Sonia Bompastor — Rejuvenating Lyon with a new 4-3-3 style

Fluid midfielders, inverting full-backs, and a sense of identity

When Lyon replaced Jean-Luc Vasseur with Sonia Bompastor in April 2021, the club signalled their entry into a new era after their prior perceived failings. Losing their domestic and continental titles to Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona respectively, Lyon’s theatrical aura waned and a minor exodus began with Alex Greenwood, Nikita Parris, and Lucy Bronze returning back to England while Dzsenifer Marozsán, Sarah Bouhaddi, and Eugenie Le Sommer made loan moves to OL Reign.

Bompastor had a major rebuilding task on her hands and it was one that requires patience and time. Tactically, Lyon were built on individual brilliance with some nuances embedded across a couple of different managers. Reynold Pedros and Vasseur both employed similar tactics without changing the winning formula, but in reality, it was the players’ brilliance that pushed through season after season. This isn’t to say there were no exceptional tactics at all, it just required a more man-management style approach akin to Real Madrid. Unfortunately, cracks were beginning to appear on their road to their seventh Champions League title.

The arrival of Bompastor is more than just another coach to handle the big names. Jean-Michel Aulas wants to create another legacy and continue the dynasty left by the team of yesteryear and now compete with the best teams to dominate once again. This appointment is a clear indication of the need to bring the clichéd club DNA and here is how Bompastor has done so far.

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‘Queens of Europe 1.0’

Bompastor’s new progressive system provides both attacking variation and substantial cover in behind that suits the current squad. Understanding the main principles that Bompastor instilled requires a quick recap of the previous regime’s play style.

To put it simply, Lyon were a possession-dominant side that attacked in a very direct manner. Not route-one football, but rather their build-up and passes were kept to a minimum whilst still playing through the thirds. Systematically, the tailored formation was a 4-3-3 but throughout the games, it changed into a 4-2-3-1, 4-3-1-2, or 4-4-2 diamond. The concept was to create a flexible and unpredictable shape whilst retaining structural principles for both attacking and defending situations.

They used a combination of splitting centre-backs, advancing full-backs, and a dropping defensive midfielder to ensure compactness and numerical advantages to move the ball forward. Using the defensive midfielder as both a passing outlet and cover, they engaged and became the trigger to move forward when the full-back started to move up. This was followed by another midfielder playing as a third centre-back to allow the others to push forward if the wide pass wasn’t available.

Their passing patterns were more akin to a ‘zig-zag’ shape going from in to out and back out wide. The ultimate goal was to get the wide players into play and look to find crosses into the box.

If that didn’t work, it came down to the intelligence and genius of the two forward-thinking central midfielders in the 4-3-3. Amandine Henry and Amel Majri were fundamental to their success and often found line-breaking passes and progressive runs to create goal-scoring chances for Hegerberg and co.

Out of possession and defensively, they relied on a more man-marking pressing style that led to a swarming technique by creating wide pressing traps. Anything that was passed short was for the midfield to apply pressure using the attackers as support in a multi-player press. If they forced teams to go long, the aerial dominance of Wendie Renard and the rest of the defence meant they would win most of the aerial battles.

Understanding the out-of-possession defensive shape gives us the foundation for Lyon’s defensive structure. Lyon set up in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-2 diamond shape, which is triggered once the opposition starts playing out from the back. The attacking midfielder or winger often joins the striker to create the two up front.

The 4-4-2 has been a long-standing out-of-possession shape where then-manager Vasseur wanted central control by crowding the middle instead of using a flat 4-4-2. The main objective was to ensure Lyon maintain horizontal compactness in these areas. Part of this would involve the right-back – Lucy Bronze – to invert into a defensive midfield position to create an extra layer of central protection.

In essence, this is how Lyon were tactically built. The tactics themselves weren’t bad but they lacked any sort of plan B. The driving force behind their success was down to sheer quality and brilliance on an individual level, but that alone doesn’t work anymore, at least for them. The need for strong tactical concepts and nuances has become pronounced with Barcelona, the epitome of a team with a philosophy in full flow.

If you’re looking for a more in-depth read of Lyon’s tactical profile (which I’m sure my intelligent audience is) then you’re likely to find this in my first book titled Queens of Europe, which some of you may be familiar with.

