UEFA Champions League: How a clash of styles between Real Madrid’s functional play and Manchester City’s positional play led to a chess match – tactical analysis

When the two best ideologies in football meet —positional and functional play — an electrifying spectacle ensues, captivating the worlds attention.

Following an exhilarating encounter in last years semi-final, Real Madrid and Manchester City once again clashed in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals at the iconic Bernabéu stadium.

The match, which came out completely equal, with a score of 1-1, awaits the second leg in Manchester next Wednesday.

This tactical analysis delves deep into the tactics of the intense battle, analysing how Real Madrid’s transitional prowess and the absence of Nathan Aké forced Pep to adapt and why the Catalan lowered his progression tempo more than recently.

Lineups

Expert Carlo Ancelotti opted for his customary 4-3-3 formation.

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga; Toni Kroos, Modric, Valverde; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema.

In contrast, the astute strategist Pep Guardiola elected to deploy a 4-4-2 formation on paper, with its difference in the different phases of play.

Man City XI: Ederson; Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji; John Stones, Rodri; Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Ikay Gundogan, Jack Grealish; Erling Haaland.

Ada

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