Bitter and Blue - Champions League: Manchester City v BarcelonaManchester City News, Opinion and Commentaryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47425/bitter-fave.png2014-02-19T12:24:10+00:00http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/rss/stream/51776892014-02-19T12:24:10+00:002014-02-19T12:24:10+00:00Angry Pelle, A Majestic Effort and Poll!
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<figcaption>Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
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<p>The ultimate takeaway from a largely disappointing night: we can play with anybody. </p> <p><b>Part the First: The Referee</b></p>
<p>Wow, but Pellegrini went after the ref after the game. Even in the light of a few hours reflection, I still can't believe how aggressive some of these comments were. To wit:</p>
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<li> "He decided for Barcelona from the beginning to the end. I think it was not a good idea to put a referee from Sweden in such an important match and a referee who made a mistake against Barcelona in the group stages." </li>
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<p>Granting emotions run high in any competitive match and doubly so for a CL match, when you accuse a ref of bias because of something that happened in a game weeks ago *and* throw in the weird comment about how you can't just have a damn Swede in there? Yeah, I think it's safe to say Pellegrini will be watching the match at Camp Nou from a healthy distance away from the sideline. Frankly, I wish our fearless Chilean leader had spent the postgame talking about the incredible effort we put in both before and after the biggest play of the game. Speaking of which...</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Part the Second: The Biggest Play of the Game</b></p>
<p>In real time, it sure looked for all the world like a foul. It's a shame because as has been noted on this blog by writers and commenters alike, Demichelis played damn well up until he decided to risk a red and a penalty shot. Note to defenders of all stripes: I know it's Messi and he's the closest thing in the sport we have to a living deity but a spot kick along with a man down is just too big of a risk; let him go through. Our man Martin is getting killed on other comment boards on the intertubes which is unfortunate. I didn't like his starting over Lescott, especially considering Lescott's majestic performance vs. Chelsea but as stated, Demichelis played his best match in a while until he made that fateful slide.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Part the Third: We Can Play with Anybody</b></p>
<p>If there is just one thought that should be taken from the match, it's this one. After an 0-2 loss at home, it's hard to beat your chest but City played so hard and so well against one of the best sides in the world. Kompany is the best defender in England and can we please, please, pretty please put that issue to rest now and forever? Silva took to his role like a shark takes to blood, Hart was quite good... I mean, you have a team banged up at striker, playing with two left backs (and looking a bit clumsy on the left, as Zac and others have pointed out) and they still just flat out took it to Barcelona. It's incredibly disappointing typing this right now at 4am PST because we so much deserved a draw if not a win but the disappointment is tempered considerably by how hard we played. Personally, I would have started Nasri in midfield and brought the attack to the Catalans and I'll go to my grave wondering what we could've done against them with 100% health. Speaking of which, I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do when we visit Camp Nou.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Part the Fourth: Simply the Best</b></p>
<p>I know Zac already posted <a href="http://gfycat.com/SardonicImperfectKoodoo">this </a>but I cannot stop looking at it. Of all the tackles, clearances and just flat out great plays made by the captain, that one belongs on a cereal box.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Part the Fifth: Poll!</b></p>
<p>You know what to do.</p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2014/2/19/5425350/five-thoughts-we-belong-at-this-levelClay Landon2014-02-19T01:16:51+00:002014-02-19T01:16:51+00:00City 0 – 2 Barcelona: Two left-backs not enough
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<figcaption>Messi celebrates after beating Hart from the spot. | Clive Brunskill</figcaption>
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<p>Pellegrini’s defensive tactics and formation tweak prove ineffective against the Catalan giants, as Barcelona – aided by an absurd Demichelis tackle – defeat City in the first match of the two-leg tie. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>A strange game, that. Some will say a harsh scoreline while others will say Barcelona should have put the tie completely to rest having almost forty full minutes of a man advantage. I’m somewhere between the two and certainly think City could have made more of their chances or opted for a more attacking lineup. It’s strange too, that Pellegrini would field a lineup in the home leg that many would expect to have seen at Camp Nou in an effort to "hold on." I had previously advocated an attacking lineup that would force Barcelona to match City on goals (after all, isn’t that what City do), but Pellegrini instead opted for quite the opposite. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The primary talking point will surely be Demichelis’ ridiculously poor "challenge" and subsequent red card; but to be honest, I though City were the better side for 80-85% of the time that Nasri was on the pitch. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/4022531/PITCH_DIAGRAM_citybarca.png"><img align="right" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4022531/PITCH_DIAGRAM_citybarca_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Pitch_diagram_citybarca_medium"></a></p>
<p>It was a rather surprising 4-4-1-1 (that at times looked a 4-2-3-1) with Negredo the lone striker and Silva playing behind him in the #10 – a position he played incredibly well in – flanked on each side by Kolarov (sadly, you read that correctly) and Navas. Fernandinho made his return to the side, partnering with Yaya in the middle of the pitch. The biggest surprise though, was seeing Demichelis preferred to Lescott, who was tremendous against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>, or Nastasic, who Pellegrini clearly lacks the necessary trust to play in the "big games."</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Meanwhile, Tata chose a formation that emphasized possession at the expense of cutting edge – a fact that could be seen rather clearly at halftime, when Barcelona led comfortably in possession statistics but lacked any obvious chances or dangerous penetration. Fàbregas joined Busquets and Xavi in midfield, which meant Iniesta to the left wing, a decision that manifested itself in a lack of forward wing presence on that side. Importantly though, he deployed Alba in a deeper-than-usual position, conservatively positioned and rarely willing to move into City’s final third – at least prior to the red card. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Pellegrini’s decision to start both left-backs (unsurprisingly) backfired, as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110098/dani-alves">Dani Alves</a> drove Kolarov back from the first minute to the last – in truth, his 90<sup>th</sup> minute goal gave this game a rather appropriate level of symmetry. Pellegrini surely wanted Kolarov-Clichy on the left for three reasons: 1) Defensively, it was the "easiest solution" to dealing with Alves; 2) As Messi often drifts to his right before cutting back inside onto his left, a double fullback pairing on the left might keep City from being exposed to a Alves-Alexis-Messi overload; and 3) Playing Kolarov in front of Clichy meant, at least hypothetically, that that one of City’s best crossers could get forward without exposing space behind. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Instead, Kolarov looked clueless as an offensive outlet, continually unable to find the necessary space to start counter-attacks while offering too little going forward. Defensively, he managed to miss on all five of his attempted tackles (three of which were against Alves), while providing little desistence to his Brazilian counterpart’s offensive forays. Indeed, had Alexis not twice intercepted passes that were intended as through balls to Alves, Kolarov would have been even more exposed than he already was.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span></span><a style="text-align: center; background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4022547/alves_heatmap.png" target="_blank"></a><span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/4022539/alves_heatmap.png"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/4022539/alves_heatmap_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Alves_heatmap_medium"></a> <br id="1392770569001"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>In some way though, I suppose there’s a small bit of vindication in Pellegrini’s decision, as Barcelona’s only goal from open play come from the right as Neymar and Alves left Clichy and Lescott for dead before the fullback fired between Hart’s legs. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Strangely, Demichelis was – at least in his defensive capacities – actually quite good prior to his sending off. With Messi often dropping off the front line and to the right side of the Barcelona midfield, it was left to Demichelis to step up and prevent Barca’s #10 from turning and dribbling towards City’s backline. This I thought he did rather well, routinely stepping out from the back line to close down this space, make interceptions, or attempt tackles. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a style="background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4022563/alba_interceptions.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Alba_interceptions_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4022563/alba_interceptions_medium.png" align="right"></a> <span>As mentioned above, when City played with eleven men, Alba remained deeper than usual; a clear reflection of Tata’s respect for City’s breaking abilities, Navas’ pace, and the importance of a balanced Barcelona. While it’s obviously impossible to know if it was a last minute piece of instruction having seen Pellegrini’s two fullback pairing on the left or a fully planned strategy, Alba’s deeper positioning was a key component to stifling City’s counter-attack (or lack there-of). With Kolarov continually unable to offer himself as a reliable outlet, Navas became the primary short outlet option – with Negredo, obviously the long outlet option. