Nottingham Forest v Porto - Take 3

Vitor Pereira went with a back 5 last week in Portugal, let's look at where this worked for Forest, and where Porto were able to take control in the early stages.

Forest had to weather the storm in the early stages of the first leg in Porto last week - the decision to go with a back 5 wasn’t necessarily a bad one, but with the attacking personnel at wing-backs, and two players yet to convince they should be starting regularly in the wide centre back roles, Porto were able to cause a lot of problems.

The Opening Stages

Those of you who have read my initial deep dive on Vitor Pereira when he was appointed will remember that he likes to put 5 players on the front line when building up from the back. This idea creates more space in your own half to help build moves, but also comes with it’s own risks.

With the wing-backs pushing really high, that leaves your 3 centre backs having to cover lots of space inside their own half. Pereira’s principles mean that he wants players to be proactive for the most part, but when your wide centre back pushes almost into the final third and fails to win the ball back - naturally Forest will be left short at the back.

This first chance for Porto came in the opening minute, and it was a fine save from Ortega that kept the scoreline level. The central midfielders don’t do well here either, with first Yates & then Dominguez failing to track the late runner who eventually takes a poor shot on the rebound.

In this next clip, with the scoreline still 0-0, we see Forest sitting back in a flat 5. This system can be flexible, allowing a wing-back to press high with the rest of the defenders then forming what looks like a conventional back 4.

The system still requires players that remain switched on though, particularly at wing-back and then as the wide centre back. Unless you’re intending to play a low-block, these systems are designed with more attacking-minded wide centre backs, rather than ones that you’d class as defensively solid.

Yates wants to pass his midfield runner on, which would be fine if Forest’s defence are able to shuffle across. But this is when it comes down to personnel - with Pereira consistently rotating in Europe, Forest have the attack-minded Bakwa positioned here essentially as a right back.

He doesn’t have the defensive nous to tuck, when someone like Aina & Williams probably would. That prevents Abbott from shuffling across to deal with the midfield runner quickly, and makes it very easy for Porto to take him out of the play with a quick pass and eventually a poor shot.

Porto’s Opening Goal

Initially in this clip we see some promising work from Forest. It’s so important at this level to press as a team, otherwise you’re often better in staying back and regrouping rather than individuals wasting their energy running out of position.

Here, Forest press really well - firstly with Gibbs-White who follows the ball whilst cutting off passing lanes. He’s joined by McAtee & Wood centrally, with Ndoye, Yates & eventually Bakwa helping too.

Forest eventually turn the ball over after they give the Porto defender nowhere to go - this is the result of a really well formed press, and shows that even when Forest are a little under the cosh they still have the ability to disrupt their opponents.

Bakwa shows some really nice quick footwork and almost plays Chris Wood in behind the defence - unfortunately the pass is overhit, and it’s now when things start to go wrong for Forest.