11/12/2025
Real Madrid started the game with a passive 4-4-2 mid-block with the aim of blocking those passing lanes and to become more aggressive when it gets to the midfield, then launch transitions with the pace of Rodrygo and Vini.
Rodrygo actually sits with the midfield and often arrives with late runs to attack that City backline. Gonzalez would often drop deeper to then link up with the runners like we saw with the goal Rodrygo scored.
Manchester City this season haven't defended transitions properly, especially down the middle. Some analysts believe Rodri and Nico sitting in that midfield would solve this problem as Rodri was a specialist at shutting down transitions.
The space Gonzalez and Bellingham had in the midfield is too much at this level. O' Reilly might have done better with his positioning to shut down Rodrygo but that first touch and subsequent finish from Rodrygo was class!