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>It didn’t take long to realize that as Kolarov’s value in the initial build-up decreased, Navas’ increased. And so Alba sat deeper, afraid to move forward, lest it open space for Navas to move into. Incredibly, it was Alba who led all players in interceptions, making a rather ridiculous seven of them, six of which came from the left side of defence.</span><br id="1392770495972"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>For all that Pellegrini got wrong tactically, I actually thought City were rather good for large stretches, including several strong individual performances. While he may have handled Alves’ goal better than he did, Hart commanded his area well, claiming or punching everything he came off his line for; Kompany was a rock in defence, once dispossessing Messi </span><a href="http://gfycat.com/SardonicImperfectKoodoo" target="_blank">in a manner that made my jaw drop</a><span>; Silva was beyond good, both controlling City’s play while also regularly assuming the role of catalyst for the forward moves (if only he had managed to score with his late attempt – a moment which showed just how good Valdes actually is); while Fernandinho again showed he, even more than Aguero, is the most important player to Pellegrini’s City. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Back to Silva for a moment; City’s Merlin truly was magical tonight. Eyes in the back of his head, continually finding the right pass, either switching play to an opposite side or rolling the perfect through ball into the path of a runner. He was so good as a #10, it’s not hard to argue that City (when healthy) might be better off playing a 4-2-3-1 with Silva behind the striker, flanked by Nasri on the left and Navas on the right while supported by Fernandinho and Yaya. We’ll likely never see that, but I think it might the best way to fuse attack with defence.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/4022699/silva_heatmap_and_actionchart.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Silva_heatmap_and_actionchart_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/4022699/silva_heatmap_and_actionchart_medium.png"></a> <br id="1392771737549"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>What’s next, then? Barring a setback, Aguero will be available for the away leg at the Nou Camp, and with City now needing at least a two goal margin of victory it won’t be a moment too soon. And there exists the possibility that City have discovered a useful way to attack the Catalans; once down to ten, City were forced to play quite narrow, as Nasri joined the midfield at the expense of Navas and Kolarov made way for Lescott.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>And at least the next time, Pellegrini won’t have the option to field two left-backs. <p></p></span></p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2014/2/19/5424088/city-0-2-barcelona-two-left-backs-not-enoughZac MacPhee2014-02-18T22:04:55+00:002014-02-18T22:04:55+00:00MR: MCFC 0 - 2 BFC
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<figcaption>Clive Brunskill</figcaption>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>And our first match post knockout stage is in the books, and it didn’t have the "story book beginning" most of us had hoped for. The first half was goalless, but it wasn’t for lack of chances. Barcelona, as you would guess, controlled possession for the most part and City defended well. But, City had their chances to get a goal for the good, but missed chances by Negredo and others left the score line goalless at half.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The second half started similar to the last, but Barcelona’s pressure finally got to City’s back four, and more importantly, Demichelis. The Argentinean was shown a red card eight minutes into the second half for his foul on Messi in the box. Messi stepped up to take the PK and didn’t miss. For those who watched the match, should it have been called a penalty, or no? From the picture I saw it looked like a good call, but that’s only a picture. Dani Alves finished off the match with a goal in the 90<sup>th</sup> minutes, as he beat Hart from a tight angle to make it 0-2 to Barcelona. It was a disappointing ending to a thrilling match, as City looked to be full of energy and could grab a late equalizer, but it wasn’t to be.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The game ended 0-2 to Barcelona, but it could have been worse for the Blues since they were down a man for the majority of the second half. The final minutes of play, City showed the fight and the "never say never" attitude we have loved to see from them this season, but it just wasn’t enough to stop the high flying Barca attack. With the game at 0-1 it looked that the reverse fixture would be an exciting one at the Camp Nou. But, with the aggregate score at 0-2 Barcelona, the hill looks even steeper for City heading into the March 12<sup>th</sup> match. How are you feeling after the game, Citizens? Proud, but painfully disappointed by the last goal? Or just proud to see where City has come over the years?</p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2014/2/18/5423698/match-report-city-0-2-barcelonakmoney24052014-02-18T18:45:36+00:002014-02-18T18:45:36+00:00Game Thread: Manchester City v Barcelona
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<figcaption>Clive Brunskill</figcaption>
