{"id":544444,"date":"2020-02-27T12:18:55","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T17:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=544444"},"modified":"2020-02-27T13:23:59","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T18:23:59","slug":"pep-guardiola-set-manchester-city-up-perfectly-against-real-madrid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/02\/27\/pep-guardiola-set-manchester-city-up-perfectly-against-real-madrid\/","title":{"rendered":"Pep Guardiola Set Manchester City Up Perfectly Against Real Madrid"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pep Guardiola<\/a> set Manchester City<\/a> up to play a style of football that Real Madrid<\/a> will know well. In an instant, Madrid showed him why they know it well. Manchester City had been on top of the game just before the hour mark when they were bitten by their own mistakes, but in a true show of character and desire, Manchester City rallied in glorious fashion.<\/p>\n

Pep Guardiola Set Manchester City Up Perfectly<\/h2>\n

Real Madrid’s Goal<\/h3>\n

If there was ever a goal that represented a microcosm of this season, it would be this one. Manchester City were playing their best football of the night. They were threatening Real Madrid, forcing saves from Thibaut Courtois<\/a> and forcing giveaways from their outfield. Then, they threw it all away.<\/p>\n

It started with Nicolas Otamendi<\/a>, getting into trouble with the ball. Then, he rocketed a pass to Rodrigo in traffic. Rodrigo controlled it nicely then tried to play it back to Otamendi instead of into an open teammate; and boom. Ball turned over, Real Madrid running the other way.<\/p>\n

Kyle Walker<\/a> had a chance to make a vital intervention and had a position on Vinicius when the young Brazilian nipped the ball before Walker could clear it. Vinicius dribbled and played in Isco and just like that Man City were behind 1-0.<\/p>\n

The Turnover<\/h3>\n

After the goal, it looked like Manchester City could get overrun. They were deflated, they gave the ball away, and if Madrid had been more clinical they could have put the tie away. Then, though, it swung back just as fast.<\/p>\n

It started after Raheem Sterling<\/a> came on for Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese midfielder was not awful, but this certainly was not one of his best performances. Yet, Sterling gave Manchester City the isolation option they needed to get back at Real and having his isolation gave Kevin De Bruyne<\/a> the space he needed.<\/p>\n

De Bruyne was able to beat Dani Carvajal to get the cross in that Gabriel Jesus<\/a> headed into the back of the net. Six minutes later, he was able to score the crucial penalty that gave City the win. Plus, it was De Bruyne\u2019s pass that played in Jesus which forced the red card given to Sergio Ramos<\/a>. The Madrid captain will now miss the trip to Manchester.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>