Burnley’s defensive shape against Manchester United was structured and disciplined, aimed at limiting United’s attacking threats while maintaining compactness. Here’s a breakdown of how they set up defensively:

1. Compact 4-4-2 or 5-4-1 Shape

• Burnley often lined up in a 4-4-2 when pressing but shifted into a 5-4-1 when defending deep.
• The two banks of four stayed tight, making it difficult for United to play through the middle.
• Against United’s attacking patterns, the full-backs tucked in, while the wingers dropped deep to help defend.

2. Mid to Low Block Setup

• Burnley didn’t press too high; instead, they focused on a mid-to-low block to force United wide.
• This approach denied space between the lines, restricting Bruno Fernandes and other creative midfielders.
• The defensive line stayed disciplined, maintaining a good shape to prevent quick through-balls.

3. Isolating United’s Wingers

• Burnley’s full-backs stayed tight on United’s wide players, preventing easy crosses or cut-ins.
• Double-teaming was used against players like Rashford and Antony to neutralize one-on-one situations.

4. Cutting Off Passing Lanes

• The midfielders played a crucial role in clogging central spaces, ensuring Casemiro and Eriksen had limited passing options.
• They applied pressure on United’s deep-lying playmakers, forcing them to play sideways or backward.

5. Quick Defensive Transitions

• When United attacked, Burnley quickly dropped back into shape, preventing counter-attacking opportunities.
• They relied on their defensive discipline to absorb pressure and clear danger effectively.

Effectiveness of Burnley’s Defensive Approach

• Kept United’s attacking trio from finding clear-cut chances.
• Forced United to rely on crosses rather than direct play through the middle.
• Reduced the number of shots on target through good positional discipline.

Burnley’s defensive shape was well-organized and made it difficult for United to break them down, showing their ability to execute a structured game plan.