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<p>I don't know about the rest of you, but I haven't gotten a single thing done at work today. I've been a bundle of nervous energy, just waiting for the game to start so I can calm down.</p>
<p>Team sheets are in! Here's the City squad: <a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/4021553/city_v_barcelona.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="City_v_barcelona_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4021553/city_v_barcelona_medium.jpg"></a></p>
<p>Couple of surprises, but nothing too major. Looks like Lescott loses out to Demichelis. Clichy starts at LB (better defensively), while Kolarov moves up to play left midfielder. That'll shore up the defense, especially if Yaya and Fernandinho both go upfield.</p>
<p>Silva looks set to play in the hole behind Negredo, with Navas stretching the field on the other side. The substitution options seem pretty straightforward, with Pellegrini able to swap Kolarov for Jovetic or Nasri, depending on what the game needs, and moving Silva to the left. No word on the subs yet either.</p>
<p>Haven't seen anything about Barcelona yet, will update when something comes out.</p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2014/2/18/5423028/game-thread-manchester-city-v-barcelonalafaitele2014-02-17T19:40:24+00:002014-02-17T19:40:24+00:00Preview: Manchester City v Barcelona
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<figcaption>Clive Brunskill</figcaption>
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<p>Here we are, after a few months of anticipation and build up. I hope that you've all been following the tactical previews done on here. AJ and Zac have brought their A - game, so I guess it's up to me to do the same.</p>
<p><b>Player updates: </b>Fernadinho is in! He trained yesterday and today, and looks set to be cleared to play. Sergio Aguero is the subject of some rampant speculation as well. As of now, he is not cleared, but there is a suspicion that he trained today as well, and might be cleared to play with a small strain (as Pablo Zabaleta did earlier in the season). Matija Nastasic is still out, but other than that things are looking good.</p>
<p><b>Projected lineup: </b>There have been suggestions made to Pellegrini that he should play three in central midfield (Javi Garcia, Fernandinho, and Yaya), but he has brushed those aside by saying that City will be playing our standard tactics. That leaves this as the most likely lineup.</p>
<p><b>Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Fernandinho, Yaya, Navas, Silva, Jovetic, Negredo.</b></p>
<p>Samir Nasri is more likely to come off the bench either as a replacement for Navas, or for one of the strikers, giving a little more midfield stability. Lescott looks to be preferred to Demichelis, and after shutting down Eden Hazard, Willian and Etoo, could be up for it. Clichy and Kolarov is an interesting choice, as Kolarov does more offensively (free kicks and crossing). I think that Clichy's tendency to step forward and intercept passes will be more preferred, although Pellegrini has said that he is going to go all out.</p>
<p><b>Key tactical matchups:</b> If you want to read more about this, go check out what <a href="http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2014/2/16/5408206/manchester-city-barcelona-champions-league-preview" target="_blank">AJ has written</a>, followed immediately by <a href="http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2014/2/15/5403606/city-vs-barcelona-a-tactical-preview" target="_blank">Zac's breakdown</a>.</p>
<p><b>Predicted scoreline:</b> I think that this is going to be a classic. It definitely will be the best benchmark we've had as a club this season (the Bayern games were good, but not do or die). Not having Aguero is a huge blow, but I think we'll be ok with Jovetic in his usual role. 3-1 for City.</p>
<p><b>COME ON CITY!!!</b></p>
<p><span>Poll below: Who would you rather play at CB (Lescott or Demichelis) and LB (Clichy or Kolarov)? Why?</span></p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2014/2/17/5419822/preview-manchester-city-v-barcelonalafaitele2014-02-16T20:48:58+00:002014-02-16T20:48:58+00:00An optimistic view: Manchester City-Barcelona
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<figcaption>Shaun Botterill</figcaption>
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<p>To help City fans remain positive against Barcelona, Bitter and Blue looks at some reasons not to run and hide from the La Liga champions.</p> <p>With Barcelona's visit to the Etihad on Tuesday, <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Manchester City</a> make their debut in the knockout rounds of the modern Champions League. Difficult draws are nothing new to City's players, who have been grouped with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid over the past few seasons.</p>
<p>"I think Barcelona will be very concerned that they have drawn us," Manuel Pellegrini said after UEFA paired the clubs in December. "They are not the team of two years ago."</p>
<p>On pure technicality, City's manager is correct. However, Barcelona still come to the Etihad as Spanish champions and winners of Group H. Defeating the Blaugrana would trouble every non-Bayern team across the globe, but Pellegrini and Co. do have some reasons for confidence.</p>
<h4><span>Home is where the wins are</span></h4>
