Manchester City advanced to its first-ever Champions League semifinal on Tuesday after defeating PSG 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg of their quarterfinal tie. City won 3-2 on aggregate.
Kevin De Bruyne secured City’s place in the final four with a superb strike on 76 minutes. It was the Belgian’s second goal in the Champions League this season.
As for PSG, the French champions have now been knocked out of the competition at the quarterfinal stage for a fourth straight year. The past three have been under the guidance of Laurent Blanc.
Here are my three thoughts from the game…
Blanc experiments, reverts, and pays for it
Blanc surprisingly switched from his usual 4-3-3 formation in favour of a 3-5-2. The decision to experiment with tactics in a game of this magnitude was a curious decision, and it also made little sense because PSG needed to score the first goal.
Normally, a 3-5-2 clogs the midfield and the central channels. This is ideal when defending a lead because a team can sit deeper and then counter attack when the opportunity arises. It’s not as foolproof if a side is chasing a game, though.
It was clear that the players were uncomfortable in the system as well. The passing was sloppy and they were conceding possession in the defensive third far too many times. In fact, Serge Aurier’s turnover led to Sergio Aguero’s penalty in the first half.
Once Thiago Motta limped off the pitch with a suspected hamstring injury, Blanc replaced him with Lucas Moura and switched back to a 4-3-3. PSG was more incisive in the final third after the substitution, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria were still woeful.
The three forwards recorded just four shots combined and goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was the only PSG player to register fewer touches on the ball than Ibrahimovic, per WhoScored.com.
The absences of Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratti were crucial, but Blanc still deserves most of the blame for this defeat and the performance in the first leg.
Man City perseveres and is rewarded for its effort
Even though PSG had 62 percent of the possession, Man City never looked worried. That is because City’s midfield duo of Fernando and Fernandinho successfully thwarted the visitors when they rushed up the pitch. The Brazilians were consistently completing tackles, intercepting the ball and kick-starting the Citizens’ attacks.
However, the mental resolve that the hosts displayed was also admirable. Aguero’s missed penalty could have easily deflated City, but the Argentine was even more determined.
Aguero also suffered a knock in the first half and it looked like he was going to exit the game, but he stayed on and fought through the pain.
Eventually, City’s pressing and energy delivered a goal. It was the least it deserved after executing a near-perfect game plan.
Kevin De Bruyne is City’s most important player
No player is as vital to Man City’s success as De Bruyne. When the Belgian was injured in January, City won just four of 12 games in all competitions without him. When De Bruyne has played, the English outfit has earned 22 victories in 34 matches.
City has now won three games and drawn once (the 2-2 draw in the first leg in Paris) since De Bruyne returned to the lineup. The 24-year-old has scored three goals in that span, too.
It’s easy to single out a player when he scores, but it’s evident that De Bruyne is City’s best player. He has tremendous vision, incredible technique and has an eye for goal.
Man City may be an underdog in the semifinals depending on who it draws, but as long as De Bruyne starts, the Premier League side will be dangerous for opposing defences.
Sportsnet’s Soccer Central podcast, hosted by James Sharman, takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues.