Premier League v Bundesliga, Ligue 1 v Serie A

We have reached the biting conclusion of the group stage of the ESPN League battle, presented by EA Sports FIFA 22, and having said our farewells to the four eliminated teams after the group stage – LaLiga, Eredivisie, Major League Soccer and Liga MX – we are ready for the semi-finals. Mark Ogden’s premier league faces Gab Marcotti and the Bundesliga, while Kay Murray and his Serie A All-Stars face defending champions Julien Laurens and Ligue 1.

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You can learn about the tournament rules and format here, then check out below to see team selections, tactics, and pre-match chat before watching match highlights and time reactions. real managers.

Jump to: Semi-final 1: Ligue 1 vs Serie A | Semi-final 2: Bundesliga v Premier League | Match results and statistics

SEMI-FINAL 1

LEAGUE 1 vs SERIES A

MANAGERS PRE-MATCH BRIEFINGS

Julien Laurens (Ligue 1)

“Now that we are in the commercial part of the competition with a place in the final on the line, I will of course bring back my ‘A’ game. The Bundesliga game didn’t matter to us as we had already dominated the squad, but I was still happy with the team’s performance despite a last minute loss. However, for this huge game, I come back to my strongest team and tactics. We’re going back to our signature 4-3-3 formation, and all of our key players are back.

“I have to make a big call this week between Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. Considering the Italian defense’s lack of pace, I think it would be great to play Mbappe early on with Messi able to come off the bench if necessary. I don’t think this Serie A side are very good – I don’t give their manager a lot of importance either, to be fair – so if we’re focused and serious, we’ll go to the final. We have so much talent on our team and a lot to give.

“The best is definitely yet to come from us, and I hope Serie A pushes us a bit so that we finally have a bit of competition in this tournament! It has been way too easy for us so far, but I have a lot of confidence in my players and I am confident that we will reach our second consecutive final. « 

Kay Murray (Serie A)

“After having a stable squad and roster during the group stage, it’s time to turn things around against Ligue 1. We’re going with five from behind to try and cancel the world-class attack that Ligue 1 – aka Paris Saint-Germain – – a at the front.

« I’m enjoying the depth of the defensive options available to me in Serie A – what other league would be able to squeeze a Giorgio Chiellini player off the bench after reaching the semi-finals without him? »

“But we should still be able to keep the balance all over the side to make sure there is enough firepower in our attack, with Paulo Dybala joining Ciro Immobile in the top two. « 

TEAMS & TACTICS

League 1 : 4-3-3 (with starting midfielder), balanced (attack), balanced (defense)

First XI: Anthony Lopes; Hamari Traoré, Marquinhos, Jason Denayer, Hassane Kamara; Houssem Aouar, Benjamin André, Renato Sanches; Kylian Mbappé, Wissam Ben Yedder, Neymar

Substitutes: Pau Lopez, Youcef Atal, Lionel Messi, Gelson Martins, Boubacar Kamara, Tiago Djalo, Andy Delort

Series A: 5-2-1-2, balanced (attack), constant pressure (defense)

First XI: Samir Handanovic; Juan Cuadrado, Milan Skriniar, Kalidou Koulibaly, Giorgio Chiellini, Theo Hernandez; Franck Kessie, Nicolo Barella; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic; Paulo Dybala, Ciro Immobile

Substitutes: Mike Maignan, Leonardo Spinazzola, Luis Alberto, Kostas Manolas, Federico Chiesa, Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne.

to play

An action-packed semi-final between the Premier League and the Bundesliga saw three missed penalties.

THE STRONG POINT GOES HERE

SEMI-FINAL 2

BUNDESLIGA vs. PREMIER LEAGUE

MANAGERS PRE-MATCH BRIEFINGS

Gabriele Marcotti (Bundesliga)

“So Erling Haaland came out, and I’m okay with that. I think it gives me a chance to play two wingers with Robert Lewandowski, supported by attacking full-backs Raphael Guerreiro and Nordi Mukiele. That’s why I go to a 3-4-3, with Matthias Ginter in the last three, I’m a little uncomfortable with Ginter’s pace, but I think it’s time to take some risks .

“Axel Witsel is back in central midfielder and, given that the Premier League has two central attacking midfielders behind three attackers, I hope that will give me a little extra experience.

« Do I miss Haaland? » Yes of course. But I felt like too often he and Lewandowski got in their way and retreated into midfield. I hope this lean system will work. The weakest area in the Premier League, very clearly, is the full-backs defensively and playing a winger and a winger on each side I hope to exploit that. I can’t wait to face Juls again in the final…  »

Mark Ogden (Premier League)

“After qualifying as a group winner, although a bit unconvincing, it’s time to make some tactical changes for the semi-final. So I strengthened the defensive midfielder by associating Kalvin Phillips and N’Golo Kante, and with Cristiano Ronaldo excluded by injury, I refined my attacking options by operating with Harry Kane as a striker lonely in front of Christian Pulisic, Kevin De Bruyne and Sadio Mane.

“With a stronger vision for the team and a lot of interesting attacking options, I expect to win against the Bundesliga. « 

TEAMS & TACTICS

Bundesliga: 3-4-3, balanced (attack), balanced (defense)

First XI: Manuel Neuer; Mats Hummels, Edmond Tapsoba, Matthias Ginter; Nordi Mukiele, Joshua Kimmich, Axel Witsel, Raphael Guerreiro; Moussa Diaby, Robert Lewandowski, Filip Kostic.

Alternates: Andreas Luthe, Angelino, Martin Hinteregger, Denis Zakaria, Serge Gnabry, Christopher Nkunku, Andrej Kramaric.

Premier League: 4-2-3-1, balanced (defense), balanced (attack)

First XI: Edouard Mendy; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ruben Dias, Virgil van Dijk, Luke Shaw; Kalvin Phillips, N’Golo Kanté; Christian Pulisic, Kevin De Bruyne, Sadio Mane; Harry Kane.

Alternates: Ederson, Kurt Zouma, Bruno Fernandes, Kai Havertz, Jack Grealish, Mohamed Salah, Michail Antonio.

to play

Wissam Ben Yedder strikes home to put Ligue 1 1-0 against Serie A in the League Battle semi-final.

THE STRONG POINT GOES HERE

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

Semi-final 1

Ligue 1 1-0 Serie A

Ben Yedder 9 ′

Semi-final 2

Premier League 3-2 Bundesliga (after extra time)

Kane 50 ′ (feather) 80 ′, Grealish 104 ′ (missed feathers: Salah 113 ′)
Witsel 54 ′, Lewandowski 69 ′ (missed feathers: Lewandowski 10 ′, Kramaric 105 ′)

DAY 1 RESULTS

group A

Bundesliga 1-1 Major Football League
Ligue 1 2-0 Liga

Group B

Premier League 4-2 Serie A
Liga MX 1-2 Eredivisie

DAY 2 RESULTS

group A

Bundesliga 1-1 LaLiga
Ligue 1 3-1 Major League Soccer

Group B

Liga MX 0-1 Serie A
Premier League 1-2 Eredivisie

DAY 3 RESULTS

group A

Bundesliga 2-1 Ligue 1
Major Football League 0-2 LaLiga

Group B

Serie A 3-1 Eredivisie
Premier League 3-1 Liga MX

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

Ligue 1 1-0 Serie A
Premier League 3-2 (AET) Bundesliga

GRAND FINAL (11 NOV.)

Ligue 1 vs Premier League