ESP) Sychanske (UKR)
Nationality: Nationality:
Spanish Russian 7
22
Head coach: Head coach:
Since 29/01/2019 9 7 Since 29/05/2018 11 20

TOTAL W D L 8 TOTAL W D L 27
25
Matches in UEFA 5 10 Matches in UEFA
Europa League/UEFA Cup* 18 6 7 5 11 2 Europa League/UEFA Cup* 10 4 2 4 14 19

Matches in European 6 4 3 Matches in European 44 6

club competition** 18 6 7 5 club competition** 15 7 2 6
13 99
*Group stage to final **Including qualifying *Group stage to final **Including qualifying

Group G Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group C Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
RAN SPM RPD RPD RAN SPM SCP SCP ZEN ZEN VAL VAL FCK SLP BOR BOR FCK SLP FEN FEN VLR VLR
D 2-2 D 3-3 W 5-0 D 0-0 D 0-0 W 2-0 W 0-1 D 1-1 W 1-3 W 2-1 L 1-3 L 2-0 D 1-1 W 1-0 W 2-1 D 1-1 W 1-0 L 2-0 L 1-0 W 3-1 L 1-3 L 2-1

Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names Dark orange = home, yellow = away; see page 5 for full club names

Players used Team statistics Players used Team statistics

App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards App Mins G A Goals scored Goals conceded Attempts On target Cards

Goalkeepers
13 Andrés Fernández 12 1080
20 13 179 65 29 2
Goalkeepers
41 Mikhail Kerzhakov 2 116
11 12 77 26 24 0

Defenders
1 own goal 14.9 per match 5.4 per match Sent off: 99 Andrei Lunev 9 784 7.7 per match 2.6 per match
Costa v RPD (h)
Time scored & v SPM (h) Defenders Time scored
2 Mario Gaspar 8 710 4 4 4
3 Álvaro 7 630 1 3 3 3 2 Aleksandr Anyukov 6 510 3
4 Ramiro Funes Mori 10 819 2 6 Branislav Ivanović 8 720 1
6 Víctor Ruiz 10 900 1 13 Luís Neto 5 450 1 1 1 1
11 Jaume Costa 6 529 0 0 0 15 Elmir Nabiullin 5 376 1 0 0 0 0
1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120
15 Miguel Llambrich 5 354 1 19 Igor Smolnikov 6 479
23 Daniele Bonera 3 225 23 Miha Mevlja 3 270
24 Miguel Layún 3 165 Averages Key features 30 Emanuel Mammana 4 360 Averages Key features
Villarreal Zenit
38 Andrei Ratiu 1 90 • 1 -3-5-2; also 1-4-2-3-1 44 Yaroslav Rakits’kyy 4 360 • 1-4-4-2; also 1-3-4-3
Possession Possession
39 Xavi Quintillà 1 90 Max. 64% v Rangers (a)
and 1-4-3-3 Max. 57% v Villarreal (a) • Experienced, authoritative
53% Midfielders 47%
Min. 43% v Zenit (h) • Well-disciplined and Min. 41% v København (h) central defenders
Midfielders well-organised defence 5 Leandro Paredes 5 450 1
• Applied immediate
5 Santiago Cáseres 9 574 Passes attempted •P
 atient build-up from the 8 Matías Kranevitter 4 315 Passes attempted pressure when losing
8 Pablo Fornals 12 877 3 3 Max. 635 v Valencia (a) back with deep midfielder 10 Claudio Marchisio 5 233 Max. 552 v Villarreal (a) possession
525 Min. 430 v Zenit (h) 421 Min. 327 v Fenerbahçe (h)
10 Vicente Iborra 5 264 1 (Santi Cazorla, Iborra) 14 Daler Kuzyaev 7 427 1 2 • Overlapping full-backs
acting as link with wingers tucking in
14 Manu Trigueros 7 498 17 Oleg Shatov 6 219
Passing accuracy •C
 omfortable in possession Passing accuracy
16 Alfonso Pedraza 8 563 1 20 Róbert Mak 10 573 2 1 •G
 ood attacking support
Max. 91% v Valencia (h) in all areas of the pitch; Max. 85% v Villarreal (a)
86% 81% provided by Mak;
Min. 77% v Spartak Moskva (a), Spartak Moskva (h) Min. 75% v Fenerbahçe (a)
18 Javi Fuego 4 259 keen to circulate the ball 21 Aleksandr Erokhin 5 409
technically gifted player
19 Santi Cazorla 10 392 2 1 •G
 ood use of width, 25 Wílmar Barrios 4 315 with strong dribbling skills
22 Daniel Raba 5 263 1 predominantly on left 27 Magomed Ozdoev 5 272 1 •D
 irect approach out
Player statistics with Costa, with good Player statistics of defence, bypassing
28 Manu Morlanes 5 315 1 33 Hernani 6 429
early crosses midfield and targeting
30 Samu Chukwueze 9 502 1 1 Shots T OT G 38 Leon Musaev 1 2 Shots T OT G
•T
 eam with good balance Dzyuba
1 Karl Toko Ekambi 27 10 3 1 Sardar Azmoun 10 6 3
Forwards and tactical discipline and Forwards •D
 zyuba with excellent
2 Gerard Moreno 26 11 4 2 Sebastian Driussi 10 0 0
7 Gerard Moreno 11 712 4 1 awareness; ability to adapt 7 Sardar Azmoun 4 242 3 1 aerial ability and hold-up
3 Samu Chukwueze 20 8 1 3 Hernani 7 2 0
9 Carlos Bacca 7 378 2 •P
 ositive team spirit 9 Aleksandr Kokorin 1 27 1 skills; influential player
T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals
and confident attitude •D
 angerous from set pieces
10 Nicola Sansone 3 230 11 Sebastian Driussi 10 756 1
•C
 onsistent threat from with excellent delivery
17 Karl Toko Ekambi 7 450 3 3 Passes A C % varied attacking set plays 22 Artem Dzyuba 7 624 1 1 Passes A C % from Mak
1 Víctor Ruiz 567 495 87% 29 Anton Zabolotny 8 183 1 1 Branislav Ivanović 346 279 81%
2 Pablo Fornals 542 444 82% 2 Leandro Paredes 318 272 86%
3 Ramiro Funes Mori 443 392 88% 3 Andrei Lunev 301 222 74%
App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

