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Who would be manager, eh?
With the pre-match build-up thrown into the air, Manchester City and Real Madrid served up another chaotic Champions League classic – and there was little Carlo Ancelotti or Pep Guardiola could do to calm it down.
Despite a clear counter-attack plan from the locals and a desire to contain and control from the visitors, a foul and a yellow card from Aurélien Tchouameni after 38 seconds lit the blue paper, sending a first dose of adrenaline through 22 ultra-talented footballers sensing the opportunity to have fun.
A clever free-kick, a deflected long-range shot, a dazzling counter-attack, a left-footed arrow, then a goalless central defender in 395 days taking a poor touch before wrapping his weak foot around a bouncing ball . from 25 meters.
Add to that the smoothest volley of your life and a glorious heavyweight contest has been taken out of the tacticians’ hands.
Despite the disorienting drama, each coach’s team selections revealed their carefully considered pregame plans.
For City, Mateo Kovacic joined alongside Rodri to help retain possession against the Madrid midfielder’s physical presence, while four centre-backs – including the ever-adventurous John Stones – provided endless passing options while also aiming to provide defensive solidity at the back. double.
Jack Grealish also started on the left, a telling sign of Guardiola’s desire for control.
City’s passing network – dense in midfield – and the fact that Madrid recorded their lowest possession total in three years (38.7%) illustrate the ideas at play.
However, possession only told half the story of a dizzying first half, and it was Ancelotti’s roaring attackers who stole the show.
Split forwards Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior led the line, both sizzling with a game-changing ability to carry the ball. This meant Madrid were able to strike hard on the counter-attack, with shuttle runners Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde also ready to break out of a midfield and close in on the attackers.
City have shown weakness in transition this season – no Premier League team has conceded more than their eight goals on fast breaks – and Ancelotti has shown ambition in trying to exploit that.
Trusting Eduardo Camavinga and Toni Kroos to cover the midfield, they pushed their four most athletic players towards the forward line after sensing the opportunity to cut the ball, as below.
Such structure allowed the hosts to move forward in times of uncertainty. In the first half, they attempted three shots following quick counterattacks; that’s as many as City have ever faced in a single match with Guardiola in charge.
The first warning came six minutes after Grealish cut inside and his effort was palmed away by three defenders. The ball ricocheted to Antonio Rudiger, who launched a searching ball forward, allowing Bellingham and Vinicius Jr to converge on Ruben Dias.
On this occasion, the centre-back sent a vital kick at the ball to return it to his goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, but the home side showed their ability to turn defense into attack in a matter of seconds.
Just seven minutes later, a similar move put Madrid in front.
After a patient City attack, Grealish’s cross off the outside of the boot was caught by Andriy Lunin, who wasted no time searching for Vinicius Jr on the pitch.
Without hesitation, Rodrygo raced behind, receiving a perfect pass from his teammate that saw him cut past Ortega and head home.
This time, there are 15 seconds between City’s shot and Madrid’s goal.
And once again, it was Rodrygo who had the best chance of the half to extend Madrid’s lead.
Another Grealish effort was blocked in the penalty area before Vinicius Jr turned the ball back into the path of his strike partner.
In less than 19 seconds, the Brazilian fired a shot just past Ortega’s post.
In a half that seemed random and tense, it was a calculated risk on the transition that constantly gave Madrid an escape.
Even though this meant that Bellingham and Valverde had to drop deep to help defensively, the ability of the two Brazilians up top to sneak through defensive structures on their own still leaves this Madrid side a chance.
Without making any structural changes at halftime, City managed to stem the tide of counterattacks after the break, starting the second half with a series of composed passing sequences around the defense.
Guardiola’s side struggled to create clear-cut chances, however, as Kroos and Camavinga threw tackles past the back four to keep City at bay. A handful of harmless shots from distance and a saved header from Rodri were all the visitors had to show for their improvement and they would need something special to break through once again.
Foden’s 66th-minute goal, fired into the top corner from just outside the box, was precisely that, while Gvardiol’s opening goal against City five minutes later was as baffling as it was brilliant.
The expected goals (xG) milestone graph below, illustrating the quality of chances that fell to each team throughout the competition, helps highlight the clinical advantage of both teams in front of goal.
Six scored from an expected cumulative total of 1.5 – it was a goal fest all about the scorers.
Guardiola may be a constantly animated figure on the touchline, but you rarely see him celebrating a goal like Foden’s last night: hands behind his player’s head, roaring in his face; Maybe, just for once, he allowed himself to savor the footballing thrill that his team of superstars can provide.
City rolled with the punches, something they haven’t always found easy on the Champions League stage, and especially not against this Madrid team, who have already crushed them with miracles.
The personality on display will please Guardiola and leave fans feeling confident ahead of a second leg they won so convincingly last year.
But with no away goals, we’ll be back to square one next Wednesday at the Etihad. With these two sides, that will never be a bad thing.
(Top photo: Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images)