Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa are familiar with Ben White's approach to defending, and even Graham Potter's managerial methods too.
That knowledge proved not enough in helping Leeds end a two-game scoreless run at home to Brighton at the weekend, which meant their current streak of games without a goal stretches to three.
The display would have been less concerning if their inability to draw blood was not due to a lack of chances, much like the 0-0 draw with Arsenal.
Instead, Leeds posted their lowest single-game xG (Expected Goals) tally of the season against Brighton, mustering just 0.31 xG from their seven shots.
Of course, had Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo Moreno got any sort of meaningful contact on two first-half chances which flashed across the face of the box then Leeds' xG for the game would have been higher, but sadly neither Bamford nor Rodrigo could get a decisive touch on the ball and divert it goalward.
Leeds' previous lowest single-game xG tally this season was on the opening day against Liverpool, managing to score three goals from an xG value of 0.33. That is highly unlikely to be replicated, and on another day, Leeds would have failed to score based on the balance of opportunities.
That is something which came home to roost against Brighton - Leeds failed to create high-quality opportunities.
The xG value for each of their seven shots averaged out at just over 0.04 which it's fair to say is not exactly good shooting. This is mostly to do with Brighton's setup which could pivot between a well-staffed attack in transition - as seen by the only goal of the game - and a six-man defence.
With Dan Burn, Adam Webster and Lewis Dunk in defence, Ben White in midfield and Joel Veltman out wide on the right, Brighton started with five central defenders on the pitch. When defending, they were able to pack central areas, forcing Leeds onto the flanks.
From there, it was difficult to create chances, as crosses were routinely headed clear by each one of the gargantuan defensive trio Brighton boasted in the middle.
This is not just a technique which will prevent Leeds from scoring goals against Brighton, though. Manchester City - despite bombarding Brighton's penalty area - could only find the net once against the Seagulls days prior to the Leeds clash when Potter started with the same defensive personnel.
Leeds were beaten by smart tactical innovation, preying on the Whites' relative lack of height and the assumption that a single, tall presence in attack - Patrick Bamford - could adequately be dealt with if Brighton went a goal up and had something to protect.
