Last night at La Bombonera, 50,000 Argentinians witnessed a historic win for Uruguay at the hands of an Argentine man. Marcelo Bielsa’s tactical masterclass led his team to a 2-0 victory over Argentina, marking their first win in Argentina since 1937.
Bielsa’s influence on the Uruguay team was evident from the start, as his players embraced an underdog mentality and demonstrated relentless running and aggressive off-the-ball approach. The defensive structure of the team was chaotic but effective, with players constantly covering for each other and recovering quickly to force the opposition out wide.
Argentina superstar Lionel Messi acknowledged the disruptive tactics, admitting that his team never felt comfortable and struggled to create chances in their desired rhythm. Uruguay’s strategy put the onus on Argentina to play quickly and incisively, which they failed to do.
Uruguay’s direct and uncompromising methods of attack further troubled Argentina, with their forward runs and searing pace causing problems for the opposition defense. Bielsa’s team capitalized on Argentina’s adventurous full-back play and exploited their zones to create clear scoring opportunities. Both of Uruguay’s goals were a result of colossal defensive efforts and powerful forward runs, highlighting the success of Bielsa’s tactics.
Despite his winding coaching career that has taken him to several countries and teams, Bielsa has found a perfect match for his high-energy and high-volume football in Uruguay. The team’s verticality and defensive tenacity perfectly align with the Argentine’s philosophy, and his impact was felt in just his fifth match in charge.
With the win closing the gap to Argentina at the top of the World Cup qualifying standings to two points, Uruguay’s triumph at La Bombonera will go down in history as a testament to the genius of Marcelo Bielsa.