Masterminds Tuchel and Klopp shake hands and draw

Thomas Tuchel vs Juergen Klopp is not just a game of football in the Europa League quarterfinals. It is modern football at its best. When the two of the best coaches cross swords every football scholar around the globe should sit upright and watch. Not only that both in the past coached the same clubs (FSV Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, Tuchel always as Klopp's successor) but both football maniacs stand for best tactical coaching to come out of Germany.

Not surprising that the duel caught the attention around the world. The 1-1 draw might not sound like a football festival, but Dortmund and Liverpool (or Tuchel and Klopp) provided a more than entertaining football evening and some thrilling lessons.

Dortmund vs Liverpool is normally is a football fare made with Champions League ingredients - at least Dortmund has already qualified for next season's Champions League and Liverpool is improving in the Premier League. And it is a duel of the German Bundesliga against the English Premier League, an encounter not only Europe is highly interested in.

It was Klopp who reanimated Dortmund when the club was in a critical condition in 2008 before winning the German league championship twice and the German cup once. He also took them to the 2013 Champions League final (1-2 lost to Bayern Munich at Wembley). After seven Klopp-years, Dortmund had been revived and Germany's number two again - and a challenger for top dog Bayern Munich.

Tuchel is the man that is refining what Klopp began in Dortmund, the special counter-pressing style. Now the 42-year old had to face the man who is adored in Dortmund, the 48-year old Klopp who was duly given a warm welcome by the home fans.

Dortmund vs. Liverpool (or better Klopp?) is also a duel of high emotions - not only because of the two unique coaches and because both played each other in the 1966 Cup Winners Cup final (2-1), but because both cities are what one could call football-cities. Thousands of fans of both colors were celebrating in Dortmund city centre the whole day right up until kick-off in the evening. TV stations, newspapers, magazines throughout the country reported on it as if a World Cup final was taking place. For weeks there has been a special Klopp mania in Dortmund.

Now Klopp has taken the counter-pressing story to Liverpool, while Tuchel is trying to implement slight modifications to it in Dortmund, meaning he goes for more ball-control (and possession) and changing the tactical system during the game several times. Both prefer their back line to stay high up the pitch, sometimes only a few meters behind the center line in order to start counter-attacks immediately. Both stand for attacking football without many compromises, fast, hard and full of passion.

In the Dortmund Arena, 80,000 fans were delighted by pure football and breathtaking speed. Tuchel's team employed a three-man defense (when in possession) which reverted to a five man line-up with Erik Durm and Marcel Schmelzer dropping back from midfield. Klopp and Liverpool's answer to the fast Dortmund strikers Reus, Aubameyang and Mkhitarian as well as the midfielders Castro and Weigl was a row of three right in front of the original four man back line. Liverpool's change in style is obvious since Klopp took over. He is trying to develop a team of ball hunters.

But this time Dortmund attackers posed various problems for Liverpool's defense (the weak point of the team), but lacked precise finishing and were punished by a Liverpool counter attack as Belgian striker Origi scored to put his team 1-0 up after Dortmund could not close the gap quick enough in their defense high up the pitch. Dortmund was the dominant team but was not effective enough. Though they had seven chances to Liverpool's three, they couldn't convert their domination into goals.

After the break Tuchel tried to stabilize Dortmund's game with a tactical change from a 3-4-3 to a 4-2-3-1. The Germans at least managed to equalize. But Liverpool was more than match for Borussia right up until the end of the clash. Dortmund's strikers, who are almost all on the list of many big European clubs, could not take hold of the game as Liverpool managed to close down the space in front of its goal.

Spectators saw a match of two teams with great will and determination. They also saw two coaches that stand for passion. And both coaches delivered another entertaining football evening. By the way: Part two will take place next week in Liverpool when Klopp and Tuchel meet for the second leg. Endi