<p>Finishing behind Bayern Munich in Group D ensured a group-winning side would meet City in the round of 16. On a more optimistic note, it allows Pellegrini's side to start the tie where they are most comfortable: at the Etihad. Only two defeats--against Bayern in group play and <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea</a> in the league--have occurred in the comfort of Etihad Stadium.</p>
<p>City's biggest advantage Tuesday comes in the form of Barcelona's away European struggles. Despite reaching the Champions League semifinal every season since 2007, Barça rarely play to their usual standard away from home. Since the '09-'10 season, ten of Barça's knockout-round ties have began away from the Camp Nou, but the Blaugrana only won two of those opening legs: Real Madrid in 2011 and Bayer Leverkusen in 2012.</p>
<p>Barcelona generally recover from away disappointment to put on great displays at the Camp Nou. The gap between the two legs, though, gives a bruised City squad a chance to fully recover, with <span>Sergio Aguero</span> and Fernandinho nearing fitness. More schedule relief also comes with the fixtures that surround the second leg on March 12: <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link"><strike>Aston Villa</strike></a> Wigan at home and a trip to Hull. (As commenter Graham Ward notes, City's FA Cup win over Chelsea forces the Villa match to be rescheduled.)</p>
<p>If Fernando Torres can <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F41185507&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fbitterandblue.sbnation.com%2F2014%2F2%2F16%2F5408206%2Fmanchester-city-barcelona-champions-league-preview" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">apply the dagger</a> to Barça at the Camp Nou, surely anything can happen if City achieve a positive result in the first leg.</p>
<h4>Yaya Touré is a battleship with legs</h4>
<p>Much of the pre-match discussion will center on Barcelona's famed passing game and how to neutralize it, but City have a formidable weapon of their own in midfield: the former Barça man, Yaya Touré. Barring a miracle recovery for Fernandinho, Touré will be tasked with much of the legwork in stopping Xavi Hernandez, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110863/andres-iniesta" class="sbn-auto-link">Andrés Iniesta</a> and <span>Sergio Busquets</span>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.zonalmarking.net/2013/04/24/bayern-munich-4-0-barcelona-bayern-produce-an-astonishingly-dominant-performance/" target="_blank">Bayern's destruction</a> of Barcelona in last season's semifinal showed, more than any other defeat Barça have suffered in recent history, that even the most intricate passing game can be shut down with supreme physicality. <span>Javi Martinez</span> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110271/bastian-schweinsteiger" class="sbn-auto-link">Bastian Schweinsteiger</a> out-muscled their Barcelona counterparts on the way to a 7-0 aggregate victory.</p>
<p>As one of the most imposing midfielders in Europe, Touré will enjoy a considerable size advantage over Barcelona's midfielders. The game plan for many teams against Barcelona requires a compartmentalization of the midfield--one attacks, one destroys, but the roles remain separate. It will be much different for City, because Touré seamlessly transitions between the different archetypes of central midfielder.</p>
<p>While not a <a target="_blank" href="http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/barcelona/id/309?cc=5901">La Masia</a> graduate like opponents Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, Touré would still fit into his former midfield, as his passing percentage hovers around 90% this season. He also does things like this:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DN0Wtod_7ig" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1392505303615"></p>
<p>City's only Yaya Touré problem is that they cannot clone him to replace the injured Fernandinho, who will miss Tuesday's match barring a miracle recovery.</p>
<h4><span>City have a solid array of attacking midfielders</span></h4>
<p>City make up for the lack of depth in central midfield with an impressive group of attacking midfielders: <span>David Silva</span>, Jesús Navas, and <span>Samir Nasri</span>. Pellegrini obviously prefers a two-striker system, meaning it's very possible that one is left out, but the talent in City's attacking band of midfielders provides a notable challenge for Barcelona manager Tata Martino.</p>
<p>City's quickest threat to Barça will be Navas down the wing. <span>Jordi Alba</span> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110098/dani-alves" class="sbn-auto-link">Dani Alves</a> are both more than comfortable in attack, and Alves in particular usually operates miles away from where any traditional right-back would play. Navas, bought from Sevilla last summer, adds much-needed pace out wide for City. The winger was purchased for moments exactly like this: when the center of the field is packed, City finally have someone sprinting down the flank.</p>
<p>Anyone who has watched City knows the creativity Silva brings. His drifting movement gives Barça a particular challenge: how far, if at all, does the full-back track him on the way inside? Silva's infield movement, especially when combined with an opposite movement from a striker or an overlap from the full-back, will create advantageous situations when City have some possession.</p>
