Chelsea vs RB Salzburg: Three things to look out for

While on the ball, the team transitions into a 4-2-3-1, with one wing-back pushing forward into midfield to create the attacking trio. During the 2021/22 season, this was often Leandro Trossard on the left and it could this time be Reece James on the right, especially with Wesley Fofana or Cesar Azpilicueta as his right center-back, who could drift over. The right wingback could drifts centrally to become the No.10 and allow the wide players to advance further up the pitch in support.

Defensively, Potter’s sides do not press hard when the opponent is in sustained possession, but they do deploy a counter-press when turning the ball over. The intent is to immediately win the ball back — but if that fails, they fall back into the defensive structure.
The team is situated with a 5-3-2 formation, as both wing-backs drop to support the back line. If the opponent looks to progress through the midfield, they are closed down by multiple midfielders, with the goal being to push the opposition wide.

That tactic allows Brighton to spring transitional traps as they already have the ball in wide areas should the opponent turn the ball over. Yves Bissouma was Brighton’s key defensive midfielder during 2021/22, and he was Albion’s best performer – a position which N’golo Kante or Denis Zakaria would thrive in – so consistently that Tottenham Hotspur came calling for him once the season was over.