Pep Guardiola's masterclass in pressure inflicts rare night of torment for Real Madrid
Sam Wallace
·25 min read
Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City scores his team's second goal - Manchester City capitalise on Real Madrid's mistakes to secure place in Champions League quarter-finals - GETTY IMAGES
The perfect Pep Guardiola plan for the biggest night of their season propelled Manchester City into the Champions League’s last eight, and showed the old masters of the competition to the door with a haste to which many of this great Real Madrid generation are unaccustomed.
This was arguably Guardiola’s masterpiece in four years in Manchester, a victory schemed over this long summer of football, five months in the making after the first leg victory, and one in which he seemed to have thought of everything. Real are not accustomed to these kinds of nights especially when the decisive goals they conceded were partly self-inflicted, both times by the World Cup and multi-Champions League winner Raphael Varane.
Self-inflicted or forced to the point of error? Hard to say when City are this relentless. Guardiola has brought them to the boil in early August, and they outmanoeuvred, outfought and eventually eliminated the new champions of Spain. It takes them to Lisbon for the quarter-final a week on Saturday where they will face Lyon, who surprisingly prevailed over Juventus. City have been to semi-finals before but never like this, accompanied by such expectation.
First Raheem Sterling and then Gabriel Jesus seized upon the weaknesses of this Real side to give City a victory to compare with any they have achieved in this competition. Four years ago they were swatted aside by Real in the last four of the Champions League – this time they beat Real in both legs, but more than that, it felt like this was the Guardiola master plan fully realised. It was a transformative night for the likes of Phil Foden, who was deployed from the start as a false nine, the position once conceived of by Guardiola for Lionel Messi and the one which perhaps best reflects the disruptive coaching brain of its creator. It was an outstanding night for Jesus, who created one and scored the other. Kyle Walker played so well it was hard to recall a single successful dribble from Eden Hazard. But none were greater than the peerless Kevin De Bruyne, the restless heart of such a dynamic team.
This was the first Champions League elimination ever visited upon Zinedine Zidane as a manager, his treble Champions League winning side now disintegrating. There was a goal from Karim Benzema to bring the game level in the first half, but really they were never close. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were swept aside in midfield in the same way they once overwhelmed opponents. Casemiro held on as best he could, but Real were never permitted to settle and rarely had the ball in dangerous positions.
Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Real Madrid in Manchester, Britain, 07 August 2020. - Shaun Botterill/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The man they missed the most was a few rows back from the dugout: Sergio Ramos suspended for this game for his red card in the first leg and still issuing instructions to everyone. He bellowed at his team-mates and – when that was not enough – unleashed a whistle so shrill that at least half the dogs in Beswick must have been twitching. Like most of the Real players he was shocked at Varane’s early error that allowed City in for the first goal.
It was a foul-up created by City’s savage press. When Thibaut Courtois had the ball Real’s centre-halves dutifully split to take it short, although neither really seemed to want it. On this occasion, nine minutes in, neither Eder Militao, who gave it back to his goalkeeper immediately, and certainly not Varane, when he got the ball next via Courtois, looked comfortable.
In the padded seats, Ramos sensed danger. Varane took a touch and Jesus muscled in on it, taking the ball inside and then cutting it back to Sterling. He dispatched his second goal of the tie. Only a risky late challenge in the area from Casemiro, beautifully timed, prevented Sterling getting another.
Raphael Varane of Real Madrid looks dejected after his team concede during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium on August 07, 2020 in Manchester, England. - GETTY IMAGES
City were relentless and it felt that another goal might break Real, but it did not come. It meant that the equaliser was a surprise. Real played through City’s left channel without any real pressure. The Brazilian teenager Rodrygo cruised past Joao Cancelo and his cross to the middle was met with the timeless centre-forward’s header from Benzema.
Guardiola’s players could not stop Real having the ball – in fact they had more of it than most of City’s opposition – although very little of it near the home goal. That is the Guardiola system – if there must be possession for the opposition then it has to be away from danger. On the rare occasions Real did settle into possession in City’s defensive third, Guardiola was even more agitated and not satisfied until the away side were chased away and up the pitch.
As the hour passed and the peril for Real became greater, so they tried the ball over the top more often to the runs of Benzema, and there was no margin for error in defending it with the Frenchman in his red-hot post-lockdown form. This was the game’s decisive period and while City missed chances they kept attacking, despite their advantage in the tie.