Variation in build-up

The most important change Bompastor has brought is creating unpredictability in possession. She’s tried to implement a certain style of play with a number of formations but has lately settled on variants of the 4-3-3 that are ever-changing. The formation is a means of carrying out how she wants her side to play, rather than a strict set of positions. They look to attack through the wide players to stretch the pitch and are usually hovering between the wide touchline and half-space, looking for cut-backs and crosses.

The initial shape is that of a 4-3-3 but based on the rotations and movement of players, it does pivot into a 4-1-3-2 or 4-1-3-1-1. The system is implemented to create proper structure but also to suit the characteristics of her players. Continuous spatial distribution is a concept of positional play when it comes to player relationships. Spatial distribution is how well the team is able to maintain its shape and structure. While there isn’t perfect sync in players rotating in every part of the pitch, there isn’t an exact need – not in this iteration at least – but the patterns of play in the final third exhibit elements of this.

Once they reach the designated spaces in the final third, this is where the combination play and passing exchanges happen to ultimately decide the final choice of output – a cross or pass into the box, or just outside of it.

Whilst the Lyon of old relied on speed and pace on the wings, Bompastor’s side relies on a mixture of overloads and stretching the pitch wide to create openings in the final third. The central midfielders play an important role in attacking transitions with the front four. The holding midfielder steps forward to provide an outlet if they need to reset.

The other two central midfielders are positioned in between the lines to affect play in the final third. One midfielder is more of an auxiliary forward, No. 10, and attacking No. 8 all in one, being given a free role to attack where the spaces are to become the spare player. The last central midfielder is a creator and facilitator who connects the ball and fills in where required but is also given license to attack the channels.

These midfielders need to be positionally aware rather than take up specific positions. Being the most important cog in the machine in an attacking sense, they’re required to take up spaces the forwards have vacated to get on the end of attacking chances, whilst still being in a good defensive position to protect against defensive transitions which ultimately results in positional superiority. The three work in tandem to ensure the system dynamics are in constant play.

Bompastor’s philosophy has shades of different positional play concepts that have been on display to stretch the opposition and constantly move players into favourable positions but it’s the deepest lying player that unlocks the system.

Damaris had a very good match, as did Amandine Henry who freed Macario and Horan offensively. Our midfield was perfect tonight. Over the two legs, we controlled things against a very good Juventus team who work well together.

These are Bompastor’s quotes after the second leg against Juventus that typifies the role the No. 6 plays in her system. The defensive midfielder is tasked with freeing the two central midfielders by patrolling and protecting the back line in a nostalgic sense, almost a return to the original rendition of the position.

Inevitably, the most important player here is the No. 6. Often Damaris Egurrola, the Dutch midfielder has become Lyon’s engine and screen. Damaris’ positioning to receive passes and the intelligence to release and be in the right position is one of the key reasons for progression.

Out of possession, she is the anchor and point for rest defence - a term for how players in possession position themselves to defend immediately after a turnover. Cognizant of their noticeable improvement and importance, Bompastor has made the No. 6 position a defensive point of reference and their movement and positioning is key to keep shape.

Macario has taken the role of the free No. 8 on the left side of midfield and has become their attacking outlet from the heart of midfield. She has taken to the free role or that of a roaming No. 8/No. 10 diligently and is suited to being Lyon’s primary outlet. From here she makes deep runs to break between the lines and create passing angles and space for players around her.

Being the extra player, Macario is part of most combination plays happening on either half-space. The role doesn’t restrict her movement which means there’s a possibility to float and identify space to occupy. As a result, Macario has reached double figures in goal contributions this season and is looking very much like the player Lyon envisioned.

The right-sided midfielder is rotated between Lindsey Horan and Amandine Henry. The two players have slightly different profiles but both bring important details. Horan is a more nimble ball mover and the more creative of the two, but Henry’s presence is more of a calm passer with a direct ball progressing technique. It comes down to the opposition and game plan, but both are phenomenally talented players.

When the ball circulates out from the back, the centre-back will look to find a forward-thinking pass through one of two options. The first is a line-breaking pass into the central areas which then gets circulated wide. This is a ball into a dropping centre-forward or No.8 who then holds up the ball, sprays it wide and runs in behind. Lyon’s defenders are traditionally adept at playing positive passes forward, bypassing the midfield completely to get possession in the final third and that hasn’t changed under Bompastor, it’s just become an alternative option rather than a primary one.

