Thread by @LamdarhriAchraf

Como (Cesc Fabregas) was a pain to Lazio (Mauricio Sarri).

Como brought Fabregas' flexible playing style into reality In & Out of possession.

Off-ball movement and smooth mobility to open up passing lanes through & around Lazio's high press/mid-block.

🧵A Thread🔵⚪️

Como tended to overload Lazio in midfield by making one of the DPs drop back and invite pressure.

Lazio, in fact, committed a player (Dele-Bashiru below) to advance.

From Como side, the numerical superiority was provided by Douvikas moving deeper into midfield.

Lazio remained compact horizontally (Zaccagni & Cancellieri narrowing inside), however, it allowed Como to find a wide option.

Also, the LB Valle was tasked with multiple roles. One of them was to push on inside to pin the CB, permit the ST to drop off, and vacate the wide channel for the winger Rodriguez to drop.

Even if the LB, Valle, held his position, Lazio's horizontal compact shape OOP, enabled Como's wide access.

So, Fabregas' team intended to enter the center passing by the wide corridors and then find Douvikas BTLs.

Lazio's CBs didn't step out & follow Como's ST, which led to Cataldi often getting overloaded. From there, it was easy to find the opposite winger.

The same thing kept happening.

Como generated the numerical edge in the initial phase, through which they were able to find the wide option.

Douvikas, as a false nine, dropped out BTLs, received, and picked out the opposite winger.

Como also relied on overloading Lazio in the buildup by making one of the DPs form a situational back three.

That allowed the FBs to push high up and narrow inside, creating a numerical advantage vs Lazio's FBs.

When Douvikas offered depth by pinning the CB, the RB Van Der Brempt, alongside Nico Paz, offered central solutions.

Below, Van Der Brempt & Paz outnumber Cataldi. Nico Paz receives down the RHS, combines in 1-2, accesses the space BTLs & finds the opposite winger.

In the high press, Como kept an extra player in the backline with the wingers instructed with a dual role (marking the FBs or CBs based on the play)

Como funneled Lazio toward the touchlines with a man-marking approach in midfield.

Generally, Lazio aimed to find the winger via short passes near the flanks or via long balls.

But, Como's FBs were aggressive in stepping out while the rest of the backline shuffled across to provide defensive security behind.

For Como Fabregas, the depth & width are always provided (it doesn't matter who provides that option, the context & situation are more important)

Floaters and anchors, as @saundzo came up first with the idea, and pinners, as @Jon_Mackenzie added.