It was De Bruyne running the show, his ball into Ilkay Gundogan creating a chance for Jesus whose shot Courtois just about brushed over. Then finally, with 22 minutes remaining, came the goal. The substitute Bernardo Silva, on for Foden, with a quick early ball over the top and more indecision from Varane. First he executed a weak header that he had to correct, although his second sold Courtois just short and in came Jesus with the outside of his right foot to nick it past the goalkeeper. This was the breaking point for Real, and City never let up.
09:15 PM
And that's all from me this evening
More reaction across Telegraph Sport on a huge night for Manchester City.
is still on the cards. Lifting the Champions League would be some way to bow out of the club.
08:57 PM
City are well in the running now
Bayern Munich probably remain tournament favourites, but after that City are next in line.
They will face Lyon! They have beaten Juventus on away goals! That will help City...
08:54 PM
Impressive stuff from City
2 - Real Madrid have lost both legs of a Champions League knockout tie for the first time since 2008-09, when they lost both home and away against Liverpool in the Last 16. Departures. #MCIRMApic.twitter.com/q3rAHTKmUS
City pass the ball around, holding possession against a tired Madrid side.
And that's it! City are through to the quarter-finals. They have been the better side, even if they were gifted their two goals tonight.
08:51 PM
90+2 mins: Man City 2 Real Madrid 1 (4-2)
Four minutes of added time. City are nearly there.
08:49 PM
90 mins: Man City 2 Real Madrid 1 (4-2)
Rodri is coming off - it was genuine cramp! Otamendi is on.
Kroos puts in a searching ball to the back post but Vasquez could not quite get there.
08:46 PM
89 mins: Man City 2 Real Madrid 1 (4-2)
At the other end, Laporte heads away a dangerous cross. Important bit of defending that.
Rodri is down with cramp, smart.
08:44 PM
86 mins: Man City 2 Real Madrid 1 (4-2)
De Bruyne bursts forward but is pushed to ground by Kroos. Free kick on the edge of the box. David Silva stands over it.
He whips it nicely, plenty of dip, but it lands on the roof of the net. Shame.
08:42 PM
84 mins: Man City 2 Real Madrid 1 (4-2)
Triple change: Valverde, Jovic and Vazquez on for Hazard, Modric and Carvajal. Quiet nights for those three.
08:40 PM
82 mins: Man City 2 Real Madrid 1 (4-2)
Modric trips De Bruyne, earning a yellow card. He would miss the next match, not sure that will be an issue.
On comes David Silva for his final appearance at the Etihad, Sterling off. What a servant he has been. Silva nearly works a shot in the box straight away but loses control of the ball at the last moment.
08:37 PM
79 mins: Man City 2 Real Madrid 1 (4-2)
Madrid win a corner. Laporte heads it away and Walker clears long. Madrid could have done with having Gareth Bale on the bench tonight.
08:35 PM
76 mins: Man City 2 Real Madrid 1 (4-2)
Madrid give it away again near their own box. Genuinely baffled. Their passing has been atrocious.
08:33 PM
Here is Jesus' goal... Madrid are knocking themselves out of the Champions League.
Another mistake from Raphael Varane?! 😮
One of the best around, but he'll be having nightmares about Gabriel Jesus!
— Football on BT Sport #Club2020 (@btsportfootball) August 7, 2020
08:32 PM
73 mins: Man City 2 Real Madrid 1 (4-2)
City should score again! They have a four on two, a poor pass puts Bernando under pressure. He does the hard work spinning out of a challenge but instead of rolling it to De Bruyne or Sterling he tries to shoot. His effort is blocked.
City attack again, Sterling skips past Militao and is then tackled. He goes down. Looked a decent penalty shout - nothing given.
08:30 PM
71 mins: Man City 2 Real Madrid 1 (4-2)
Madrid need to come out all guns blazing, and they do. Zidane's side attack immediately but Modric's shot in the box is blocked.
08:28 PM
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL! JESUS Man City 2 Real Madrid 1 (4-2)
I can't believe it. Varane has made another huge blunder. A long ball over the top is sent forward, Varane tries to head it to Courtois but Jesus beats the keeper to it who pokes it into the net. Lovely finish at full sprint.
Varane has had a stinker.
08:25 PM
67 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1 (3-2)
And now a chance at the other end! Jesus spins away from Militao in the penalty box, he gets a good shot away but Courtois makes an important save. Chances flowing now!
Excellent play from Jesus.
Foden off for Bernardo Silva - another impressive showing from the youngster.
