The time for speaking is over — let the battle begin! It is time for our managers to pit their groups representing the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Eredivisie, Main League Soccer and Liga MX in opposition to one another for international supremacy in ESPN’s Battle of the Leagues, introduced by EA Sports activities FIFA 22.
Group A kicks off with Bundesliga vs. Main League Soccer and Ligue 1 vs. LaLiga, whereas Group B will see Premier League vs. Serie A and Liga MX vs. Eredivisie performed out on EA Sports activities’ FIFA 22.
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You may atone for the match guidelines and format right here, then try under to see the crew choices, techniques and prematch chat earlier than watching highlights of the matches with the managers’ real-time reactions.
Bounce to: Bundesliga vs. Major League Soccer | Ligue 1 vs. LaLiga | Premier League vs. Serie A | Liga MX vs. Eredivisie | Match stats & standings
GROUP A
BUNDESLIGA vs. MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER 
MANAGERS’ PREMATCH BRIEFINGS
Gab Marcotti (Bundesliga)
“Clearly we’re enjoying two up from with Haaland and Lewandowski, so I need to ensure they’re well-supplied with service and that would be the job of my large gamers, each full-backs and wingers. Diaby has tempo and trickery, whereas Angelino and Kostic on the opposite facet supply high quality. With such attacking choices out large, I will want a strong base, so I am relying on midfielder Witsel to protect defenders Hummels and Ginter. Oh, and I believe we’ll be devastating on set items. I believe we’ve got numerous direct gamers quite than essentially creators and that is fantastic: I need to get the ball ahead rapidly.
“With these guys, frankly, if Nedum performs a flat again 4, I love Lewa and Erling one-on-one in opposition to a centre-back every. If he performs wing-backs, Kostic-Angelino on one facet and Diaby-Mukiele on the opposite will merely overload them and pump balls into the field. Nedum was very pleased with how fast his entrance gamers are and I wasn’t positive about Hummels, Ginter (and Witsel in entrance of them) in opposition to pacey forwards. However that is OK, as a result of Neuer can do the sweeper-keeper factor and, frankly, I am trying to rating greater than the opposition, not a lot concede much less.
“I do not suppose the philosophy will change essentially, however I’ve choices on the bench. Nkunku permits me to vary formations if wanted, Gnabry can play both flank. I am not averse to going 3-5-2 both, if it means defending a lead. What I will not do is play Kimmich at right-back … except completely essential.”
Nedum Onuoha (MLS)
“I do know I am very a lot the underdog on this group, however I nonetheless fancy our possibilities to perhaps trigger an upset or two.
“I’ve determined to go together with some strong defensive items, most notably Diego Chara and Blaise Matuidi in entrance of the again 4. However I additionally suppose my entrance line — with Carlos Vela and Nani flanking Josef Martinez — could shock the Bundesliga crew with their tempo and directness. Let’s go boys!”
TEAMS & TACTICS
Bundesliga: 4-4-2, quick build-up (assault), press after lengthy ball (defence)
First XI — Manuel Neuer; Nordi Mukiele, Mats Hummels, Matthias Ginter, Angelino; Moussa Diaby, Joshua Kimmich, Axel Witsel, Filip Kostic; Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland
Substitutes — Koen Casteels, Raphael Guerreiro, Martin Hinteregger, Denis Zakaria, Serge Gnabry, Christopher Nkunku, Andrej Kramaric
MLS: 4-2-3-1. balanced (assault), balanced (defence)
First XI — Andre Blake; Kyle Duncan, Aaron Lengthy, Miles Robinson, Kemar Lawrence; Diego Chara, Blaise Matuidi; Carlos Vela, Nicolas Lodeiro, Nani; Josef Martinez
Substitutes — Invoice Hamid, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Kai Wagner, Giovani dos Santos, Yeferson Soteldo, Luis Araujo, Raul Ruidiaz
0:41
Josef Martinez places MLS 1-0 up vs. Bundesliga in Battle of the Leagues and Gab clearly is not glad about it.
LIGUE 1 vs. LALIGA 
MANAGERS’ PREMATCH BRIEFINGS
Julien Laurens (Ligue 1)
“Right here we go! The Ligue 1 crew is coming again even higher, stronger, extra decided and assured than a yr in the past once we received the primary version of the Battle of the Leagues. We are going to begin the match in a 4-3-3 formation with a holding midfielder, which fits my gamers essentially the most.
