A One-sided Southwest Derby

Sporting Lagos trash title challengers Remo Stars.

Before kickoff, one would be hard-pressed to think Sporting Lagos would come away with a victory much less a trashing of the title hopefuls. Remo Stars were 4th in the table and chasing the title, their record in Southwestern derbies was impeccable being undefeated in 14 games. Meanwhile, Sporting Lagos had been keeping one eye over their shoulder as they sat just a few points away from the relegation zone in 12th. However, the form of both teams going into the game would have provided much needed optimism for the home side. The hosts had won 3 of their last five games, with three of those wins being at home in contrast Remo Stars are winless and goalless in 3 of their last five games, all of them being away.

LINEUP:

Remo Stars set up in their regular 3–5–2.

Sporting Lagos set up in a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1

SPORTING LAGOS:

Sporting Lagos’s game plan was to frustrate and capitalise. They initially pressed high in a 4231 shape after kickoff in an attempt to disrupt Remo Stars’ patient buildup and when this failed they invited Remo Stars into their half by sitting off in a 4411 low block.

(High press from Sporting Lagos.)

(Another High press after going 1–0 up)

(4411 low block from Sporting Lagos)

They were not passive when in their low block. When Remo entered their half, they would press aggressively pouncing on poor touches or loose passes and immediately exploiting the space. They would regularly have 4 or 5 players attacking Remo Stars 3 CBs as the latter have pushed their wingbacks high up the pitch.

(CB aggressive on ST)

(Wins ball but ref incorrectly calls foul.)

This factored into their first goal as Godwin Ogbeje sprung a counter from an early corner and won a penalty which Junior Lokosa put away.

In the build-up they vary between long and short passes, preferring the former setting up in a 244/2431 shape. This had both the FBs inverted into midfield to join the double pivot while the wingers maintained width. Sporting Lagos used rotations to attack the wide channels either with short passes or a long ball into space for their pacy attackers to pounce on. This led to a multitude of crosses and cutbacks.

(244 shape when going long.)

(Sporting Lagos 2431 shape when going short.)

(RW passes it to FB who spots space in behind.)

(ST makes a run into space and receives the ball from FB)

REMO STARS:

Remo Stars gameplan was in stark contrast to their hosts. Their aim, as always, is to keep the ball and play through the opposition with a combination of short passes with fluid movement before going out wide and putting crosses into the box.

(Remo Stars break through the press finding the ST)

(ST receives in space and finds the overlapping CM)

(CM drives down the touchline before putting in a cross.)

In possession, they adopted a 325 shape with both the wingbacks high and wide. The CMs were encouraged to rotate with each other and the wingbacks to destabilise Sporting Lagos’s block as seen in their goal.

(Remo Stars in a 316 shape.)

(DM beats his man and finds CM BTL.)

(DM receives it back and finds ST.)

(ST finds a wingback whose cross finds the ST for the goal.)

Because Sporting Lagos went long in the build-up, Remo Stars sat in a 442 midblock with the DM joining the backline. This was to combat the CAM of Sporting Lagos pushing up to join his ST.

(442 midblock from Remo Stars.)

However, when Sporting played out they would press in a 352. Depending on which side Sporting played down, the wingback would push up on his winger while the other wingback joined the midfield leaving the CB to deal with the other winger.

(352 press from Remo Stars.)

They won a lot of second balls but could not capitalise due to poor passing and touches.

DECIDING FACTORS:

. Although Remo Stars had the majority of possession (62%), their impatience led to a lot of dangerous ball losses in the middle of the pitch which allowed Sporting Lagos to counter.

. Remo Stars’ shape was too fluid in possession as they shifted between a 325 and 316 shape, which led to a less compact team.

. The defensive discipline from Sporting Lagos wore down their opposition. Their aggression when pressing and their denial of any meaningful space drained Remo Stars mentally and physically.

. The pace of Sporting Lagos’s attackers especially their wingers allowed them to attack the space left by Remo Stars’ wingbacks.

CONCLUSION:

Paul Offor’s game plan led Sporting Lagos to a resounding victory in the Southwest Derby as they pulled further away from the relegation battle with their 4th home win in a row. For Daniel Ogunmodede it’s back to the drawing board for him and Remo Stars as they need to get back on track so as not to be left behind in the title race.