Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Manchester City Review

Champions League - League Phase GW2

MOTM: Rico Lewis

In the future, I’d expect him to play in midfield but for now, to have Rico Lewis arriving into the midfield spaces, free to move around the pockets, support his teammates, and get into the box is great for the team. For him to be the free player, he can contribute in all phases not only because of his technical quality but also his intelligence. Looking at the games to come, it’s hard to imagine a Manchester City team without Rico Lewis in it.

Other standout performances include: Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku & Ilkay Gundogan 

Notable Stats:

• Manchester City have now won 13 UEFA Champions League games by a margin of 4+ goals under Pep Guardiola, the most by a manager with the same team in the competition (overtaking Alex Ferguson's 12 with Manchester United).

• Jérémy Doku had 26 touches in the opposition box against Slovan Bratislava, the most ever by a player on record (since 2008-09) in a UEFA Champions League game.

• Manchester City is now unbeaten in each of their last 25 UEFA Champions League games (W17 D8); the joint-longest run without defeat in European Cup/UEFA Champions history, level with Manchester United between September 2007-May 2009.

Game Stats:

Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Manchester City

• xG: 0.14 - 4.72

• xThreat: 0.27 - 2.93

• Possession: 24.6% - 75.4%

• Field Tilt: 4.5% - 95.5%

• Penalty Box Shots: 1 - 20

• Deep Entries: 1 - 42

• Buildup Completion: 70.2% - 95.4%

• PPDA: 19.3 - 5.2

• High Turnovers: 0 - 4

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 5 - 38

If you want to stay up to date with individual player minutes, the back four used for each match and more stats then check out the free Google sheet linked below, updated after every match day.

Here is how Manchester City set up against Slovan Bratislava, sticking to the 3-1-6 in possession we’ve seen throughout the season (apart from vs Newcastle). Ilkay Gundogan playing as the number six in this match, looked much sharper than he did against Newcastle but still has more room to improve.

Rico Lewis was back to his usual role at RB inverting into the midfield. Most of the time he was the link between Akanji/Stones and Jeremy Doku. No better example than the opening goal, John Stones passes to Rico Lewis who can turn under pressure and find the run of Jeremy Doku. His cross to the back post finds Savinho and his blocked shot falls to Ilkay Gundogan to finish.

That’s the pattern that continued for much of the first half, the back line and Gundogan would look for either Lewis or Foden in the right half-space, and they would turn and play through Doku on the right wing. Once through or 1v1, Doku provided cutbacks, crosses to the back post, and low crosses into the 6-yard box. Mixing up his delivery very well and Phil Foden took one of the cutbacks to score the second goal. Passing it into the far corner.

Throughout the first thirty minutes, there were more than enough chances to make it at least 0-4. The movement on the right side described above was great but it also had opposition players drawn out of position far too easily. Haaland had a big chance going 1v1 against the keeper. Rico Lewis had a shot after Jeremy Doku cut it back for him. The low cross along the 6-yard box Haaland didn’t manage to reach. Shot from Doku cutting inside to his left. Foden had two shots inside the box. All within the first thirty minutes. From the 34th minute onward Bratislava switched to a back five which meant our wingers were always picked up, no longer finding Doku completely free in space. City switched up to play more between the lines centrally.

Rico Lewis should never have this much time to pick out a pass to Haaland, who makes the run between the two CBs goes around the goalkeeper, and makes it three. Credit to Haaland who recognises right away the keeper is going to ground so moves around him. Good to see Lewis has the confidence to play these passes.

Ruben Dias came on for Manuel Akanji in the second half after 60 minutes. James McAtee is on for Erling Haaland. The type of change I expect to see quite often this season to keep him fresh.

The fourth goal came from Stones driving forward, passing it into Rico Lewis who lays it off for Foden to chip into the box to James McAtee. Takes one touch and finishes in the bottom corner. Hopefully, the moment that gives him the confidence to belong in this team. Without a doubt, he’s got the ability to make it. It’s a long season and the team will need him in the future.

Kyle Walker came on for Gvardiol and Jack Grealish for Foden after 78 minutes. Ortega played the full ninety minutes and I’d expect to see this sort of rotation follow against Sparta in the next Champions League match. He had virtually nothing to do in the match, the counterattack in the second minute and then a couple of shots from outside the box in the second half.

As mentioned before, Jeremy Doku had a positive performance given how many times he made the right decision in the final third and provided the final pass that was not finished by a teammate. Savinho and Matheus Nunes I thought had quite similar matches on the left side, interchanging well and working towards some good deliveries, the best was Nunes's cross to Haaland at the back post. Phil Foden looks more than ready for a start against Fulham and we’ll need him back to the level of last season as soon as possible.

I think having Rico Lewis invert and John Stones in the back line is best for both of them. Particularly Stones to reduce his workload given his struggles with injuries in the past. He’s an excellent passer and you saw that against Bratislava so many times, finding Rico and Foden between the lines.

Moving Forward

After the win against Bratislava and draw against Newcastle, City are second in the Premier League. Two matches against Fulham and Wolves that are more favorable than the previous two against Arsenal and Newcastle. Although it was at Wolves, without Rodri, they lost 2-1 last season. Quite a few players are now chipping in with goals and assists but we don’t have anyone close to Haaland just yet.

Here are the odds via Opta for the Champions League top eight. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich losing one match has knocked them down a lot yet they are still likely to finish in the top eight.

Next up for Manchester City is a home match against Fulham, Saturday 5th October. A preview of the game will be published tomorrow morning. Another International break afterward.

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