“We’ve the appropriate steadiness, one of the best disposition to press and an unimaginable entrance three of Neymar, Wissam Ben Yedder and Lionel Messi whereas Kylian Mbappe is able to come on sooner or later. That is proper: we’re that good that we will even bench the most effective gamers on this planet!
“In midfield, Renato Sanches would be the revelation of this match alongside Houssem Aouar and Benjamin Andre to kind a midfield through which each participant enhances one another. Our two full-backs, Hamari Traore and Hassane Kamara, won’t be acquainted names to lots of people worldwide, however they’ll shock everybody with their contributions and high quality. Within the centre, Marquinhos and Jason Denayer are safer than the crown jewels; Anthony Lopes is loopy in purpose but additionally able to superb saves.”
Rodrigo Faez (LaLiga)
“As you may count on from a choice of one of the best gamers who ply their commerce within the Spanish league, my crew is a ball possession-based facet. The pace of my defence will likely be key with Eder Militao, Jules Kounde and Ferland Mendy specifically all blessed with tempo.
“In midfield, Frenkie de Jong and Marcos Llorente give me a strong base that can depart attackers like Vinicius Junior and Memphis Depay free to specific themselves and terrorise Ligue 1’s suspect defence.
“And up entrance we’ve got a high striker main the road in Inaki Williams. With Karim Benzema and Mikel Oyarzabal on the bench, the highly effective attacking gamers I’ve ought to make the distinction and win the title for Spain. Convey it on!
Groups & techniques
Ligue 1: 4-3-3, balanced (assault), balanced (defence)
First XI — Anthony Lopes; Hamari Traore, Jason Denayer, Marquinhos, Hassane Kamara: Houssem Aouar, Benjamin Andre, Renato Sanches; Lionel Messi, Wissam Ben Yedder, Neymar
Substitutes — Pau Lopez, Youssef Atal, Tiago Djalo, Bouba Kamara, Alexis Claude-Maurice, Gelson Martins, Kylian Mbappe
LaLiga: 4-2-3-1, balanced (assault), balanced (defence)
First XI — Jan Oblak; Kieran Trippier, Jules Kounde, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy; Frenkie de Jong, Marcos Llorente; Ousmane Dembele, Memphis Depay, Vinícius Junior; Inaki Williams
Substitutes — Unai Simon, Pau Torres, Jose Gaya, Sergio Canales, Mikel Oyarzabal, Karim Benzema
1:05
Julien Laurens joins in with the participant celebrations as Neymar hits a penalty into the highest nook in Battle of the Leagues.
GROUP B
PREMIER LEAGUE vs. SERIE A 
MANAGERS’ PREMATCH BRIEFINGS
Mark Ogden (Premier League)
“I’ve gone for an attacking lineup, constructed across the strong defensive core of Van Dijk, Dias and Kante. With two advancing full-backs, these three must hold it tight to snuff out any opposition counter-attacks. And though I’ve gone for a reasonably conservative 4-3-3 formation, it’s actually 4-1-2-3, with De Bruyne and Fernandes anticipated to give attention to their contribution within the attacking third quite fear an excessive amount of about defensive duties.
“It is a threat, however my squad and crew is overloaded with artistic and attacking expertise, so it’s a must to play to your strengths. The pondering behind my strategy is that video games are received by the flexibility to take possibilities — this crew will create numerous possibilities and, with the calibre of forwards in my lineup, I might count on them to attain tons too.
“However you may’t win something with out a strong defence and dependable goalkeeper, which is why I’ve gone with Mendy behind that axis of Van Dijk, Dias and Kante.”
Kay Murray (Serie A)
“I’ve gone with a contemporary FIFA formation that is all about tempo and power. The defence has a lot pace with the 2 full-backs and centre-backs, whereas the midfield has a fantastic mixture of gamers — one defensive, one other extra box-to-box and a extra attacking participant.
“Paulo Dybala enjoying because the trequartista means he is the proper hyperlink between midfield and assault, the place Ciro Motionless and Joaquin Correa have all of the instruments to not solely rating however to set one another up as effectively.
“It is a dynamic, offensive-minded crew that ought to create numerous possibilities and never threat an excessive amount of on the again.”
