Guardiola’s mutant team gauges Real Madrid’s thirst for revenge

The new geopolitics of football, reconfigured based on Persian petrodollars, has led Real Madrid to play four of its last five Champions League qualifiers in England (Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester…). Which actually confirms that The Champions League is not so far from Florentino Pérez’s pretentious Super League. But what is happening this Wednesday at the Etihad transcends football. This is a major duel between two models of football (and business) success. One watered with oil and a multicultural management with a Catalan accent and Arab features. The other is the triumph of the brick and the personalism of a president who controls every corner of Real Madrid, his most pharaonic work.

In sporting terms, City and Madrid have become each other’s nemesis. With Barça diminished by its disastrous management, Madrid recognizes its new ‘alter ego’ in the ‘citizens’. The yin and the yang. Two teams that today can be explained from their coexistence with each other. Guardiola finished qualifying his champion City while licking the wounds of that unthinkable defeat at the Bernabéu with two goals from Rodrygo in one minute. That trance outlined his final touch, the one that made the ‘sky blues’ champion. Madrid, for its part, has reinvented itself this season since the ashes of last year’s 4-0 defeat. Ancelotti has ‘robustified’ the midfield after that rout that abruptly closed a glorious era, although everything began to wither with the departure of Casemiro and now Modric and Kroos barely coexist on the field. Carletto cooks with the ingredients that Florentino pours into the pot while Txiki supplies Guardiola with the condiments that he requests.

The dilemma tonight lies in whether to play chess, as Guardiola intends, or checkers, as Ancelotti proposes. Carletto warns that “there will be no surprises or magic, Pep can rest assured”. Both will try to impose their strengths while making the most of their rival’s weaknesses. And they will even alternate between both without becoming unbalanced, an obsession of both coaches “in a game”, which, as Bellingham has warned, “will have many games in it”. City is a team with bishops (Bernardo Silva or Grealish), rooks (Rodri, Stones or Ruben Dias), kings (De Bruyne) and queens (Haaland). While this rocky Madrid is more diagonal and electric. Sugar Ray Leonard’s swim against Rocky Marciano’s punch.

Everyone is looking at Bellingham, which is going through its thickest moment of the season. English provides the team with football consistency and understanding. With the ball at his feet he speaks the same language as Kroos or De Bruyne, but he has a point of offensive exuberance that brings him closer to Vinicius and Haaland. However, the epitome of Madrid 2024 is Federico Valverde. The Uruguayan is the sacrifice made player, the first defender and the last attacker. This year Carletto has toughened his gesture, he has asked for more kilometers than goals. And now, with Camavinga (or Tchouameni), he has Kroos’ back and Bellingham’s place. But ‘El Pajarito’ is the wild card of the deck, the true unicorn of the teama prime number in a squad in which Carletto doubles positions, except with the Uruguayan.

Guardiola’s mutant team

It comes out with all the City that has recovered Ederson, Walker and De Bruyne for this match. Pep will once again bet on a mutant team with a line of 4 in defense that in attack will become three with Stones moving into midfield to create advantages with Rodri in the pivot. Bernardo and Grealish will get lime stained on their boots again, giving freedom in the middle to De Bruyne and a splendid Foden with Haaland ahead. And this time Gundogan will not be there, which takes away City’s patience and that artisanal point.

In front Carlo lines up a specialist defense. Carvajal and Mendy will close the lanes, avoiding suffering for Camavinga who last year was tortured by Guardiola charging the game on his side. In addition, Nacho will be the one who will accompany Rudiger in the rear axis, who gave the key to how to stop Haaland: “You have to stop those who pass the ball to you.” With Vinicius connected and Rodrygo facing his favorite victim, it is his turn to move to Bellingham. A player that Florentino insisted on signing for this type of games. A swan among crocodiles.

‘Superbia in praelia’ reads the City crest (Pride in battle). The one that both will show tonight at the Etihad to check if City has a full stomach after its first Champions League or if the whites’ thirst for revenge for last year’s win weighs more. Much more than a match. Much more than football.

2024-04-17 06:37:24
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