Borussia Dortmund: Analysing the 3-4-3 system under Lucien Favre
![DORTMUND, GERMANY - DECEMBER 10: Dortmund line up during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Borussia Dortmund and Slavia Praha at Signal Iduna Park on December 10, 2019 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) DORTMUND, GERMANY - DECEMBER 10: Dortmund line up during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Borussia Dortmund and Slavia Praha at Signal Iduna Park on December 10, 2019 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f6914364ec75118f3a975e1c27eeb41391bb343f11cac9b8003bc7f21bd5447a.jpg)
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.