The spare man at the far post 🎯

Milan against Lecce showed something useful from the training ground. When the ball went wide, Lecce's back line stayed narrow. Pulisic started between the full-back and centre-back, then attacked the space behind.

The pass over the top was not lucky. It was the only lane Lecce left open. Their average width was just 39 metres -1. That tells you where the gap lives.

If your opponent squeezes the middle, do not force the pass through it. Look for the runner attacking the space your shape has created outside.

The first ten minutes show you which lane the opponent is happy to give away.

Question: When you watch a back four stay narrow, do you look for the pass over the top or the switch to the far full-back?