Describe opportunities for the opponent in breaking the defense of Zenit (Spb)

1. FC Zenit Spb: summary on analysis of the defense
(appendix to video ​https://vimeo.com/408372812​)
General info
FC “Zenit” plays 4-4-2 formation in defense.
In most cases the team starts defensive action with high pressing directing the opponent's
attacks towards the flank. Otherwise, they use medium-block with weak compactness between
the lines and with the focus on defending the central zone. They play standard zonal defending
in 4-4-2 shape on their own half.
How the team concedes
The team conceded only 24 goals in 31 games.
Most of the goals in the season came after crosses and entries from the flank (8 with the
penalties as a consequence). 6 from last 10 goals were conceded after the passes from the
flank.
Zones for attacks development (zones for advancing the ball)
The opponents played the most of the progressive passes to the advantage positions through1
semi-flank zones (opened passing lines between holding and wide midfielders) with the
following pass to the flank.
The zones of successful passes to the advantage position
1
​progressive pass to avd.position - is the pass on the opponent’s half, after which a player, who receives
the ball, continues to move with the ball towards the opponent's goal (the first pass in the set-pieces is not
counted).

2. Proposals
Use holding midfielder in overcoming the high pressing in the start of attacks
The team aims at forcing central back to play to the flank - strikers put pressure on central
defenders, wingers control fullbacks. The central midfielders don’t control the movements of the
opponent’s holding midfielders properly in the zone above central defenders. The way of
overcoming high pressing is playing through holding midfielder.
Use flanks in the transition to defense after the loss on opponent’s half
The gaps in the defense are usually created in transition to defense.
After losing possession the team aims at compressing space in the zone of the ball - wingers
run into the zone and holding midfielder can advance to tackle the opponent with the ball.
Fullbacks get back to the defensive line at once.
After winning the possession the openings of players in the inside channels in the midfield can
give ways for starting the fast attack.
On their own half the team defends in 6 players (4+2) against fast attacks and there are the
opportunities to create 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 on the flank. The players with good dribbling skills are
favorable in the positions of wingers/fullbacks. And the fullbacks need to support the attacks on
the flanks - overload the flanks.
Ways of creating threats in the positional attacks of the opponent
There are the following opportunities for creating threats:
● Delivery the ball to the deep flank zone from which the player can cross or enter into the
box
The opponents delivered the ball to the flank via link-player between the lines.
The gaps between the lines and opened pass line in midfield are created:
- after the opponent changes the side of attacks;
- after the back pass from flank to the central zone (the defensive line advances with
delay).
● In flank attacks the central midfielders lose run of the opponent from the inside channel
(semi-flank) into the box - use it as the extra way for the pass from the flank.
● The crosses from the semi-flank zone aimed at the zone of far fullback (behind the
defensive line) create threats to the goal.