Manchester City vs Real Madrid: 3 ways that Pep Guardiola can beat Carlo Ancelotti

It’s finally here…

When Manchester City and Real Madrid face off in the Champions League semi-finals tonight, it will be a clash of two distinct footballing philosophies.

Whilst Manchester City tend to rely on a possession-based style of play that emphasizes positional play and intricate passing, Real Madrid prioritize a more direct, relationship-based approach that focuses on exploiting spaces and creating scoring opportunities through quick transitions.

Given these stylistic differences, Manchester City will need to find ways to exploit Real Madrid's weaknesses and create scoring opportunities whilst maintaining solidity at the back if they are to progress to the final. Here are three potential ways that Manchester City can do just that:

1. Exploit the spaces behind the full-backs

One potential weakness of the 4-3-3 formation is that the full-backs can be exposed if they push forward too aggressively. Manchester City can look to exploit this by maximising space through movement and fluidity in attack.

With the likes of Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva - two dribbling kings - the Cityzens can look to isolate the Real Madrid full-backs (most likely Camavinga and Carvajal) in one-on-one situations and exploit the space behind.

2. Control the midfield

One advantage of Pep Guardiola’s 3-2-4-1 formation is that it denies space for the opposition in the central areas - particularly in rest defence.

To overcome Real Madrid, Manchester City should focus on dominating the midfield battle and use their extra midfielder in the box shape to outnumber and overwhelm Real Madrid's midfield trio.

This can be achieved through a combination of quick passing, intelligent movement, and aggressive pressing - with the latter being afforded in the form of City’s five attack-minded players. This press can occur with safety and solidity in the 3-2 shape, defensively speaking.

If Manchester City can control the midfield, they can limit Real Madrid's opportunities to create chances and dominate possession.

3. Dictate the pace & exploit defensive frailties

Over the last five games, Real Madrid have conceded a whopping nine goals against La Liga opposition.

Whilst Los Blancos have conceded just 32 goals in La Liga all season, frailties have began to creep in at the business end of the season, and part of the problem that Manchester City could look to exploit is their vulnerability in transition.

Despite this, Pep’s side should be looking to control the tempo and not fall into the trap of hitting Ancelotti and co with constant counter-attacks. This is a battle that relationism tends to win time and again.

By returning back to their usual mass-possession approach, Manchester City can limit Real Madrid's opportunities to attack and force them to defend for long periods of time.

Of course, this also helps in tiring out Real Madrid's players and can create gaps in their defence, of which City should be looking to exploit.

With two legs of football, this is of course a marathon, not a sprint.

Allowing Real Madrid to dictate the pace of play and affording them as much time on the ball as they did Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich side could end in irreversible tragedy for Guardiola’s side.

This is effectively positionism vs relationism.