Actual Madrid and Manchester Metropolis needed to accept a 1-1 draw within the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday evening, organising an enthralling encounter between the 2 groups after they meet within the return fixture on the Etihad Stadium subsequent Wednesday.
Glorious targets from Kevin De Bruyne and Vinicius Jr. gave us an exhilarating opening recreation within the tie, however the draw means we’re probably not any nearer to understanding whether or not Metropolis’s well-known treble can change into a actuality.
Pep Guardiola employed some attention-grabbing tactical developments in the course of the recreation, utilising Kyle Walker within the hybrid right-back/centre-back function, pushing John Stones into the centre of defence when Actual Madrid had the ball.
The Englishman would then assume his defensive midfield place everybody has change into accustomed to this season when Manchester Metropolis had possession, although this induced some slight confusion behind him. Walker, naturally an overlapping full-back, was clearly informed in no unsure phrases by Guardiola that he needed to keep put, after a number of makes an attempt at gallivanting runs early within the match.
He ultimately adhered to this, which, arguably, led to Actual Madrid’s opening aim. With Walker so much deeper than standard, Actual left-back Eduardo Camavinga picked the ball up deep in his half and had loads of house to run into down the left flank.
Walker’s positioning allowed the Frenchman to hold the ball into the ultimate third, the place he popped it off to Vinicius Jr. solely when Walker tried to have interaction with him.
From there the Selecao star struck stupendously into the highest nook of Ederson’s aim. After all, Kevin De Bruyne managed to degree the scores within the second half with a end displaying professional strategy of his personal, organising a massively pressurised second leg, with a spot within the Champions League remaining at stake.
It will definitely be attention-grabbing to see what Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti provide you with for his or her groups subsequent week.
