City Slickers

This was a memorable Champions League match between two of the best teams in the world - Real Madrid & Manchester City. Josep Guardiola; as he is wont to do; came up with a tactical surprise for this one: going with a 4-4-2 formation; playing Gabriel Jesus on the left-wing and opting for Kevin De Bruyne & Bernardo Silva upfront. It was meant to counter the high-pressing and high-flank play of Real; and it worked wonders - with Jesus in particular showing a new-found industry defending on the left flank.

City slowly built on this foundation to start getting control of this match; but just at this point; Rodrigo & Kyle Walker were caught fumbling at the back; allowing Vinicius Junior to find Isco smartly for the opening Real goal. It was at this point that Real started having control that City hit back to equalise; such was the 'strange' ebb & flow of this chess-piece of a match.

It was the substitution of Raheem Sterling for Silva that transformed the game; with the England winger looking lively and creating proceedings down the left-flank. And it was from his pass that De Bruyne managed to saunter in to the Real penalty area; before clipping a patented; sublime cross for Jesus to head home brilliantly over Sergio Ramos.

The noisy Real crowd suddenly quietened down; sensing the worst; and indeed later it was Sterling again who tormented Dani Carvajal before drawing a rather reckless & unnecessary lunge to win a penalty for his side. The City fans almost couldn't believe the moment; as De Bruyne stepped up nervelessly to score past Thibaut Courtois.

There was more drama to come as Sergio Ramos caught Jesus right on the edge of the area to incur only the 26th red card of his career. I thought the referee got it right in that it was outside the area; but I did feel Ramos only deserved a yellow for that infringement. In the end; the City fans were left to celebrate a priceless victory; as City will remember this victory as maybe a seismic moment in their history.