Even by Manchester Metropolis’s requirements this was fairly a solution.
Regardless of a lackluster second-half show within the first leg of their Champions League spherical of 16 tie away to RB Leipzig, Pep Guardiola’s aspect wanted only one objective on the Etihad to progress to the quarter-finals. As a substitute, the seven scored their joint-biggest Champions League win (matching one other 7-0 at dwelling, to Schalke, one other German aspect, on the similar stage of the 2018-19 competitors), with Erling Haaland getting 5 of them earlier than was changed with virtually half an hour nonetheless to play.
Perhaps within the second recreation I’ll resolve to be loopy and play with 9 strikers and make up-and-down video games, however on this recreation (first recreation) I would like this kind of management, mentioned Guardiola after the 1- 1 attract Germany three. weeks in the past.
He kept away from such extremes final night time, maybe till his post-match press convention, however Metropolis had their largest probabilities (10, scored 5), most photographs on the right track (16, tied with the 5-0 defeat to FC Copenhagen within the group stage) , and curiously their highest proportion of photographs from set-pieces (39.13 per cent) in a European match all season.
This is how they scored seven.
First objective
Haaland opened the scoring within the twenty second minute and the build-up to that objective typified Metropolis’s method: their now trademark three and double pivot with a full-back taking part in inside, Kevin De Bruyne’s working between left-back and centre-back. , and Haaland scored rebounds from nook kicks.
Guardiola had described Leipzig’s model as six up entrance, with a 2-2 (in midfield), full-backs as wingers, however Metropolis exploited their slim 4-4-2 central block.
John Stones, a right-back in a again 4 when out of possession however a pivot in a midfield two when Metropolis had the ball, finds Bernardo Silva broad on the proper. Silva’s place attracts in left-back David Raum, making room for De Bruynes to run in behind, however his cross is straight at goalkeeper Janis Blaswich.
Then we noticed the out-of-possession sample of the night time: Metropolis’s 4-2-4 excessive urgent. Their aggression was noticeably greater than the primary leg, quantifiably twice as intense in what number of passes they allowed Marco Rose’s aspect earlier than making a defensive transfer, and so they recovered the ball twice as typically, Rose later mentioned, one thing we did not had anticipated.
Metropolis’s defensive metrics vs Leipzig
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Metropolis’s wingers pressed with out-to-in runs that minimize off passes to the full-backs and compelled Leipzig to play centrally.
Bernardo typically pressed Blaswich when Leipzig performed again to their (backup) keeper. The nook resulting in the penalty that put Metropolis forward on the night time comes because of him inflicting Blaswich to miscue a go to Willi Orban.
Metropolis’s nook setup remained constant, however they used variations properly. Manuel Akanji was up in opposition to the goalkeeper and Haaland was the decoy, with Stones, Rodri and Ruben Dias positioned on the again put up. It appeared that the concept was to take advantage of Leipzig’s 4 central zone markers (crimson dots), leaving the Germans nearly missing in cowl.
Dias makes an identical run to Haaland throughout the six-yard field and Stones goes to the again put up. This leaves room for Rodri, who meets Jack Grealish’s in-swinging nook from the left. Metropolis’s first two corners of the sport had been De Bruyne outswingers from the proper.
The penalty shootout resolution in handball is hard, however these coordinated strikes ensured Metropolis saved profitable the primary few touches as the sport progressed.
Haaland scored the penalty and saved his excellent file from the spot six out of six for Metropolis.
Second objective
Two objectives in 78 seconds, with the second arriving simply 19 seconds after kick-off following Haaland’s opener, killed off the sport. The second objective comes so rapidly that the rating graphic telling TV viewers it is now 1-0 continues to be on the display screen.
Metropolis press once more, however Haaland leads it this time. Leipzig’s midfield (white dots) is marked by Guardiola’s two No.10s (De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan) plus full-backs Stones and Nathan Ake, who’re near their No.10s, Dominik Szoboszlai and Kevin Kampl.
Blaswich, once more below strain, kicks lengthy this time. Akanji returns the ball up the sector
and Haaland nods it down for De Bruyne. The Belgian hits the crossbar with a left-footed shot from vary and Metropolis’s No.9 is first to the rebound to move in.
Third objective
Haaland’s and Metropolis’s third of the sport comes from virtually a carbon copy of the penalty-winning nook above that completes his fifth hat-trick in all competitions this season, essentially the most by a Premier League participant in all competitions since Harry Kane for Tottenham Hotspur in 2016-17.
We get one other Grealish inswinger from the left, though this time Dias and Rodri change runs. Rodri follows Haaland’s early transfer to the close to put up and Dias stands largely nonetheless earlier than shifting from Raum’s again to win the primary contact.
Blaswich virtually retains out Dia’s preliminary header, however Amadou Haidara’s goal-line clearance is blocked by Haaland’s proper knee even by strict German requirements, it is a hat-trick (all three in the identical half, with no different scorers in between) however calling it an ideal hat-trick feels a bit overgenerous.
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Fourth objective
Arguably, Guardiola’s half-time staff discuss, along with his aspect 3-0 up in a single day and profitable 4-1 on combination, was about bettering within the second half of the primary leg.
Metropolis did it with way more possession (68.7 per cent on the Etihad to 49.2 per cent at Leipzig), extra intense urgent (10.3 v 17.3 PPDA), extra huge probabilities (three v nil), twice as many photographs (10 in opposition to 5). ) and, crucially, 4 extra objectives.
