The Regista - Real Madrid vs Man City tactical review: Ancelotti regret as visitors felt Walker absence
Tribalfootball.com's tactics expert Connor Holden reviews the six-goal Champions League quarter-final thriller between Real Madrid and Manchester City and questions whether the hosts will rue not taking greater advantage of Kyle Walker's absence...
Deflections, errors and moments of genius, this game had stamps of an all time UCL classic with some of the goals scored. But coming away from the quality of some of the goals in this game, the eye catching moments for me came on that left-hand side for Real Madrid, and just how much did Manchester City miss Kyle Walker for this type of game?
CITY RIGHT-HAND SIDE
City's set up in possession would see John Stones step into midfield alongside Rodri (something we are accustomed to seeing), leaving a back three of Manuel Akanji (RCB), Ruben Dias (CCB) and Josko Gvardiol (LCB).
This saw Stones as the right sided 6/8 hybrid for City in possession, and Bernardo Silva playing out on the right, sometimes drifting inside and switching with Phil Foden to try and get on the ball.
But it's the defensive fundamentals of this right-hand side that hurt City in this game, as they did not adjust their game plan to accommodate for the loss of Kyle Walker and his recovery speed as their right-sided rest defender.
REAL MADRID LEFT DOUBLE-UP
Real Madrid knew the assignment in this game with the absence of Walker, was attacking the left channel quickly in behind.
Just from these passing networks and average positions, you can instantly see both Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo doubling up on that left-hand side, to attack that City right channel.
City were missing their best recovery defender in Walker, and their second best (Gvardiol) was on the opposite side of the pitch, therefore
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