The second, more elaborate scheme is a sort of wall pass into the full-back or winger who in turn plays it into a central midfielder. That drive inside attracts several players, opening up space for the near-sided No. 8 into space with the overlapping wide player just like Cascarino did for Damaris.

The pass from Kadiesha Buchanan to Cascarino forces three Juventus players to leave their positions to press the winger. She manages to drive far enough inside to lay off a pass to the Dutch midfielder who plays a first-time pass into Lindsey Horan’s path and the American is able to receive in space. Though M’Bock was used slightly differently against Juventus, her presence out wide was a product of the system.

There’s been a right-side bias given the imbalanced full-backs (in the two legs against Juventus), but each side has its own strengths and we’ve seen time and time again how the Macario/Bacha union has been a reliable source of chance creation. Indeed, it’s the juxtaposition of the two that makes them so complimentary. The French full-back is an energetic, comfortable crosser while Macario is a mercurial floating No. 10, capable of identifying space to open up defences.

Bompastor has managed to concoct multiple ways of progression into the final third without being overly reliant on just one mechanism.

Wide attackers look to fashion one-v-one chances

The attacking players are involved in two phases of play – one is build-up which was explained earlier, but the second is getting into wider spaces to create clear crossing opportunities by isolating the opposition full-back.

There are two clear principles Bompastor wants from her wide players. The ball-carrying side needs to create passing combinations to create a final ball chance. This stretches the opposition, luring them toward that side, then switching the ball for the other forward to engage in a 1 v 1 against an overmatched full-back or a late run from one of the central midfielders in the form of a cross.

The 2–3-5 structure is Bompastor’s go-to so far in attacking transitions, championing the aforementioned overload principle. Using a quick, lopsided build-up structure puts the attackers in a good position to enter the final third. Most importantly, their construction of the 5 is unpredictable. Between the full-backs and attacking No.8s, any one of them can join to create the attacking

“It’s not about moving the ball, it’s about moving the opponent.” — Juan Manuel Lillo

The older system saw Cascarino play more as an out-and-out winger tasked with getting to the byline and taking players on 1 v 1. The difference now is in how she gets to those areas and is actively participating more with the players around her.

Bompastor has a rotating cast of 4-5 wingers that range from ball-to-feet dribblers to ‘wing merchants’. The team requires players who are good on their feet but adept at surveying space and pouncing on chances on the opposite side. The usual suspects of late are Cascarino and Melvine Malard, both of whom are atypical of how she has chosen to operate.

The start of the season had Selma Bacha as the nominal left-winger but she’s been pushed back to left-back, giving Lyon more dynamism down the flank with Bacha as a much better attacking threat over Perle Morroni. The way the midfield is set up allows for a bit more endeavour for combination play with Macario and it gives the overload more substance.

The full-backs interchange between an interior and exterior position that is determined by the movement of the winger which makes their role very important – but we’ll come back to that later.

When a player in the wide space picks up the ball after receiving it from the central midfielder, they look to generate one-two passing combinations with the aim to find space to look for the next move. A narrow cross or infield pass is their favoured move, but they aren’t averse to crossing it from wide just as they did against Juventus.

The Hegerberg goal was a result of good build-up and movement on the right side before the final ball came from the left. The initial build-up to get Cascarino and Horan into an attacking position was clever and the two combined to circulate the ball till an opening presented itself. M’Bock’s push forward attracts players with Cascarino in the half-space. Horan is available in acres of space to cross and is put in a 1 v 1 position. The continued interchange was a series of mini solo battles that eventually led to a smart pass.

The Bompastor special comes from M’Bock’s burst into the box who crosses into the corridor of uncertainty. The resulting ball reaches Selma Bacha who crosses expertly to find the Norwegian talismanic figure.

Lyon’s second goal against Juventus in the second leg epitomised ‘Bompastor ball’.

The combination play between Damaris, Horan, and M’Bock resulted in space for Horan to drive into. A check back opened space for the American to cross for Melvine Malard to attack the back post in an advantageous 1 v 1 position which leads us perfectly into my next point.