Metropolis’s fourth of the sport was essentially the most fashionable of their seven: 14 passes over 44 seconds, from their attacking half again to the keeper, then shifting from field to field with precision.
Rodri begins it with a deal with on Haidara, who sees the ball find yourself at Ake’s toes.
Metropolis play ahead, with Grealish and De Bruyne combining to place the Englishman in behind right-back Benjamin Henrichs. Grealish has all the time been the controller, opting to drop again and recycle possession moderately than go for objective.
Then Metropolis turns it on.
Goalkeeper Ederson sweeps a go broad to Bernardo, who drops deeper from a excessive and broad place. Leipzig attempt to squeeze of their slim 4-2-3-1, so De Bruyne runs off Kampl’s shoulder to obtain Bernardo’s first-time go inside.
The Belgian then finds Haaland and Metropolis lengthen their current assortment of sweeping right-to-left objectives (Grealish in opposition to Arsenal and Riyad Mahrez away to Chelsea, each in 2023).
Guardiola appreciates Haaland’s rising function within the build-up as his debut season in England continues and mentioned at this time that he scored 5 objectives and I believe he made 30 to 35 touches of the ball and that is what we’re searching for and being extra concerned within the recreation makes their No. 9 smarter, extra exact.
Haaland goes straight to Gundogan, who finds Grealish out on the left aspect of city. One-on-one, Grealish performs it again to Gundogan, who has higher choices (take a look at De Bruyne in loads of area on the opposite aspect of the D) than to shoot along with his non-dominant left foot, however he does it anyway and finds decrease nook.
Fifth objective
This was one other Haaland corner-rebound objective with a well-recognized build-up. Stones finds Bernardo broad who once more places a ball into De Bruyne and guess the place he runs?
Josko Gvardiol steers the cross behind for a nook
which additionally finally ends up being cleared, however Bernardo collects and passes, the place Konrad Laimer places it out for an additional nook.
Final night time Metropolis had their most corners (10) and most photographs (eight) and objectives (three) from corners in a Champions League recreation this season. In addition they had an anticipated objectives (xG) of 1.85 from set items alone, after producing simply 1.98 xG mixed from these conditions of their earlier 5 European matches.
It is a case of equivalent setups and an equivalent end result right here, however with a unique variation. Bernardo makes use of Stones’ run as a display screen to run unmarked to the again put up and De Bruyne picks him out with a straight, pushed supply, moderately than the curling outswinger(s) he had tried earlier.
Bernardo heads again throughout objective to Haaland, who sees an preliminary effort saved however scores from the rebound.
Bear in mind, Metropolis maintain the Premier League file for objective distinction (plus 20) of their title-winning 2020-21 season, scoring 21 and conceding simply as soon as. Regaining that energy may very well be the distinction because the Champions League enters its closing three rounds.
Sixth objective
Even with the introduction of substitutions, none of which Guardiola used within the first leg, Metropolis’s attacking sample labored. Within the build-up to objective six, Rodri performs broad to Mahrez, who had come on 10 minutes into the second half.
He dribbles inside and Stones undercuts. The England worldwide could also be offside when Mahrez passes to him, however the flag stays down and he crosses for the Algerian, who has his header saved for an additional nook.
That is why Stones is not on the again put up as De Bruyne rapidly takes the nook and performs it brief to Mahrez
who shoots over a low inswinging cross-cum-shot. Blaswich can solely parry once more and Haaland is in area to finish a hat-trick with a nook rebound objective. It’s his fifth objective of the sport, making the Norwegian solely the third participant in Champions League historical past to attain the feat.
Haaland has already matched his private file for objectives in a Champions League season (10 for Borussia Dortmund two seasons in the past) and might play 5 extra video games within the 2022-23 version if Metropolis attain the ultimate in Istanbul on June 10.
Seventh objective
The cake was properly iced by this level and though very late Rose had switched to a again 5
it did nothing to cease Mahrez getting De Bruyne to run inside Raum, to obtain from Bernardo
and discovering De Bruyne after dribbling inside this time, he obtained his shot below the bar.
Guardiola was the primary to focus on that these knockout shows at dwelling have been Metropolis’s energy in final night time’s victory, extending their unbeaten run on the Etihad within the Champions League to 24 video games (22 wins) stretching again to 2018, a streak , which is the joint longest. of any English staff within the historical past of the competitors (stage with Arsenal between September 2004 and April 2009).
They beat Actual Madrid 4-3 there final season within the first leg of a semi-final, however collapsed late on on the Bernabeu to exit after additional time. Equally, Metropolis scored 5 at dwelling to Monaco at this level in Guardiola’s debut season (2016-17) however had been nonetheless eradicated on away objectives after a 3-1 defeat within the second leg. There was additionally the enduring 4-3 quarter-final win over Tottenham in 2019, the place in addition they went outdoors the now-abolished away objectives rule.
That is the sixth consecutive season below Guardiola that Metropolis have reached the final eight of Europe’s blue-ribbon membership competitors.
They need to now go on and do what they haven’t finished earlier than, win what they’ve by no means received. To take action, they might want to maintain their nerve, keep sturdy within the away legs and never concede, as Guardiola places it, silly objectives.
(Prime photograph: Marc Atkins/Getty Photographs)