<p>While certainly a different player than <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110278/thomas-muller" class="sbn-auto-link">Thomas Müller</a>, Nasri could play a similar role to the one Müller played for Bayern against Barcelona last season. Müller aided Mario Gomez in containing Sergio Busquets, and occasionally was even the furthest man forward while Barça were in possession. Considering he's just returned from an injury, Nasri might come off the bench, but the Frenchman's ability to play centrally can be a huge positive for City.</p>
<h4>It doesn't take Superman at striker against Barça</h4>
<p>Only a fool would argue that Sergio Aguero missing a match helps Manchester City. It doesn't, though, automatically disqualify City from advancing, as the remaining forwards are more than capable of putting in a team effort.</p>
<p>Aguero scored once every 64 minutes he played in Group D, placing him in a tie with Lionel Messi for third in the competition. Without his six goals, City would still sit in a tie for the sixth-highest scoring squad in the Champions League.</p>
<p>Scoring might not even be the biggest worry for City's forwards in this match: defense could take precedence, in effort to deal with Barça's passing game. Mario Gomez spent most of Bayern's textbook thrashing of Barcelona attempting to stay goal-side of Busquets, looking to cut off the Catalan's distribution.</p>
<p>One thing the healthy forwards do have: height. Edin Džeko, Álvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic are all at least 6-foot-1. Barça's generally diminutive lineup will be vulnerable on crosses and set pieces, especially when Touré and Kompany come forward also.</p>
<p>Jovetic's FA Cup goal on Saturday signified a further return to form after injury. The ex-Fiorentina man also brings positional variety if Pellegrini does indeed go 4-4-2 on Tuesday. Jovetic moves into wide areas nicely, and it would be disappointing to see the versatile striker be left out of a possible two-striker formation.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/NTkjjXBslMA" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1392511779448"></p>
<p>As long as the chosen striker(s) can put in a shift defensively and not embarrass in front of goal, Aguero's injury should not panic City fans nearly as much as Fernandinho's.</p>
<h4>Maybe City can rest for Wembley</h4>
<p>Even with the reasons for hope, City's task remains extremely challenging. Led by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110061/lionel-messi" class="sbn-auto-link">Lionel Messi</a>, Barça still score goals that look impossibly skillful and hold the ball long enough for viewers to cook entire meals without missing a possession change. City possess the quality to beat Barcelona; it's just a matter of everything aligning correctly for Pellegrini's side.</p>
<p>If things get rough on Tuesday, City fans should claim that Pellegrini is just resting the team for the League Cup Final against Sunderland.</p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2014/2/16/5408206/manchester-city-barcelona-champions-league-previewAJ Howard2014-02-15T05:40:39+00:002014-02-15T05:40:39+00:00City vs Barcelona: A Tactical Preview
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<img alt="A tactical matchup awaits as Pellegrini meets Tata at Fortress Etihad. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kpMEkTJRUL2DuF1-WNRh90q4AgU=/265x0:3674x2273/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28643887/469303513.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>A tactical matchup awaits as Pellegrini meets Tata at Fortress Etihad. | Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Counter attacks, transition defending, a lack of balance, attacking fullbacks, individual errors, and inverted wingers. It’s Barcelona and Manchester City and it’s happening at an Etihad near you.</p> <p>And so it's come: Barcelona, the mighty Spanish giant with the four time Ballon D'Or winner are set to invade the Etihad, in a match that old-time City fans must still believe to be an impossible dream.</p>
<p><img align="right" alt="Pitch_diagrambarcacity_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3991719/PITCH_DIAGRAMbarcacity_medium.png"></p>
<p>Pellegrini still appears to be significantly hampered by injuries, with Fernandinho and Aguero likely facing 11<sup>th</sup> hour fitness tests, while Javi Garcia and Nasri should be available. With Aguero out, I hope that Pellegrini pairs Negredo with Jovetic up top or reverts to a 4-2-3-1 (honestly, any option that isn’t Negredo and Dzeko will do nicely). I think it’s wise to assume a 4-4-2, with Pellegrini hoping to outscore Barcelona in the first leg and hang on in the return trip to the Nou Camp. Assuming only Garcia is fit *crosses fingers for Fernandinho*, Pellegrini appears to have three choices: Jovetic/Dzeko, Kolarov/Clichy, or Nastasic/Demichelis (my preferences are the first of each pairing).</p>
<p>While these starting lineups involve a bit of guesswork, obviously dependent on injury returns, fitness tests and tactical preference, the most mystery certainly seems to revolve around Pellegrini’s formation. Barcelona will undoubtedly play in a 4-3-3 with Messi in his usual role, with one of Alexis or Pedro to his right. Who Tata chooses on the left wing will signal his intentions and preferences: if Neymar is fit and started, Tata will be willing to sacrifice possession for trickery and pace. If he chooses to play one of Iniesta or Fabregas, it will be in an attempt to control the game and slow it down, in an attempt to keep the ball better. If Tata opts for Neymar it means choosing between Xavi and Cesc; a decision that’s almost impossible to predict. Defensively, the only choice seems to be whether to pair Pique with Puyol or Mascherano.</p>