In both goals, the widest player was given space to drive against the full-back to innovate and either finish or create the goal. It’s in these positions that Bompastor has ensured unpredictability and a method for an improved volume of chance creation.

Multipurpose full-backs

Probably Bompastor’s biggest mark on the team so far is the role of the full-backs. The stark improvement in Ellie Carpenter’s play has been phenomenal and Bacha’s maturity has prompted her to be entrusted with the left-back position, once again keeping Morroni on the bench.

While there are no obvious playmakers in the side, the two full-backs have become hybrid midfielders and wingers looking to create chances. The previous examples have already explained how the full-backs interact in the forward areas by interchanging positions internally and externally to create crossing opportunities whilst the opposite full-back takes up a supporting position.

Lucy Bronze and Sakina Karchaoui bombed forward at every given opportunity with a clear remit to occupy the wide areas for Eugenie Le Sommer and Cascarino to do most of the attacking work. Bronze regularly played as an inverted right-back, providing central cover and half-space support. Replacing the English right-back was going to be a tall order and of all the tactical plays of the Vasseur years, Bronze’s was arguably the most intricate. Karchaoui, however, was more orthodox and played to Le Sommer’s strengths of staying on the outside.

Now, the two full-backs are very interchangeable with their positioning. They aren’t relegated to the flanks but will venture in field to keep the overload. The heat maps comparison between Carpenter and Bronze are identical with the former replicating the attacking and defensive patterns of play of her predecessor. Bompastor seems to have successfully transformed Carpenter into a Lucy Bronze 2.0.

The concept of being defensively sustainable in this system comes from the extra support provided by a full-back tucking inside when out of possession. Lyon rotate between a 4-1-3-2 or a 4-1-2-1-2 structure out of possession to create better rest defence. Three of the back four stay narrower to keep compactness and outnumber attackers with at least two in front.

Any counter-attacking transitions can be dealt with through numerical superiority, forcing the opposition into the wide areas. The diamond press includes two high pressing forwards and three central players to ensure there is enough compactness and pressure to block any supply through the middle. This forces route-one football from the opponent and given the gigantic frame of Damaris and Renard, Lyon have enough to dominate the aerial battle. However, if teams do play out from the back, these players swarm in packs to press in pairs or trios to win the turnover.

Bompastor has juggled her full-back combinations, opting to use M’Bock as an alternate full-back – most recently against Juventus as both a left-back and right-back. Whilst this was a scheme for a specific game, part of the role she wants from the full-back was still on display. M’Bock did foray forward and at times did contribute offensively, but is inferior to Carpenter who has the stamina and pace to patrol the flanks, not to mention her attacking qualities. Her presence was more for her defensive acumen but Carpenter’s place cannot be understated.

The full-backs have been crucial in their out-of-possession and in-possession structures by being a third auxiliary centre-back and an under/overlapping full-back. Without re-explaining the concept, their athleticism and ability to stretch teams wide means both are comfortable reacting to wingers' movement and thus taking up spaces accordingly.

This goal was a result of Carpenter’s interior run forward and though she is dispossessed, her presence in the box was an outlet to cross into the crowd. The cross was overhit but the overload and intent were enough to attract Juventus’ backline to the right for Bacha to cross and Macario to score.

This pass from Bacha shows vision and intelligence to react in creating chances. The run from Henry is precise after attracting three players towards her. Both full-backs have been defensively and attacking-wise solid, and it’s been a hallmark of the way Bompastor has upgraded their roles since Vasseur left.

The results have been good, to say the least, but the performances have also gradually improved over time. A coach like Bompastor would still probably like more control – especially in defensive transitions. It isn’t perfect given the way they wilted under pressure against Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain over the course of the season, but the signs of a long-term, sustainable model are evident.

Bompastor could be one of the few coaches in the women’s game that could surpass the postmodern, bureaucratic system football operates in to emulate Emma Hayes’ tenure. Indeed, she has the aura and respect to command similar to that of the Chelsea coach, but that will only really come with results and so far, the results are decisive. The league might still well be in reach but it remains to be seen if they can topple the new Queens of Europe: FC Barcelona Femini to retain the elusive UEFA Women’s Champions League crown.

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