#formation-change

#formation-change

For the majority of his time as AC Milan manager, Massimiliano Allegri has played a 3-5-2. However, he could revert to a 4-3-3. In his first game, Allegri tried a 4-3-3 formation, and it didn't work. So, that was the end of that. Milan moved to a 3-5-2, and it has stuck ever since, thanks to the fantastic run of performances that the system has provided.

Fletcher, taking charge of his first ever game as a senior manager, fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation, going completely against Amorim's previous 3-4-2-1 that the Portuguese was wedded to. He started Senne Lammens in net, although deputy Altay Bayindir could get a look-in for this game. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw were at full-back, with natural left wing-back Patrick Dorgu in a more advanced position off the left flank.

Burnley went ahead 13 minutes in when Ayden Heaven inadvertently turned Bashir Humphreys' cross into his own net but United having dispensed with Amorim's much-maligned 3-4-3 formation, responded excellently. They saw two shots cleared off the line and Lisandro Martinez had a goal disallowed for a foul before Benjamin Sesko scored twice in 10 second-half minutes to turn the game on its head.

FC Bayern visit 1. FC Heidenheim on Sunday (17:30 CET) - and face opponents who have made notable progress lately. Following two heavy defeats, coach Frank Schmidt changed the formation to make his team more solid and compact. Since then, Heidenheim look more aggressive and clearer in their patterns again - and more awkward to play against. What that means for the upcoming encounter, what principles are behind Schmidt's approach and what the priorities are for the Munich men are revealed in the opposition profile.

A change of formation, from 4-2-3-1 to 3-4-2-1, by manager Jimmy Thelin has led to a run of five clean sheets in seven domestic games and a rise from bottom spot to seventh place, three points off the top six. Their newly found steel at the back means only Celtic and Rangers have taken more points over the past eight league matches.

With respect to Hibs, who played well in those two games losing only to a stunning Junior Brumado bicycle kick with little more than a minute left of extra time at Easter Road, the Danes looked pretty ordinary in July. They haven't looked back since though, losing once all season as they powered their way through the rest of the qualifiers, battering Fredrikstad 5-1 and KuPS 6-0, to reach the league stage.

It was a relatively bold call to drop Salah, but one that made complete sense after four successive defeats. Rotate' always comes across as if, Oh, let someone else play a little bit as well', said the Reds' head coach ahead of the game. But I said many times, we have a lot of good players and I can use them all.