In the winter of 2016, Zinedine Zidane was handed the reins of a faltering Real Madrid. What followed was nothing short of a renaissance. Under his stewardship, the Royal Whites etched their names in the annals of footballing history, claiming three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles. Zidane's departure in 2018 left a void, but his return in the 2018-19 season once again stabilized the ship, culminating in a triumphant La Liga campaign where they toppled arch-rivals Barcelona.
Fast
forward to the summer of 2020, and Zidane faced one of his toughest challenges
yet. The Champions League beckoned, but standing in their path were Pep
Guardiola’s Manchester City—a side renowned for their clinical precision and
relentless intensity. With a 2-1 deficit from the first leg and the talismanic
Sergio Ramos suspended, the odds seemed stacked against Real Madrid. Yet,
Zidane’s impeccable knockout record in Europe ignited hope for a miraculous
turnaround.
However,
the Etihad Stadium bore witness to a night that unravelled Real Madrid’s
weaknesses rather than showcasing their resilience. Pep Guardiola’s City put on
an attacking masterclass, exposing the chinks in Real Madrid’s armour with
devastating effect.
The Tactical Chessboard
Guardiola’s
side, masters of possession and incisive passing, had already completed over
10,000 passes in the final third before this clash—a testament to their
offensive prowess. City’s quartet of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo
Silva, and Gabriel Jesus moved like a pack of wolves, exploiting half-spaces
and tearing into Madrid’s defensive lines with surgical precision.
Real
Madrid, conversely, faltered tactically. Zidane’s decision to persist with a
4-3-3 formation, despite the absence of Ramos, left the backline vulnerable and
the midfield overrun. A more compact 4-5-1 or 4-1-4-1 approach, emulating Carlo
Ancelotti’s pragmatic strategy against Guardiola’s Bayern Munich in 2014, might
have stemmed the tide. Instead, Madrid were caught between disorganization and
reactive play.
The Defensive Debacle
Raphaël
Varane, usually a beacon of calm, endured a nightmare performance. His errors
directly led to both City goals, gifting Gabriel Jesus and Sterling the
opportunities they needed to put the tie beyond doubt. The absence of Ramos’s
leadership was glaring, and the Madrid defence, bereft of cohesion, was left
exposed time and again.
The Midfield and Hazard’s Enigma
The
midfield trio of Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro—so often the heartbeat
of Madrid’s dominance—appeared a shadow of themselves. Overwhelmed by City’s
relentless press, they struggled to assert control or provide the creative
spark needed to unlock the opposition defence. The omission of Fede Valverde,
whose energy and defensive acumen could have complemented Casemiro, proved costly.
Eden
Hazard, a marquee signing brought in to add flair to Madrid’s attack, was a
pale imitation of his prime self. Starting him on the left flank disrupted the
team’s balance, and his lack of impact only compounded Madrid’s woes. His
prolonged presence on the pitch, at the expense of the dynamic Vinícius Júnior,
raised questions about Zidane’s in-game management.
Guardiola’s Masterclass
On the
other side, Guardiola’s tactics were a symphony of precision and adaptability.
Kyle Walker neutralized Madrid’s wide threats with aplomb, earning him the Man
of the Match award. Gabriel Jesus, reborn under Pep’s tutelage, combined
tireless pressing with clinical finishing, tormenting the Madrid backline
throughout.
De Bruyne
and Sterling, meanwhile, were the architects of City’s dominance. De Bruyne’s
vision and control orchestrated every meaningful attack, while Sterling’s
relentless pressing and movement constantly kept Madrid on the back foot. The
duo epitomized Guardiola’s philosophy of total football, where every player
seamlessly transitions between roles to overwhelm the opposition.
The Aftermath
As the
final whistle blew, Manchester City emerged as worthy victors, showcasing why
they are among Europe’s elite. For Real Madrid, it was a sobering reminder of
the distance between their current form and the heights they once scaled under
Zidane. The need for introspection is evident—both in squad depth and tactical
flexibility.
City’s
triumph highlighted the evolution of modern football: a blend of relentless
pressing, positional play, and technical brilliance. For Zidane and Real
Madrid, the lesson is clear—past glories are no shield against present
challenges. Only through adaptation and renewal can the Royal Whites hope to
reclaim their throne in Europe’s grandest arena.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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