The formations

Chiefs: 4-4-2 diamond

In this big game, Ernst Middendorp had to choose between his three main formations. Would he play a back three with wingbacks in a 3- 5- 2 shape? Would he use 4-3-3 with a target man and two wide forwards? Or would the German coach use a narrow midfield diamond? He plumped for the latter.

A diamond gave the side four central players in midfield – one defensive midfielder (Willard Katsande), two narrow players on the sides ( George Maluleka and Andriamirado ‘Dax’ Andrianarimanana) and one number 10 (Kabelo Mahlasela) – behind two strikers. Mahlasela’s six shot assists against Black Leopards got him the nod for this game, with Hendrick Ekstein reportedly dropped down to train with the reserves as he enters the last two months of his contract. The purpose of this shape is to funnel the opposition’s play into wide areas, with the centre blocked, and then keep them stuck out there by aggressively pressing against the touchline.

Chippa: 4-2-3-1

For the Chilli Boys, Clinton Larsen picked a 4-2-3-1 formation. In front of his defence were two defensive midfielders (Tercious Malepe and Donashano Malama) to protect against Chiefs’ forward runs from midfield. Tebogo Tlolane arrived at Chippa as a winger, but has been converted into a left back role this season and he would be tasked with getting forward as Andile Mbenyane was used narrow on the left, with Thabo Rakhale on the right.

Against Chiefs’ midfield diamond, Chippa could have an overload on the flanks if Tlolane and Mbenyane, or Zitha Macheke and Thabo Rakhale, could double up on Amakhosi’s fullbacks. Chippa had Gladwin Shitolo in defence, who is excellent at playing out from the back after his 18 months in Orlando Pirates’ possession-based game model.