08:23 PM
65 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1 (3-2)
Rodri has the ball stolen from him, Benzema then works a shot from just inside the box but Laporte gets there to make a block. Sloppy from Guardiola's side.
Chance for Madrid! Asensio runs in behind, Kroos finds him but the bounce slows him down. He loops a pass to Benzema who cuts inside but his shot is straight at Ederson. Danger signs for City.
08:20 PM
62 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1 (3-2)
Foden slips the ball to De Bruyne who fires in a dangerous, low cross but Militao deflects it away.
Asensio is coming on for Rodrygo, who has been quiet. Then again Hazard on the other flank has also been fairly anonymous.
08:18 PM
60 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1 (3-2)
City are on top here, but crucially they have not killed the game. It could come back to haunt them as we enter the final half an hour.
08:17 PM
58 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1 (3-2)
De Bruyne bursts through the middle, he beats Militao in the box but Carvajal gets a foot in. Corner.
Vital tackle that, De Bruyne was about to shoot from inside the box.
The corner in is headed away.
08:14 PM
55 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1 (3-2)
Benzema works some space on the edge of the City box but fires his shot over the bar.
08:13 PM
54 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1 (3-2)
Kroos shoots from deep but City captain Fernandinho bravely heads it away.
Chance missed for City! Casemiro gives it away on the edge of the Madrid box. Foden does well, finding Gundogan who overcooks his pass to Sterling and Courtois shuts it down. Poor from the German international.
08:11 PM
52 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1 (3-2)
Madrid build their first attack of the half. Kroos spreads the play side to side, Modric finds some room on the right but Cancelo stops the cross coming in.
Madrid come again, but Carvajal's cross with the outside of his foot is easily dealt with.
08:07 PM
49 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1 (3-2)
De Bruyne goes for goal from the corner for a second time, Courtois scrambles to save again. The Belgian midfielder has spotted something the Belgian keeper does...
08:06 PM
47 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1 (3-2)
City start well, working their way up the pitch. Cancelo breaks into the box but his pass into the box is cleared away.
De Bruyne then carves Madrid open, Sterling gets behind Carvajal but Courtois saves the one-on-one. Sterling's left footed shot was going wide anyway. Corner.
08:03 PM
The second half is underway
City get us restarted.
08:03 PM
The players are coming back out onto the pitch
Huge half ahead.
08:02 PM
Juventus have equalised in the other match tonight
2-1 to Lyon on aggregate. Game on in both ties!
07:49 PM
He just keeps getting better and better!
5 - Karim Benzema has scored five goals in his last six appearances in the Champions League knockout stages, as many as he had in his previous 26 such appearances combined. Fore. #UCLpic.twitter.com/3xIcLe4AkE
But Madrid are well in this tie due to that goal. Despite being on top City have not created clear cut chances, an error provided them with their goal.
Good half of football.
07:48 PM
HALF TIME: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1
City win a corner, De Bruyne fires it in and almost catches Madrid off-guard. The away side clear but City come again. Sterling is dispossessed on the edge of the box.
Just one minute of added time, and that's the half.
07:45 PM
44 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1
City break, Sterling tries to lay it back to Foden but Carvajal intercepts. Madrid then counter, Benzema has a free volley in the City box but he is ruled offside. Ederson had saved the close range effort anyway.
07:43 PM
42 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1
Rodrygo breaks down the right but the ball over the top to him is intercepted by Cancelo - important intervention.
De Bruyne intercepts a poor pass from Courtois, he plays it to Foden who pulls his shot just wide. Madrid's passing in their own half has been embarrassingly bad.
07:41 PM
40 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1
Sterling and Mendy get into a tangle on the right wing, free kick to Madrid - could have gone either way.
De Bruyne is then dispossessed on the edge of the box, he goes down but no foul. He is furious with the ref! Carvajal did pull him to the ground to be fair, poor decision.
07:38 PM
38 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1
City attack down the left, Cancelo breaks into the box and shoots. It was an average effort but Courtois pushes it back into the box. Luckily for Madrid it fell to Militao who clears. Strange keeping.
07:35 PM
Here is Madrid's goal, lovely finish
Karim Benzema bags his 27th goal of the season 😍
Lovely link-up play with Rodrygo and the French striker buries the header!
— Football on BT Sport #Club2020 (@btsportfootball) August 7, 2020
07:34 PM
33 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1
Walker breaks forward well, beating defenders with his pace but he then fires a speculative shot into the stands. Shame.
07:33 PM
Sergio Ramos enjoyed that goal in the stands!