Groups & techniques
Premier League: 4-1-2-3, balanced (assault), press after shedding ball (defence)
First XI — Edouard Mendy; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Ruben Dias, Luke Shaw; N’Golo Kante; Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne; Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo
Substitutes — Ederson, Kurt Zouma, Lucas Digne, Jack Grealish, Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, Sadio Mane
Serie A: 4-3-1-2, balanced (defence), balanced (assault)
First XI — Samir Handanovic; Juan Cuadrado, Kalidou Koulibaly, Milan Skriniar, Theo Hernandez; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Franck Kessie, Nicolo Barella; Paulo Dybala; Ciro Motionless, Lautaro Martinez
Substitutes — Mike Maignan, Leonardo Spinazzola, Giorgio Chiellini, Luis Alberto, Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Chiesa, Dries Mertens
0:32
Kay Murray celebrates as Paulo Dybala places Serie A 1-0 up vs. Mark Ogden’s Premier League crew in Battle of the Leagues.
LIGA MX vs. EREDIVISIE 
MANAGERS’ PREMATCH BRIEFINGS
Herc Gomez (Liga MX)
“This will likely be a quick, attack-minded crew that won’t be afraid to take possibilities. It’ll be nice to look at.
“A number of the risk will come from large areas, the place there will likely be progressions up the wings. Quick transitions will come both from full-backs who will burst ahead once they have the assist, or from inverted wingers who can create one-vs.-ones in opposition to opposition defenders and mix with centre-forward Andre-Pierre Gignac.
“With all of that occuring on the wings, the midfield will likely be extra balanced, with the central trio offering robust defensive chunk however all possessing deep-lying playmaking talents. Goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman’s presence will permit the defenders to play a excessive line, and we are going to take possibilities in our press — ¡muy agresivo!“
Fresia Cousino Arias (Eredivisie)
“My crew may lack the star energy of different leagues, however I’ve put collectively a balanced, versatile XI that may deal with no matter Liga MX has to supply.
“Dusan Tadic and Steven Berghuis may cause loads of points in assault, whereas Mario Gotze pulls the strings behind them. We even have the aggression and ball-winning talents of Ibrahim Sangare anchoring the midfield.
“I believe the centre-back pairing of Jurrien Timber and Marcos Senesi can deal with Gignac, and our midfield will forestall their flanks from getting sufficient service.”
Groups & techniques
Liga MX: 4-3-3, quick buildup (assault), strain on heavy contact (defence)
First XI — Nahuel Guzman; Salvador Reyes, William Tesillo, Matheus Doria, Juan Escobar; Richard Sanchez, Luis Romo, Fernando Gorriaran; Maxi Meza, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Nico Lopez
Substitutes — Guillermo Ochoa, Jorge Sanchez, Cesar Montes, Rogelio Funes Mori, Rubens Sambueza, Luis Montes, Orbelin Pineda
Eredivisie: 4-2-2-2, balanced (assault), balanced (defence)
First XI — Justin Bijlow; Lutsharel Geertruida, Jurrien Timber, Marcos Senesi, Owen Wijndal; Ibrahim Sangare, Fredrik Midtsjo; Mario Gotze, Cody Gakpo; Steven Berghuis, Dusan Tadic
Substitutes — Lars Unnerstall, Philipp Max, Riechedly Bazoer, Davy Klaassen, Joey Veerman, Eran Zahavi, Jesper Karlsson
0:30
Herc Gomez cannot imagine it as his Liga MX facet falls behind to Eredivisie in Battle of the Leagues.
MATCHDAY 1 RESULTS
Group A
Bundesliga 1-1 MLS
Kimmich 53′
Martinez 4′
Ligue 1 2-0 LaLiga
Neymar 30′, Ben Yedder 51′
Group B
Premier League 4-2 Serie A
Fernandes 22′, Havertz 64′, Mane 85′, Kane 90′
Dybala 17′, Motionless 45′
Liga MX 1-2 Eredivisie
Gignac 53′
Gotze 19′, Tadic 61′
MATCHDAY 2 FIXTURES (NOV. 3)
Group A
Bundesliga vs. LaLiga
Ligue 1 vs. Main League Soccer
Group B
Liga MX vs. Serie A
Premier League vs. Eredivisie
MATCHDAY 3 FIXTURES (NOV. 5)
Group A
Bundesliga vs. Ligue 1
Main League Soccer vs. LaLiga
Group B
Serie A vs. Eredivisie
Premier League vs. Liga MX