Manchester City secured a dominant 2-0 victory over Napoli in a one-sided Champions League clash. Early pressure from City, combined with a red card for Di Lorenzo in the 18th minute, allowed the hosts to control the game and convert their chances. Israel Schmidt de Azevedo explores the key tactical themes from the match.
Manchester City vs Napoli was a match between two teams that like to have the ball, particularly City under Pep Guardiola, known for their possession-based style. From the start, City looked set to dictate the game. They employed a high press, with Erling Haaland positioned inside Napoli’s penalty area. Doku narrowed on the entrance to the penalty area, while Phil Foden stayed on the other side, both acting as wingers. Joshua Reijnders floated between a central midfielder and an attacking midfielder role, providing options and linking play. Rodri and Bernardo Silva formed part of City’s midfield trio, while at times Reijnders, Josko Gvardiol, and Rúben Dias would step forward to form a line of three, freeing Reijnders to support Haaland near the penalty area.
In the defensive third, Rúben Dias acted as a sweeper, with Khusanov and O’Reilly forming a line of three defenders, two wide and one central.
With their associative play working, in the 9th minute, Reijnders received the ball near the penalty area, prepared a shot, but Napoli goalkeeper Mike Maignan (or adjust if it was Milinković-Savić) made a strong save.
Napoli tried to escape the press by stretching their back line, with both full-backs wide. Stanislav Lobotka and Kevin De Bruyne moved closer as central midfielders to help bypass the pressure. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa supported transitions, while Matteo Politano and Scott McTominay operated as second attackers, with Rasmus Højlund as the furthest forward.
When Napoli pressed, Højlund, Politano, and De Bruyne formed a front line, with McTominay, Lobotka, and Anguissa behind them as a secondary layer, helping with marking and transitions. A stretched defensive line of four completed Napoli’s formation.
City positioned Rúben Dias wide, Rodri as a central pivot, Gvardiol opened wide as a third defender and full-back, and Khusanov and O’Reilly as wing-backs.
Foden, Reijnders, Bernardo Silva, and Doku formed a box zone in midfield, while Haaland floated across the attacking line. This structure allowed City to bypass Napoli’s press efficiently.
In the 17th minute, after a corner, Napoli defender Beukema won the aerial contest but City remained dangerous. In the 18th minute, Napoli’s defence committed a huge error, allowing Foden to play a perfect ball to Haaland. Di Lorenzo attempted a sliding tackle but fouled Haaland, resulting in a red card after VAR review.
With Napoli down to ten men, the game became largely one-sided. Napoli’s attempts to control possession diminished drastically.
In the 37th minute, Rodri passed to Bernardo Silva, who crossed, but Beukema cleared. Rodri’s follow-up volley was saved by goalkeeper Alex Meret. In the 41st minute, Bernardo Silva’s cross found O’Reilly, whose header was again saved by Milinković-Savić. Later, Gvardiol’s header from a corner was also brilliantly saved.
In the 42nd minute, Doku dribbled past two defenders and passed to Rodri, who laid it to Gvardiol. His shot narrowly missed the post, showing both City’s threat and Milinković-Savić’s heroics.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn the 47th minute, Bernardo Silva passed to Reijnders, whose shot was deflected by Politano but saved by Milinković-Savić.
After halftime, Napoli attempted a three-line defensive structure, but City’s tempo and pressure kept them pinned inside their area.
In the 50th minute, Doku passed to Foden inside the area, but his shot went just wide. In the 56th minute, Reijnders passed to Rodri, who laid the ball to Foden. Foden chipped a pass to Haaland, whose header lobbed over Milinković-Savić to open the scoring.
In the 65th minute, Reijnders assisted Doku, who dribbled past two defenders and scored from a tight angle, sealing a 2-0 victory.
City dominated from the start, and Napoli’s early red card only compounded their defensive struggles. Milinković-Savić kept the scoreline respectable, but City’s quality and tactical execution were on full display.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Israel Schmidt de Azevedo
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