54 UEFA E UROPA LEAGUE | TECHNICAL REPORT 2018/ 19 55

ROLL OF
2019 Chelsea FC
2018 Club Atlético de Madrid
2017 Manchester United FC
2016 Sevilla FC
2015 Sevilla FC

HONOUR
2014 Sevilla FC
2013 Chelsea FC
2012 Club Atlético de Madrid
2011 FC Porto
2010 Club Atlético de Madrid
2009 FC Shakhtar Donetsk
2008 FC Zenit
2007 Sevilla FC
2006 Sevilla FC
2005 PFC CSKA Moskva
2004 Valencia CF
2003 FC Porto
2002 Feyenoord
2001 Liverpool FC
2000 Galatasaray AŞ
1999 Parma FC
1998 FC Internazionale Milano
1997 FC Schalke 04
1996 FC Bayern München
1995 Parma FC
1994 FC Internazionale Milano
1993 Juventus
1992 AFC Ajax
1991 FC Internazionale Milano
1990 Juventus
1989 SSC Napoli
1988 Bayer 04 Leverkusen
1987 IFK Göteborg
1986 Real Madrid CF
1985 Real Madrid CF
1984 Tottenham Hotspur FC
1983 RSC Anderlecht
1982 IFK Göteborg
1981 Ipswich Town FC
1980 Eintracht Frankfurt
1979 VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach
1978 PSV Eindhoven
1977 Juventus
1976 Liverpool FC
1975 VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach
1974 Feyenoord
1973 Liverpool FC
1972 Tottenham Hotspur FC

57
Editorial
Ben Gladwell, David Gough, Andrew Sam

UEFA technical observers

Milenko Ačimovič, Cristian Chivu, Savvas Constantinou,
Jerzy Engel, Hans Leitert, Stefan Majewski, Jarmo Matikainen,
Ginés Meléndez, Mixu Paatelainen, Thomas Schaaf,
Ghenadie Scurtul and Willibald Ruttensteiner

UEFA head of football education services

Frank K Ludolph

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