Sergio Ramos celebrates
07:32 PM
32 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1
Cancelo - who has been busy so far - overcooks a cross. Shame, City were building good pressure there.
07:31 PM
30 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 1
That goal was very much against the run of play, but it livens this game up!
Carvajal fouls Jesus on half-way. City build forward, Walker, Foden and Sterling link up nicely but the ball runs out for a goal kick. Should have been a corner, came off Mendy in the end.
07:30 PM
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL! BENZEMA Man City 1 Real Madrid 1
Rodrygo works some space down the right side of the box, he crosses and Benzema bullets a header past Ederson. Superb finish. Game on!
07:28 PM
27 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 0
Jesus is bullied off the ball. He looks for a free kick, but no decision comes.
Rodri plays a poor pass to Ederson who just about clears. Cancelo attacks nicely down the left, but his ball inside beats Sterling and Foden. Courtois collects.
07:26 PM
26 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 0
Jesus trips Rodrygo. City win the ball back from the free kick, Foden breaks but his ball to Cancelo is behind him. Needed to be rolled in front of the full-back.
07:24 PM
24 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 0
Lyon have scored in the other round of 16 clash, 2-0 on aggregate over Juventus - what a result that would be!
07:23 PM
22 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 0
The second corner is rolled to Hazard on the edge of the box, he releases a powerful, low shot which is well saved by Ederson.
07:23 PM
21 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 0
Hazard picks up the ball on the left, he passes to Benzema who spins past Laporte and fires a shot to the right of Ederson who tips out for a corner. Very good from the striker. The corner is taken short, and a second corner is won.
07:20 PM
19 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 0
City have been impressive so far, but Madrid have been woeful.
Sterling weaves his way into the box, jinking past two defenders and just as he is about to shoot, Casemiro slides in to win the ball in the penalty area. Vital challenge.
07:17 PM
Here is the goal - so, so bad from Varane...
Look away now Raphael Varane 👀
The Real Madrid defender has his pocket picked by Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling is on hand to apply the finish!#Club2020pic.twitter.com/BykvhWEain
— Football on BT Sport #Club2020 (@btsportfootball) August 7, 2020
07:16 PM
16 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 0
Casemiro now has the ball stolen from him in Madrid's half - what is going on!
Sterling curls a shot towards the top corner, just too high and ends up on the roof of the net. Decent effort.
All City so far!
07:15 PM
13 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 0
A reminder that City are 3-1 up on aggregate now. Madrid still need two.
Nearly again! Sterling almost tackles Militao in his own box but a foul is awarded. City are pressing very high with great intensity and Madrid are struggling to play their way out.
07:13 PM
10 mins: Man City 1 Real Madrid 0
City attack again, Foden breaks into the box and cuts onto his left. His shot is blocked by Mendy, it falls to Gundogan but his shot lacks power. Madrid scramble away.
07:10 PM
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAL! STERLING Man City 1 Real Madrid 0
Varane has made a colossal error. He loses the ball in the Madrid penalty area, Jesus - who pinched the ball - rolls it to Sterling who has the simplest finish from six yards out.
Dreadful from Madrid.
07:07 PM
7 mins: Man City 0 Real Madrid 0
Varane makes an intelligent interception, getting ahead of Foden. City win it back and counter. De Bruyne unleashes a rocket from distance which is deflected out for a corner by Militao.
07:06 PM
4 mins: Man City 0 Real Madrid 0
Possession exchanges hands, sloppy passes from both sides. Benzema drops deep to win the ball, he finds Carvajal who charges forward before rolling into Benzema on the edge of the City box. The Frenchman is caught just offside.
07:03 PM
2 mins: Man City 0 Real Madrid 0
Madrid have started nicely, passing the ball around the park with confidence. City are pressing high, boxing Madrid in their half.
After two minutes, Courtois overcooks a pass. Throw-in City.
07:01 PM
Here we go!
Real Madrid get us underway. Madrid are in their garish pink number.
06:56 PM
One last reminder of the teams as they appear on the pitch
06:53 PM
Will there be any surprises from Pep Guardiola this evening?
When the sides met in the first leg at the Bernabeu, back in February, Guardiola’s tactics worked to near-perfection. He omitted Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho from the starting line-up. Gabriel Jesus was star of the show, playing from the left while Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, in turns, were the furthest players forward.
There is different personnel on the park this evening - but there could be more surprises.
06:48 PM
A reminder that there is another last 16 match taking place this evening
Juventus take on Lyon, having lost the first leg 1-0.
