The UEFA Champions League final taking place in Budapest will be a showdown between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal - two top European teams with very different tactical identities.
The style of both has been clearly defined, making the game situation somewhat conceivable from before. PSG, the team that controls the ball overwhelmingly with an average rate of 64.6% per game in Ligue 1 this season, often deploys smoothly through the lines to move forward. Meanwhile, Arsenal - the team that conceded the fewest goals and scored the most goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season - stands out thanks to its certainty, organization and ability to take advantage of opportunities.
That does not mean that the match will simply be a confrontation between Luis Enrique's attack and the defense built by Mikel Arteta. Arsenal still has many individuals who can create breakthroughs, and PSG is also ready to play pragmatically when necessary. However, most fans entered the match with a clear feeling about the style that the two teams will show.
However, besides the overall tactical picture, there are still many notable details that can decide the final match.
PSG's strange serving habit
In an era where set pieces are increasingly being creativeized, it is no longer too strange for a team to actively play the ball straight to the sideline right after the opening whistle. However, PSG - one of the teams with the best ball control in the world - often applying this option still surprises many people.
According to set-piece analyst Stuart Reid, PSG's goal is to quickly push the squad higher and put pressure from the beginning of the match.
The idea is to put the opponent in a passive position immediately. You get the ball back from the throw-in and quickly control the ball in the opponent's half of the field" - Reid explained.
PSG does that very effectively. In the last two matches in Ligue 1, they both regained possession of the ball within 30 seconds after serving. However, it is noteworthy that PSG rarely takes advantage of that situation to launch an early shot.
Instead, they often deploy the ball back to the lower line and then gradually control the game. According to Reid, Luis Enrique may want to avoid the squad being stretched in traditional serving phases.
This tactic also appeared in the Champions League semi-finals against Bayern Munich, when goalkeeper Matvei Safonov continuously sent long balls to the wing to limit the influence of Michael Olise.
This raises the question of whether PSG will use a similar tactic to limit Bukayo Saka - Arsenal's biggest explosive player on the right flank.
Havertz or Gyokeres: Arteta's important decision
Not many teams enter the Champions League final and still have controversies about center forward positions. However, Arsenal is in that situation when Mikel Arteta has to choose between Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres.
Gyokeres made a strong impression at the end of the season with 5 goals in the Champions League and a remarkable performance against Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals. The Swedish striker continuously stretched the opponent's defense with speed, strength and wide operating ability.
However, Gyokeres' playing style depends quite a lot on physical advantage. His ability to handle the ball in tight spaces is not really perfect, and that could become a problem for PSG's fast and powerful central defender pair Willian Pacho and Marquinhos.
Conversely, Havertz is rated higher in his ability to connect his playing style, pressing and keeping the ball under pressure. If Arsenal needs to control the game and maintain stability when deploying the ball, the German striker may be a more suitable choice to start.
Meanwhile, Gyokeres is likely to be effective when brought on from the bench, especially at a time when PSG's defense is starting to decline.
Right flank: Tactical hotspot of the match
Both Arsenal and PSG entered the final with worries about the right-back position.
Arsenal lost Jurrien Timber in mid-March due to injury, and Ben White also had to rest for the rest of the season due to a serious knee problem. This made Arteta consider using Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi or Declan Rice in this position.
Among them, Mosquera is the most natural choice because he is originally a defender. However, the task for the 21-year-old player is extremely difficult when facing the duo Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes.
The challenge is even greater because PSG often swaps positions in attack. This may cause Mosquera to face not only Kvaratskhelia but also Ousmane Dembele or Desire Doue in the same match.
In the opposite direction, PSG also has a similar problem. Achraf Hakimi is racing against time to recover from a hamstring injury sustained in the semi-finals. If the Moroccan defender cannot play, Warren Zaire-Emery will be the replacement.
Despite playing quite a few matches as right-back this season, Zaire-Emery still cannot bring the attacking support and speed like Hakimi. This may open up opportunities for Arsenal's wingers like Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli or Eberechi Eze to exploit the gap.
Even if Hakimi is fit enough to play, returning after a month of injury break may also prevent him from reaching his best condition - something Arsenal will definitely find ways to take advantage of.
