Manchester City were unplayable for the opening half-hour of their Champions League classic against Real Madrid. And the bad news for the Spanish aristocrats is that - barring an injury disaster against Leeds on Saturday - they should be even stronger for the return leg in the Bernabeu next week.
The news that both John Stones and Kyle Walker trained with the squad on Tuesday, ahead of the first leg, despite being absent for the opening 15 minutes of the session, when the media were present, puts a new complexion on the trip to Spain. Pep Guardiola took a chance on Stones, who only lasted 36 minutes before feeling his tight hamstring again, resulting in Fernandinho stepping into the right-back role.
That meant City ended the game with only centre-back pairing Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte from their regular back four, with Oleks Zinchenko slotting in at left back. Zinchenko and Fernandinho did extremely well, but there is a real prospect that the Blues could have first-choice full-back pair Walker and Joao Cancelo back next week.
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Walker should have a week of training to get ready after damaging his ankle a fortnight ago, while Cancelo is again available after serving a one-match suspension for his yellow card in that game. Even if Walker does not prove to be fit, Zinchenko has shown he is not just reliable but is also a sharp and positive asset in his current frame of mind.
The extent of Stones’ injury is unclear and as City’s best-performing centre back in recent weeks, his absence would not be good news, but Laporte and Dias are a well-balanced and trusted partnership. All of which means that City’s defence should be stronger, and their shape more recognisable, for the second meeting.
Real’s defence was shambolic at times, and was severely exposed by a ferocious City press in the opening half-hour, while City’s concession of three goals was down to Karim Benzema’s brilliance for the first, an unfortunate through-the-legs moment from Fernandinho for the second and an unlucky handball for the third. Not to say City cannot improve defensively, as some of their passing out from the back was hazardous to the point of unsafe, especially with Benzema as a continual lurking presence.
But the expected return of Walker and/or Cancelo should go a long way to solving those issues. Further forward, the Blues were at full strength and, as long as nothing untoward happens at Elland Road on Saturday teatime, they will go into the second leg in good shape.
The Real game came just three days after the 5-1 win over Watford, meaning eight players had to live with the fact they had less than the recommended 72 hours of recuperation time between games. Kevin de Bruyne started all three games in the space of six days against Brighton, Watford and Real - little wonder that, after the game, when asked to stop and discuss the game by journalists in the Uefa mixed zone, he apologised and said “I’m just too tired” before heading home to bed.
De Bruyne may have to go again at Leeds, but is likely to share the burden of midfield inspiration with Bernardo Silva - and he does have four full days to get his strength back. The fact he, and the rest of the squad, then have another four days to prepare for the second leg is another big bonus for City.
Those four days will be crucial, not just in terms of physical recovery, but also in terms of preparing tactically and putting right the defensive issues they had in the first leg. Guardiola and his staff had just two days to come up with a plan for the game and drill it into the players - insufficient, especially as Carlo Ancelotti had the benefit of six days since Real’s previous game at Osasuna.
This time Real are likely to win the Spanish league title this weekend, needing just a point at home to Espanyol, but that will occupy their thoughts. City have an even bigger game at Leeds, needing to win to ensure they keep their noses in front of chasing Liverpool in the Premier League race, but they then have three days to recuperate and scheme out a plan for the second leg.
Small margins, but at this level, with two top teams going at it hammer and tongs, small margins count.
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