<p>One of Tata's great achievements at Barcelona has been his bold insistence on change, both tactically and practically. He's been unafraid to rest key players at key moments; earlier this week, in an incredibly important away match against Sevilla, Tata selected <span>Alex Song</span> at the expense of Busquets -- and anyone who's seen those two play understands the gulf in class that separates them. But perhaps better still (and most certainly more useful to this analysis) was his team selection in the second leg of their semi-final tie against Real Sociedad, in which Tata opted for Fabregas on the left wing rather than an actual winger. It's hard to see it as anything other than a test run for a possible lineup against City that would allow the visitors to keep possession better than they otherwise would.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>Barcelona appear to be boosted by the return of Neymar who, as mentioned earlier, would likely start the match in his customary role on the left wing. Interestingly, the left side of both teams will in likelihood be occupied by inverted types – in a tactical and positional sense, not dominant foot – with all of Neymar, Iniesta, Cesc, and Silva all moving inward at some point in the attack.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>Ideally, the fullback playing behind the inverted winger (in City’s case this will be either Kolarov or Clichy, while for Barcelona it will be one of Alba or Adriano) is asked to provide width and height in attack. This makes a good deal of sense: when the player from the flank moves inside, that vacated space needs to be filled and the most logical player to fill it would be the fullback on that side.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>This principle leads us to what I believe to be one of City’s primary flaws: a lack of appropriate balance from the fullbacks. Kolarov’s form under Pellegrini slightly complicates matters, but City’s best attacking fullback (and all-around fullback for that matter), is Zabaleta. While perhaps not as dynamic as Kolarov, Zabaleta is the better crosser of the ball and is better in a tactical sense (i.e. reading the play, sensing positional shifts and anticipating player movement).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>The problem of course, is that Zabaleta plays on City’s right – coincidentally, the side of the field with a traditional winger. When Txiki identified, and later bought, Navas in the summer, he did so in an effort to bring more width to the City attack. And this is exactly what Navas brings: he’s a player who likes to beat his man to the byline and put in a cross. The chart below (via Squawka.com) shows the area of the pitch where Navas' chance creation have come from. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span></span><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3991471/Navas.png" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Navas_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3991471/Navas_medium.png"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Granted, the chart doesn't show anything that we didn't really know; namely, that Navas likes to move to the byline and put in crosses. But it's the percentages that I find especially meaninful: almost 70% of the time, Navas creates a chance in the opposition's left corner, an area, that against Barca, should be readily available.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>Back to the previous point: what does this mean for Zabaleta? That there is no vacated space for him to move into: he's forced instead to move inside Navas, in what's called an underlap, something that consistently results in his being too far out of position to be useful in City’s defensive transition. </span>The most obvious solution would be a tactical shift that sees Zabaleta stay deeper and tucking inside around the halfway line in order to form a two man shield in transition defence, eventually moving back out to the right as needed.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>Interestingly, Barca rather shares the same problem as City. While boasting two of the best attacking fullbacks in the world, Barcelona is often caught in possession with both Alves and Alba too high up the pitch, effectively forcing Busquets to cover either (and thus, both) of the wings. When a team that plays with a high possession rate (City and Barca, in this case), it’s crucial to be able to force the opposition into a specific pass after possession has been lost; but when the only three players behind the ball are the holding midfielder and the two central defenders, that’s a nearly impossible task.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>Transition defence, while an underrated aspect of a team’s performance, is often one of the most important, and in this tie just might prove the difference. After all I’ve written, it should come as no surprise that I expect Jesus Navas and one of Alexis, Pedro or Neymar to be two of the most important players across the two legs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>Navas will be specifically asked to attack the vacated space that <span>Jordi Alba</span> will leave behind him as he advances up the pitch to provide a wide outlet to Barca’s attack. (If you’ll indulge me a tangent, I’m embarrassed to admit just how giddy I get thinking about the possibility of watching Navas and Alba in a foot race as both players rank among the fastest in world football.) As for City’s left fullback, Clichy or Kolarov, the danger of being caught too high up the pitch could prove lethal, as Barcelona have already scored eight counter-attack goals this season (for reference, City have scored just three).