How Rangers' Giovanni van Bronckhorst became the 13th man with RB Leipzig solutions

Imagine telling the watching support on that day they’d reach a European final playing an aggressive man-marking system with Lundstram in a back three and scoring the winner, Glen Kamara as a makeshift No.10 and no centre-forward available.

What Giovanni van Bronckhorst has achieved on the European stage with Rangers is phenomenal. Granting consideration to the fact that he did not sign one of the 11 who started in either semi-final only strengthens his position. 

Initially, it was expected that having succeeded Steven Gerrard, van Bronckhorst would adapt the tactical blueprint he inherited at Ibrox. As it has panned out, the Dutchman’s move from zonal to man marking, tactical rigidity to variation and adopting of direct methods feels so very far away from previous seasons. Undeniably, it has worked.

The influence of his tactical variation and adaptability cannot be understated when considering the achievement of reaching a European final. Whether that be switching to a back five against Dortmund, fielding John Lundstram in a hybrid position between defence and midfield or navigating a double-header semi-final with no striker, his influence has at times been resemblant of a 13th man.

No half of football better epitomised that than the opening 45 minutes against RB Leipzig as van Bronckhorst once again struck the balance between limiting the opposition and maximising his team’s ability.

Lining up in a 3-4-3, shown in the starting 11 pass map, John Lundstram played to the right, allowing Connor Goldson to mark Youssef Poulsen. Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara stayed compact without the ball, while the latter moved to the left in possession.

This approach allowed Rangers to apply pressure high up the pitch, however, it carried with it inherent risk, as demonstrated on 14 minutes.

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Calvin Bassey, tracking Dani Olmo into the midfield, makes a rare mistake before Angelino also side-steps Ryan Jack. Suddenly, the visitors have created a three-v-two with seven players taken out by two passes.

Connor Goldson defends the situation superbly. Delaying his intervention to give his teammates the maximum chance of recovery and bending his run, meaning the ball can't be played into Poulsen's stride. 

This provides Jack with just enough time to make a vital tackle.

As was the case at Hampden last month when Bassey man-marked Tom Rogic to leave the defence in a constant three-v-three, this tactic was ambitious and aggressive. The rewards for van Bronckhorst’s bravery were returned later in the half; when bodies high up the pitch catalysed the game's second goal.

When forced to open up their opponents, Rangers had a dilemma. How were they supposed to get the ball up the pitch with no central striker to target?

The answer was two-fold. Similarly to the game plan at Parkhead last weekend, Rangers wanted to play over pressure rather than through it; likely in part because of Allan McGregor’s limitations in distribution as well as Leipzig’s obvious ability to transition quickly if they regained the ball in a promising area. The German’s pressure map features a lack of intensity in the opposition half because they were granted little opportunity to force turnovers.

The Ibrox side's pass map from the defensive to offensive half shows two key patterns of distribution. Diagonals to the right, an increasing feature of van Bronckhorst’s playbook, and straighter, lofted balls towards the left-wing. Not played into Ryan Kent, but Joe Aribo or Kamara.

Kamara has stagnated somewhat since Gerrard departed, unable to nail down a starting spot in his favoured position. In Europe, he’s been used as a No.10, given his technical ability, comfort playing with his back to goal and dynamism without the ball. It was his ability to act as a target over the Leipzig block that proved incisive as the deadlock was broken on 18 minutes. 

And, a similar pass that took place 12 minutes prior provides valuable insight as to how the ploy worked. 

As Lundstram plays a pass across the defence, two things happen. Firstly, the Leipzig team move forward to pressurise possession, which will provide space to attack in behind, and secondly, Kamara rotates from his spot in the centre to the left-wing.

Possession is worked to the left and just as Henrichs rushes up to close down Borna Barisic, instead of sitting high on his opposite number as the Rangers Review highlighted in midweek, Kent spins short dragging Lukas Klostermann with him, while Kamara has pulled Kevin Kampl out to the left.

While on this occasion no attack materialises, soon after Rangers got it just right.

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The same pattern repeats as Kamara goes long, Kent spins short and Barisic lofts possession over the first line of pressure.

Crucially, Kent has come so deep that Klostermann isn’t aware of his overlap, which Kamara does so well to access.

That provides the winger with enough space to attack the box, where he finds James Tavernier, arriving at the back post.

A second goal would be caused by high pressure, as van Bronckhorst’s desire to load up the top end of the pitch proved successful.

Scott Wright, who performed very well in a functional role, regained the ball with his team marking up man for man. Notice Bassey is in a similar position to the above example when the defence was left exposed, his positioning was a risk worth taking.

Intelligent interplay then saw the winger lay the ball off to Kamara, who superbly curled home the game’s second goal.

This was another tactical display full of pragmatism and invention. If Rangers do go on to achieve the unimaginable, van Bronckhorst’s tweaking and tinkering from the side will be one of the chief reasons behind the team’s success.