Two legendary clubs face off again in the Round of 8 of the Champions League
It is fair to say that the Champions League doesn’t employ bracketology. For the knockout phase of the tournament or single elimination, starting with the Round of 16 clubs are not seeded and then matched up against each other. Instead the matchups are based on a random draw. The same is done for the Round of 8.
If an NCAA basketball seeding type system was employed, one cannot argue that City and Real would be seeded #1 and #2 respectively and would be put on opposite sides of the bracket and would not be playing each other this early. Instead, the draw system now has given us what surely could be, or should be, the Championship game itself but at the quarterfinal stage instead. This assumes that each team would win out to reach the final stage. Given the recent records of these teams (they’ve only lost to each other in the knock-out phase the past two years – City winning in 2023 and Real in 2022), it is very feasible that this would happen.
As written before, Real Madrid is the winningest club in soccer history. They have amassed more trophies than anyone else. Manchester City, on the other hand, now led by who arguably could be called one of the greatest managers of all time, are so good now that serious debate can now be had about whether this is the greatest soccer team ever assembled.
City won the trophy last year, in a run that included a serious manhandling of the Merengues at the semi-final stage, where City won 5-1 aggregate after thumping Real 4-0 on the return leg, and where they were never seriously threatened. City also won the EPL and the FA Cup to complete the legendary treble. They are on track to repeat that feat this year and a back-to-back treble has never been achieved before.
So the stage was set for the clash of the Titans, the new classic European rivalry.
The game at the Bernabeu started horribly for Real as Silva scored off a free kick in the second minute, surprising the Real goalie with a hard low shot to Kepa’s right, where he should have been better positioned.. But unlike the matchup last year, when Real Madrid just could not get enough possession of the ball to initiate their lethal counter-attacks with either of their Brazilian speedsters Vinnie or Rodrygo, this game was different. Able to have at least 40% possession in the first half, Real scored two goals, one an own goal after Diaz deflected Kamavinga’s long range shot, and the other through a long ball from Vinnie to Rodrygo down the left flank, where the latter outraced Akanji to the ball before he was able to put the breaks on, let Akanji fly past him, and then scored with a simple little kick past the Ortega Moreno (one wonders if Ederson would have done better here.)
Two important reasons that allowed Madrid to gain more possession this game than the last were: Tony Kroos’ man marking of Phil Foden and Kamavinga’s physical presence in the midfield. Kroos shadowed Foden all over the pitch, not allowing him to get untracked during a year where Foden has clearly been one of City’s most lethal scoring options. The choice of Kroos is unusual tactic given the difference in age but Kroos has had a resurgence of late, even being recalled to Germany’s starting lineup. On a side note, Kroos has been one of my favorite Madrid’s players in the past five years. For someone his age to still be able to perform at this level is simply amazing. He is an elegant player who makes things look easy, rarely makes mistakes, and plays better positional defense than one would think a player his age could do. On the other hand, Kamavinga won the battle of midfield, making it difficult for both Foden and Rodri to operate.
Foden finally freed himself of Kroos and unleashed a rocket into the upper left-hand corner of the net in the 65th minute. With Kamaving just a second late, Foden found himself wide open in the middle just outside of the 18 yard box before unleashing his shot. Just 5 minutes later, Guardiol scored on a rocket of his own. Grealish, who had up to this point, done very little, attracted three defenders on the left flank using his exquisite control before passing it to Guardiol, who touched it what seemed to be too far away, but with nobody but Kroos closing him down, still had enough open space to unleash the lethal shot.
Real Madrid, however, was not to be outdone. Modric entered the game for Kroos and quickly put his customary stamp on the game. After a Kamavinga interception in midfield, Modric carried the ball through the center of the field before laying it off to Vinnie, who instead of doing what he does nine of ten times – dribble into the area to his left, cutting it back to his right and shooting — crossed the ball with his left foot to Valverde, who hit the ball on the volley into the corner of the City goal just as one would dream it (hit the ball from whence it comes as they say). It was the third stupendous goal, a third rocket, of this magnificent match.
It’s unfortunate that this spectacular game couldn’t have been the Final. On the plus side, we get to see a second leg, which promises to be just as spectacular as this one, given all that is at stake.
Notes:
City unbeaten in last 60 games that Rodri started.
It is surprising to note how little Halland touches the ball on this team, one that is known for its passes that number in the hundreds per game. He did have a couple of good defensive plays against Vinnie in the second half, but as far as an offensive threat, he was invisible.
How does Modric keep playing at such a high level ? His presence into the game not only energized Real Madrid, it also flipped the possession into the Merengue’s favor. Not even City’s vaunted press could take the ball off of his feet. He is a truly sensational player.
Scoring:
- 2’: Bernardo Silva surprises the Real Madrid keeper from a free kick.
- 12’: Kamavinga’s shot deflects off of Ruben Diaz for a goal.
- 14’: Rodrygo scores with a simple little kick after outracing the City right back Akanji down the right flank. Walker’s absence is noticeable.
- 67’: Foden scores 5th of 7 goals.
- 71’: Guardiol scores on rocket stage #2.
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