Juventus topped their group - which included Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Lokomotiv Moscow - but lost the first leg. Maurizio Sauri's side has claimed the Serie A title since football resumed, and will be full of confidence that they can overturn their deficit.
Lyon had their first match since the Ligue 1 season was curtailed last week against PSG in the Coupe de la Ligue final. They lost on penalties but will be better off for the run out. Whether they will be at a disadvantage against Juve, with rustiness a potential issue, or whether they will benefit from an extended period of rest, remains to be seen.
The Italian giants expect domestic league glory, but the Champions League campaign remarkably still has the ability to make or break their season. Pablo Dybala has been their leading scorer in the competition so far, netting three times. But at this stage of the tournament, a certain Cristiano Ronaldo usually comes to the fore.
06:42 PM
Pep Guardiola ahead of kick-off
"Be ourselves. Play a game with a lot of rhythm, create chances and defend well."
Sounds simple...
Guardiola also confirmed that David Silva is fit - and on the bench - with Phil Foden preferred to start. It could be Silva's last game for City.
06:34 PM
Zizou loves this competition
1 - Zinedine Zidane could be eliminated from a Champions League knockout tie for the first time, having been victorious in the previous 12. Zidane has won just two of his six Champions League games against English teams (33%). Unfamiliar. pic.twitter.com/6sREIS53SF
Phil Foden starts for Manchester City. The 20-year-old was named in the City side ahead of veteran David Silva, while Fernandinho returned to central defence in place of Eric Garcia.
Eden Hazard overcame an ankle injury to start for Real, who were trailing 2-1 on aggregate after defeat at the Bernabeu in February. The visitors were without captain Sergio Ramos through suspension, while Gareth Bale did not travel to Manchester.
City: Ederson, Walker, Fernandinho, Laporte, Joao Cancelo, De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan, Foden, Gabriel Jesus, Sterling.
Amnesty seem to be out in force outside the stadium this evening
The Ahmed Mansoor case is one of their big complaints with the UAE.
Protesters outside the ground ahead of kick-off
06:17 PM
And while we are on the subject of Gareth Bale...
Here is Oliver Brown on the Bale situation:
We are reaching the stage, though, where Bale has exhausted his stock of public sympathy. At some point, a level of self-respect should kick in. Where is the instinct to defy the locally-drawn caricatures of an overpaid wastrel and prove himself elsewhere? It is not as if the pure love of football has deserted him, as one can see it every time he slips on the red jersey for Wales.
And history is once again on City's side with this one...
7/7 - In major UEFA European competition, Manchester City have progressed from all seven of their previous knockout ties when winning the first leg away from home. Destiny. pic.twitter.com/I3RHjogExM
This is the third Champions League meeting between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad; the previous two ended as draws (1-1 in 2012-13 group stage, 0-0 in 2015- 16 semi-final first leg).
Good evening, here is a preview of tonight's massive game
Tonight’s clash feels like a defining game in the Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City. After being humbled in the league by scintillating Liverpool, success can be salvaged by winning Europe’s biggest prize - the trophy that City have failed to get near, despite it being a focus.
Man City have put themselves in an excellent position to progress to the quarter-finals - and if they do so, Guardiola’s side will likely be only second to Bayern Munich in terms of favourites to go all the way.
When the sides met in the first leg at the Bernabeu, back in February, Guardiola’s tactics worked to near-perfection. He omitted Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho from the starting line-up. Gabriel Jesus was star of the show, playing from the left while Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, in turns, were the furthest players forward.
A superb game plan, however it only yielded a one-goal advantage. Real Madrid, fresh off reclaiming the La Liga title from Barcelona, will be gunning for City. Zinedine Zidane's side won nine games on the bounce after the restart, before drawing their final game of the campaign.
Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos were in red hot form, but Madrid will be without Ramos who was red carded in the second half of the first leg.
This week Guardiola was in a confident mood.
"I have the feeling now that we are ready to play the game, do a good performance and win the game.
"We want to win this competition, for sure. To win this competition you have to beat teams like Madrid. We cannot expect another issue.
"If you want to win this competition - and we want it - we have to beat them and win the next rounds.
"We have to avoid making mistakes. In this competition they punish you a lot.
"We have spoken about it, not now but many times in the last years and we know it. If we want to step forward as a team to be close to winning this competition we have to be better in this area.”
If City can avoid defensive errors and get past Madrid, they will feel this could well be their year in Europe.
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