Guardiona chills Hoffenheim

Guardiona chills Hoffenheim

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City met with the German Hoffenheim in the second round match of the Champions League. Thanks to determination and non-standard approach the guests took away a victory in the end of the match (1:2) and turned up on second position in group F tournament table.

Initially, Julian Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim threw loud phrases that the Germans will teach Guardiola’s team play in attack and Die Kraichgauer manager started this himself. The hosts came out on the pitch with 3-3-1-3 formation, whereas Nagelsmann used Jurgen Klopp’s groundwork from last year against the Citizens, i.e. high pressing or gegenpressing. Four-five Hoffeneim players pressed Manchester City’s defense, from what a goal to Ederson’s net happened on the first minute of the match already. But seven minutes later the guests equalized thanks to Sane’s skills and Aguero’s goal feeling.

Understanding that the hosts began to shut and shoot with counter-attacks, Guardiola strengthened attack, having moved David Silva and Gundogan higher. Because of that 4-3-3 formation, by which Manchester City footballers initially came out on the pitch, transformed into 4-1-4-1, where only Fernandinho worked in the midfield.

In the second half Hoffenheim took advantage of the manager’s advice and saturated the midfield, making trouble for Fernandinho, because of which the ball rarely got to offensive players. Guardiola’s decision turned to be quite creative. On the 64th minute the Spaniard replaced Otamendi with Stones, changing the formation to 3-2-4-1. Having strengthened the midfield Manchester City got the advantage in the zone as well as attack, where the ball was delivered more often. Twenty minutes later the Citizens broke through Hoffenheim’s defense, having used the notorious high pressing near the enemy penalty box. David Silva waylaid the defender, took away the ball and shot through Baumann.

Guardiola proved that he is capable of coping with difficulties in a match against an inconvenient team and this season will try to take revenge on Jurgen Klopp. Hoffenheim tried to declare themselves loudly, however, after a 2:2 with Shakhtar Donetsk the issues in defense have gone nowhere.