- Raphael Varane: "The defeat is mine. It is inexplicable"
- The Lawnmower The Real Zidane
- Juve 2 - O. Lyon 1. Cristiano can't do it alone
- Chronicle Varane raises the sword of the white 'harakiri'
The talk between Pep Guardiola and Zinedine Zidane at the end of the game at the Etihad Stadium will be one of the most representative images of the 2020 Champions League. After the battle, two of the most prestigious technicians in Europe saved a minute that was only an advance for him future. "I congratulated him on the League, I asked him about his family. Hopefully one day we can have dinner and talk about everything," said the Spaniard, the absolute winner of the tactical duel, the first executioner of the French in a tie in the maximum continental tournament. These were the keys to Guardiola's supremacy in Manchester.
The success in the pressure
The loss of Sergio Ramos conditioned the exit of the ball, so City relentlessly drown the centrals, thanks to the great positioning of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus on the outside, plus Phil Foden in the center aisle. Ederson threw 10 balls in the first 45 minutes to the rival field, among other reasons, because City felt more comfortable pressing than touching the ball.
Repeated formula
The Bernabéu game was defined with a tactical twist as simple as it was definitive: the renouncement of the figure of '9' in favor of a Gabriel Jesus who would turn the right side into an impassable zone. In Manchester, Raphael Varane's two errors were a consequence, also of the Brazilian's work on that area. Guardiola's defensive diamond was too much for a private opponent in addition to the quality of Marcelo in those struggles.
A fabulous interior
Kevin de Bruyne completely conditioned the entire plan of the rival, with special mention for his second half. His verticality from the right zone, his patience, his stride, his shot, his last pass ... There is nothing that the Belgian does not know how to do at the highest level. There is no more complete or decisive midfielder in the entire Champions League. At the age of 29, the time has come to prove it in Lisbon.
Total control
With the advance of the clock and the fatigue, instead of retreating, the City yes that knew how to impose its quality in rival territory. His initial effort to overpopulate the center led to a change in structure, with the ends much more open. In conclusion, he closed the duel with more than double the number of shots (21-9), 54% possession and without suffering a single notable mishap in his area.
On Casemiro's back
It had been one of the keys to the first leg and Zidane could not stop the bleeding this time. That's where Madrid creaked, when De Bruyne and Foden exploited the central lane. The doubts affected the Brazilian too much, one of the best midfielders in the world, this time without the ability to steal and strangely erratic in passing.
Irreparable absence
Ramos's shouts from the rostrum failed to reassure Eder Militao and Varane who, deprived of their company, seemed much worse defenses than they really are. It was Madrid's sixth defeat in the last seven Champions League games without their captain.
Slow changes
Madrid always seemed on the lookout, without that extra point of ambition that required a comeback. Without that power, either, which Fede Valverde and Vinicius Jr could have given him at the start of the second act. The triple change, desperately and with only seven minutes left, must have affected Modric and Hazard much earlier.
Rightmost
The initial stresses were alleviated thanks to the position of Luka Modric , who was delayed as much as possible to help Varane and Militao in the start. Once in the rival field, Madrid became vertical when Rodrygo , more open than usual, was able to challenge Cancelo for the right profile, thanks to the support of Karim Benzema and Modric himself. Unfortunately for Zidane, there was no continuity in the second half.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more- Luka modric
- Real Madrid
- sports
- soccer
- Champions League
Champions League 2020Three weeks to prepare for the feat against City: "This Madrid never conforms"
Champions Varane shows his face after his mistakes: "The defeat is mine. It is inexplicable"
LaLigaEl Madrid, one shot from the title by control and torment
See links of interest
- Last minute
- Spanish translator
- Programming
- 2020 calendar
- Horoscope today
- League classification
- Santander League Calendar
- Movies today
- Topics
- Deportivo de La Coruña - Fuenlabrada
- Manchester City - Real Madrid, live
- Juventus - Lyon