For a team who has possession, what are the best ways to break down a good defense?

So in recent games there have been examples of a side dominating 70%+ of the ball, however they have been unable to create clear chances.

Atletico aren't a possession side at all and they struggled to break down Chelsea.

Bayern on the other hand are a pure possession side, however they were too passive. They made our defense look better than it is.

So what do you think are the best ways to break down a solid defense, for both a pure possession side and for a side forced to have possession?

well i can tell you you have to have equal amount of tiki and taka ,when you have too much tiki and no taka you end up with possession only

Get lucky, and I am serious.

Every team that has to play against a team that defends deep like Chelsea or Real Madrid did, everyone suffers. The only reason why people seems to think that Barça suffers more than anyone else, is because 99% of the oppositon that they play against plays that way, hence a bigger chance of losing.

Counter attack them.

Seriously, if a team is parking the bus, let them win an attacking free-kick and hit them on the counter from that, you have to be clinical though.

Kick wrote:Counter attack them.

Seriously, if a team is parking the bus, let them win an attacking free-kick and hit them on the counter from that, you have to be clinical though.

Real Madrid are a counter attacking team and they have even a bigger problem against a defensive team than Barça does. So I don't think thats the solution..

@Kick: I think you're making it sound easier than it is. If a team isn't pressing forward, I don't see how you will get them to do so.

I also get the feeling people are just starting to use the Tiki Taka label for the sake of it. If a team is going to have everyone behind the ball, it's not going to be easy to create spaces/chances without moving the ball around and picking/chooses your moments to penetrate. I don't think there is a best way to break down a team like that outside of remaining patient and forcing the defensive team to pressure the ball. For example, don't even bother pushing the ball forward, but that would be bordering on some Anderson Silva fights.

Shoot.

VivaStPauli wrote:Shoot.

Then it will be blocked by one of the 9 defenders..

There isn't a magic forumla against this tactic..

Gives you a better chance than not shooting, and trying to walk the ball into the net against 11 defenders.
A player in the mold of Robben or Kroos, maybe Lampard or Gerrard, can always snatch a goal from distance, and if not, it forces the bus-parking team to defend earlier, which creates spaces.

VivaStPauli wrote:Gives you a better chance than not shooting, and trying to walk the ball into the net against 11 defenders.
A player in the mold of Robben or Kroos, maybe Lampard or Gerrard, can always snatch a goal from distance, and if not, it forces the bus-parking team to defend earlier, which creates spaces.

Last night Atletico took 25 shot, not a single shot was threatening. In 2012 in the CL final I belive that Bayern took around 40+ shot, only scored 1 goal. Barca in the same season against Chelsea took 25 shot, 15 on target, didn't even score a goal etc

Maybe teams could try unconventional tactics? Like maybe literally overloading one side of the box when crossing or attacking.

The team who is sitting back would then have to work whether to stay in shape or to mark the players.

VivaStPauli wrote:Shoot.

This imo.

True that theres going to 8+ men in the box trying to block the shot, but if someone with a really good long shot gets a nice lay off outside the box theres also a chance their shot be deflected in, trick the GK etc

Yohan Modric wrote:Maybe teams could try unconventional tactics? Like maybe literally overloading one side of the box when crossing or attacking.

The team who is sitting back would then have to work whether to stay in shape or to mark the players.

Its an idea, but at the same time you are playing into the defending teams hands. Imagine if Atleti tried this last night and it allowed Chelsea to counter with Willian, Schurlle and Ramires

Pedram wrote:Give up the possession idea and join others, teams like Bayern and Barca are isolating themselves with insisting to play only way of football, it makes them predictable.

Whatever they like it or not possession is just not effective anymore, they have to deal with it.

What if the defending team just keeps on hoofing the ball up field like Chelsea did last night? Should the attacking team just leave the ball on the halfway line and wait for the defending team to start attacking?

Pedram wrote:Give up the possession idea and join others, teams like Bayern and Barca are isolating themselves with insisting to play only way of football, it makes them predictable.

Whatever they like it or not possession is just not effective anymore, they have to deal with it.

What style do you suggest they play? Perhaps they should give the other team the ball and put 11 men to defend as well? The philosophy is still a good one, it just seems other teams have grown content with countering with a defensive style. Team like Barca and Bayern (as well as other possession based teams) will have to figure a way to counter this new tactic, but I'm not sure there is one. But I don't understand your post...the philosophy and style is still a good one, it's not like Bayern have already lost the tie.

fatman123 wrote:

VivaStPauli wrote:Shoot.

This imo.

True that theres going to 8+ men in the box trying to block the shot, but if someone with a really good long shot gets a nice lay off outside the box theres also a chance their shot be deflected in, trick the GK etc

It's not that simple. Bayern took over 40+ shots in the 2012 CL final, scored only 1 goal. Barca took 25 shots against Chelsea, didn't help them score a goal.

harhar11 wrote:Should the attacking team just leave the ball on the halfway line and wait for the defending team to start attacking?

I'd love to see that

why would you want to bring up ur defence and pin the other team down and then struggle to break them? why choosing the extreme?

That is essentially what I was getting at, harhar, but I don't really think it should be attempted. But that is the only tactic I can think of when responding to a post like the one Pedram made. It is also exactly what I meant when using the Anderson Silva reference. I really can't think of anything else outside of not changing the philosophy of passing the ball and attempting to create space.

I think there have been overreactions when people claim the possession style is over and done with. It's still one that can succeed, especially when you have the players for it.

Accurate longshots ( forces the defenders to come close you down quickly) then try to play through balls.

fatman123 wrote:

harhar11 wrote:Should the attacking team just leave the ball on the halfway line and wait for the defending team to start attacking?

I'd love to see that

There is a big possibility of that happening if you and Real Madrid reaches the final

Long shots from the Half Moon area are the best possible solution. A tall CF who has good header and having good crossers is another. An Ibra-style player would be perfect though it also depends on who your playing against.

LOL Just saw Atletico Miniero get their clean sheet torn up by a long shot as I finished the above post. Go figure. lol

A few years ago united had an insane amount of own goals for their team, from memory it was because teams would park against them so they'd just shoot from outside the box and eventually a shot got deflected in. Harder against teams like Chelsea though when they throw every single person in front of the ball when you shoot.