Another year for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, another Champions League quarter-final second leg at home against an English side having failed to score an away goal. Tottenham might have only won the first leg 1-0 but the clean sheet they took with them to the Etihad meant that if they scored once, City would need three. In this tactical analysis, we will look at the tactics used by both Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino in an absolute classic at the Etihad.
Lineups
Last season when City found themselves trailing 3-0 from the first leg at Anfield, Guardiola decided to play with three at the back in a more attacking approach. However, due to City being exposed that night, Guardiola went for four at the back this time around, with pacey full-backs Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy playing on either side.
They were both able to help City in defence but bomb on to create width in attack like we have seen all season. Also crucial to width were Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva, who played either side of Sergio Agüero in a front three.
