The game is divided into three fragments.

Half hour domain

If someone only got the first half hour of the game, they probably expected a devastating score in favor of Manchester City by the end of the match. Josep Guardiola’s team started the game in a very strong way, establishing themselves as they should. It all seemed as if for the “citizens”, used to winning, the match was really of paramount importance in the context of the season and the story, and for Real Madrid it’s like another passing match.

The ball did not leave a third of the Real Madrid field. And Courtois had to live half an hour in tremendous tension, as well as fight off several unpleasant blows. At the end of the half hour, Real Madrid had reached a statistical low. He had only 26 percent of the ball, every fourth pass was inaccurate due to heavy pressure from the opponent and, most importantly, Real Madrid missed a single shot, while City had six and four were accurate.

It seems that the turning point was the fall of Gundogan. He confronted Rüdiger hard and asked for help. The break was also extended to the outrage of both teams. The “citizens” demanded to punish Antonio, and Madrid were indignant that the referee blew his whistle when their attack developed. This emotional release has affected the teams in different ways. Real Madrid came to their senses, but City have lost some of their excitement. The game entered a new phase with a more even fight and they immediately came close to Ederson’s goal. Left at first and uncertain.

Stabilization of Real Madrid

A goal that did not follow the logic of the game, as well as the relaunch of Real Madrid, City a bit displaced. Manchester seemed to recall how they were in a similar situation last season, but over a longer stretch, when they dominated, they suddenly flew away from this shady rival. And some uncertainty has crept in.

It was the final of the first half, as well as the first half of the second. In this 35-minute stretch, Real Madrid already had 58% of the ball, their passing accuracy had risen to 90%, and Madrid had six shots to just two for the Citizens. At the same time, none of the six proved accurate, but City still hit one.

On the pitch, Madrid didn’t seem to suddenly take the initiative or begin to dominate. No, there was a completely equal fight, but the attacks of the Madrid players looked more convincing than the approaches of the “citizens”. Only separate pressure from De Bruyne allowed City to break free from this incomprehensible sleep. His stinging shot leveled the score and brought the guests back to life. The final stage of the match has begun.

Madrid freshness

During the match, emotional, dynamic and energetic, questions arose as to why the coaches don’t make substitutions. Each of them seemed to believe in the initially chosen scheme, even if in the course of the meeting the situation changed radically with unchanged formations. At one point, Guardiola’s confidence in his starting combination suddenly put City back in control of the situation.

A short segment resumed towards the middle of the half, as the ‘citizens’ dominated, pressured and pressured their opponent. Already Kamavinga did not have time in some places. Real Madrid could break through. This is probably why Guardiola did not dare to shuffle. But he exaggerated. Ancelotti also suffered for a long time. However, when he saw that his experienced fighters started to “slip,” he didn’t hesitate to make adjustments.

And how well the Italian did it. He has made three substitutions in a row, but hasn’t made them at the same time or changed a pack of players at the same time. Each of the new entrants to the camp gradually entered the game. Rodrigo, who didn’t take out the entire bout, veterans Modric and Kroos were gone within six minutes. And this regular rearrangement made it possible to turn the situation, which initially threatened the Madrid team with a repetition of the nightmarish debut of the match.

Hanging on the card, Camavinga moved to the center, the fresh Nacho did not let the already tired Silva wander. Furthermore, together with Camavinga, who has retired to this region out of habit, and the restless Vinicius, the Madrid supporters on the wing have created several situations in which Bernardo himself was wrong. And it could land in big trouble for Manchester.

The rivals spent the second half of the second half with equal possession, but Real Madrid managed six shots in this segment, while City had none. Furthermore, of these six attempts, Madrid proved to be accurate. Ederson had to bail out. And in other situations the selfless blocking of defenders helped. Then the final went to Real Madrid.

Work on experience

Of course, Guardiola should have made decisions sooner, but he relied on the early combination and confidence in his boys’ wonderful performance abilities. In De Bruyne’s case it worked. There were reasons to believe further. But Silva himself eventually “floated” noticeably. When you have Mahrez and Foden on the bench, their appearance in this position suggests itself.

Grealish has ceased to be as dangerous and effective as in the first half. So his confrontation with Carvajal seemed like a separate kind of entertainment. At one point, it looked like Dani wasn’t going to bust and was going to run into a card or two. However, his stiffness seemed to hold back Grealish, who spent the second half of the fight clearly more boring than the first.

Hard and at the same time, most often correctly, Real Madrid worked against Haaland, which deserves separate praise. The monstrous Rüdiger was not inferior to Erling in terms of intimidation, who landed his three blows, but two – in the debut segment of the domination. And then he seemed to disappear. It’s not easy to do this with a Norwegian. But the experience of Ancelotti and his team made it possible.

Even after this match, it is noticeable that in terms of technical components, at the level of the pressing class, Manchester City looks preferable. But Real Madrid have experience, playing with subtle things, such as the psychological pressure on Grealish or subsequent substitutions. “Manchester City” just wants to fill up and go with the breeze to the finish line, drowning the gas on the floor. Most often this brings success to a “car” of this class. But “Real” can “cheat” somewhere, cheat, find some kind of solution that will allow you to find a way out in a deliberately losing position. That’s why it’s strong. But the next test in Manchester will be much more difficult.