Pep Guardiola expressed profound respect for Real Madrid's tactical changes after his Manchester City team suffered a 0-3 defeat in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on March 11. This outcome, surprising to many, saw Real deliver a dominant performance at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid entered the match at the Bernabeu as underdogs, despite playing at home. They had a mixed recent form, losing two of their last five matches, and were four points adrift of Barca in La Liga. Significant injuries also sidelined key players like Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham. Manchester City, on the other hand, boasted a formidable lineup including Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Antoine Semenyo, Marc Guehi, and Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, the game unfolded differently from expectations. Real Madrid, with just 40% possession, exerted immense pressure. They registered 12 shots, 7 on target, with an expected goals (xG) of 2,59. In contrast, Manchester City managed 7 shots but created no clear opportunities, their xG standing at 0,56. The match was effectively decided in the first half, as Federico Valverde scored all three of Real's goals.

Coach Pep Guardiola gives instructions during the Real 3-0 Man City match in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on the evening of March 11. Photo: Reuters

This decisive victory, according to football analysts, was largely due to coach Alvaro Arbeloa's tactical masterclass. He deployed five defenders, one more than in previous games. This deep defensive strategy proved effective, both stifling Manchester City's attacks and launching sharp counter-transitions.

Guardiola himself acknowledged the challenge posed by Real's setup. "They usually play with a 4-4-2 formation, but today they defended with five players, making it very difficult for us to find space", he stated. "They also stretched our team with Vinicius and Brahim Diaz. They only attacked three times in the first half and scored three goals. Valverde made excellent runs and scored perfectly. For that, we must congratulate them".

Despite acknowledging Real's performance, Guardiola also defended his players. He maintained that Manchester City's performance did not warrant a 0-3 defeat. The Spanish coach noted that his team successfully penetrated the opponent's penalty area, but lacked precision in front of goal.

The two teams will meet again for the second leg on March 17 at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium. Guardiola's squad faces the challenge of winning by at least three goals in 90 minutes to level the aggregate score. "Losing 0-3 is better than 0-4", Guardiola remarked. "The situation is complex, and options are limited, but we will try. We will review this carefully with our staff, as we know we can do better".

By Thanh Quy (Source: Marca)