Manchester City remain unbeaten in the Champions League after four games, after beating Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola’s side held 50% possession, moving through the lines with a bit more pace against the German outfit, taking 18 shots, creating two big chances and generating 1.94 expected goals.
Meanwhile, Dortmund only managed to take 12 shots with their 50% share of the ball, creating two big chances of their own but only generating 0.94 xG.
Erling Haaland became the first player to score in five consecutive Champions League games for three different teams, after scoring in City’s 3-1 victory over his former club, Borussia Dortmund.
In this article, we’ll cover
Guardiola’s gameplan
Guardiola has shown a willingness to play without the ball far more often this season, already putting up possession numbers of 45% against Manchester United and 33% against Arsenal.
Instead, Man City are looking to move the ball slightly more directly through the lines when the opportunity presents itself, whilst being slightly more inclined to sit off in a defensive block for periods in a game.
On the ball, we have seen Guardiola looking to get players in closer proximity to Haaland in a variety of ways, giving them more opportunities to utilise the centre-forward as a direct outlet.
We saw glimpses of this last season when Guardiola would send his full-backs high and wide, allowing his wingers to come inside, but the dynamic movement of his full-backs this season is a driving factor in his tactical approach.
Matheus Nunes will often provide an easy pass for Savinho out wide, allowing the winger to stand up his man 1v1 and isolate the opposition fullback.
On the other side, Nico O’Reilly has freedom to push up and provide width on the outside, or move inside and overload the midfield, often depending on the positioning of Jeremy Doku ahead of him.
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Central clusters
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Guardiola’s tactical tweaks this season is how he is affording these clusters to form between the lines, encouraging quick combination play in close proximity.
Doku drifting inside, Phil Foden and Tijani Reijnders between the lines with Haaland either stretching ahead of them or pinning the opposition defenders to create gaps.
This very much feels like a new coaching detail inspired by the addition to the coaching staff of Pep Lijnders this summer, putting the ball at risk with clusters around the ball, allowing for either moments of magic or favourable turnovers that enforce the counter press.
Trent Alexander-Arnold who played under Lijnders as Jurgen Klopp’s assistant at Liverpool, once stated he was encouraged to put the ball at risk when in those positions, triggering the counter press if the ball was lost and allowing Liverpool to create from that moment.
Foden excels in this role, allowing him to make quick and sharp movements, combining with Haaland who he has brilliant synergy with and creating an effective “yin and yang” scenario.
Sniper Foden
Foden scored his 21st and 22nd Champions League goals against Dortmund, taking him above some pretty elite company in the competition, moving ahead of Nicolas Anelka, Romelu Lukaku, Ousmane Dembele and Romario.
Being able to operate in those tight spaces between the lines within those central clusters, Foden is able to find himself in some brilliant shift and shoot positions, which both of his goals demonstrated on the night.
For his first goal, Foden receives it in the right half space, taking it on the back foot, shifting it forward with one touch and curling it round the rooted Dortmund defender into the bottom right corner.
For his second goal, much of the same was on show, as Foden received a diagonal entry pass once again from Tijani Reijnders, taking it on the back foot to generate separation for the shot, before once again finding the bottom right corner.
Wide isolations
Both Doku and Savinho started on the flanks for Man City against Dortmund, giving them 1v1 threat on both sides.
The pair completed nine take-ons between them, with Savinho often staying out wide to receive the ball whilst Doku would often drift inside to become part of those central clusters.
Doku has really began to add a bit extra to his game this season, playing in a new role with more freedom for central creativity, getting him closer to goal and in closer proximity to his teammates.
The 23-year-old winger has already made 15 appearances for Man City this season, scoring twice, providing four assists and totaling 920 minutes.
If he can continue on the same trajectory, Doku will likely have his best season in a Man City shirt, not just in terms of overall quality, but also in terms of end product.