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Transition defence is about forcing the opposition into passes and movement that properly allows you, as a team, to find the defensive shape before the opposition has the chance to move the ball into a dangerous position. Consider <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea's</a> goal from the match last week:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Once again, worth noting just how broken City's defensive shape was in the build-up to Ivanovic's goal <a href="http://t.co/kGgQlBOWhs">pic.twitter.com/kGgQlBOWhs</a></p>
— Ben Pugsley (@benjaminpugsley) <a href="https://twitter.com/benjaminpugsley/statuses/431536672929378304">February 6, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">As Ben has made obvious, the space between Ivanovic and Kolarov is entirely unoccupied, a massive failure on the part of City's defensive transition. Silva, as he is often wont to do, has drifted all the way to the right side of the field making it impossible for him to track Chelsea's right back. Demichelis, who is actually the City player at the bottom of the picture, has completely misunderstood his role in the transition: namely, to provide defensive width to the winger who has taken himself out of position during an offensive phase of play.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Many, myself included, have noted that this goal never occurs if two things happen: (1) Fernandinho is healthy and (2) Milner had played on the left. The first is obvious: Fernandinho has better positionally awareness as a midfielder and a far better skill set to alter this phase of play. The second, is also rather obvious I suppose, in that Milner would never drift to the opposite side of the field and would have, without question, tracked Ivanovic back to the eighteen yard box. But beyond that, where are the strikers? Neither Dzeko or Negredo made themselves available and so too has Yaya abandoned the defensive transition.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>I’d like to take a moment here – maybe you could go grab a second cup of tea – and have you congratulate me, because as it turned out, I’ve managed more than 1400 words before I first mentioned Messi in a Barcelona preview. Yes, it is quite the accomplishment, thank you. Right, moving on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>While he might wear the #10 shirt, Messi’s position and role since being made the focal point of the Barcelona attack has (as everyone likes to talk about) is best described as a false nine, or deep lying striker. He occupies the middle of the pitch and is often the furthest player forward, but he doesn’t play as a typical striker and hopefully he never does.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span> </span></p>
<p><img align="right" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4006951/1392428734898_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="1392428734898_medium"></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>He’s at his best on the ball with room to run at the defence, which means the best way to keep him quiet is to deny him the space (and perhaps more importantly, the ball) where he likes to begin his runs. Easier said than done obviously, but it’s one of the key components to limiting the Barcelona attack. The other option, is to defend with a deep and organized defensive block, which Pellegrini won’t do and doesn’t have the personnel required regardless. But to be perfectly honest, there is no tactical solution to stopping Messi -- the picture above shows you just how impossible it is to stop Messi, because what appears to be an almost perfect defensive shape, the little Argentine manages to score just moments after this image was taken.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span>S</span>ince Tata’s arrival at Barcelona, there’s been a concentrated effort to keep Messi away from the opposing centre-backs for as long as possible. That’s happened primarily in two ways: by dropping Messi deeper into an actual #10 role where his first instinct is to create rather than to score, or by moving him off-center towards the wings. The temptation defensively, will be for Zabaleta to shift inside alongside the right centre-back, in an effort to keep Messi from rounding Kompany. But in truth, this is often what becomes so incredibly problematic, as that inside movement creates enough space in and around the box for two players (the left winger and left fullback) to move into.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">More than anything else, this game will be decided by two things: the fullbacks and the defensive transition. The side that plays with the better balance and consistent transitions will almost certainly see a positive result.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span> </span></p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2014/2/15/5403606/city-vs-barcelona-a-tactical-previewZac MacPhee