Pep Guardiola’s decision to field an attacking lineup backfired as Manchester City were thrashed 3-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 first leg. The Catalan opted for a 4-2-2-2 formation with three wingers – Savinho, Antoine Semenyo, and Jérémy Doku – aiming to overload Real’s right flank and supply Erling Haaland. However, the plan unravelled as crosses failed to find the Norwegian, and City were undone by quick transitions.
Federico Valverde scored a 22-minute hat-trick in the first half, exploiting City’s high line with direct long balls from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Valverde admitted the tactic was rehearsed, saying: 'We’d put some emphasis on training the long ball from goal kicks. City like to press high and that means we might have space in behind them to exploit.' Courtois added: 'I have a big kick and we’ve worked on it and it went well.'
Haaland’s goal drought continues; he has scored only four times in his past 14 outings, two of which were penalties. Despite 29 goals in 40 appearances this season, the numbers raise questions. Opta statistics show City’s win rate in the Premier League drops from 78% without Haaland to 65% with him, though the sample size without him is much smaller. Guardiola has recently paired Semenyo or Omar Marmoush with Haaland, sacrificing a playmaker to add pace.
Guardiola defended his approach, saying: 'Wingers were injured for two months, and they played incredible – Savinho at Newcastle and Jérémy was an incredible threat here. We covered runners with Nico and Antoine. That was the idea.' He hooked Savinho at half-time for Tijjani Reijnders after the winger struggled. Doku acknowledged the team’s wastefulness: 'In those types of games you need to score the chances that we have. Otherwise, when they have a chance they score.'
