Borussia Dortmund: Analysing the 3-4-3 system under Lucien Favre

From pressing to patience off-the-ball

Passes Per Defensive Action (PPDA) is the number of passes a team allows its opposition to make before performing a defensive action like a tackles (attempted/successful), interceptions and fouls. The lesser the number, the higher the press by the team without the ball. Comparing BVB’s PPDA in the opposition’s half with the 4-2-3-1 against the PPDA in the opposition half with the 3-4-3 gives us an interesting insight.

Favre’s men had a PPDA of a 9.8 passes under the 4-2-3-1, being the 5th highest pressing team while the PPDA under the 3-4-3 formation has been 12.8. This means that since the formation change, Dortmund allow their opposition 3 more passes in their own half and occupying the 14th place in terms of pressing among all Bundesliga teams.

From being the 5th highest pressing team, they have fallen 9 spots to become the 14th, a clear change in approach in terms of their defensive approach.

The change has clearly worked out in their favour as they conceded 18 goals from the 12 games under the 4-2-3-1 formation, while they have conceded 15 goals from the 13 games under the 3-4-3 formation. In terms of the quality of chances conceded, BVB had an xGA of 18.6 with the 4-2-3-1 compared to an xGA of 13.3. Again a clear indicator of how they have improved at conceding goal-scoring opportunities with the reduced pressing.