Manchester United v Manchester City: Tactical Analysis review
In a game that was decided by a moment of quality by Wayne Rooney, Ferguson’s men ran out as eventual winners by two goals to one.
However, there were a lot of tactical battles that defined the encounter as a whole throughout the first half as well as the second half.
Manchester United started the match with a 4-3-3 setup with Wayne Rooney as the sole striker. The Englishman was supported in attack by Ryan Giggs and Luis Nani on the left and right wings respectively.
In the centre of the park, Paul Scholes played as a deep lying midfielder, who was complimented by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Darren-Fletcher-c10361 and Anderson in box to box roles for the Red Devils.
At the back, Manchester United saw just a single change from their usual line up as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rio-Ferdinand-c31173.
For Manchester City, Roberto Mancini opted for a 4-5-1 formation. Carlos Tevez played as the single striker but he was supported in attack by the free roaming David Silva.
James Milner and Yaya Toure also started for the Blues alongside Alexander Kolarov in a left midfielder’s position.
At the back, a partnership of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kolo-c21278 Toure’s inclusion. Micah Richard’s were trusted with the right back role whereas Pablo Zabaleta played as the left back for the visiting side.
The match started off with the home side on the front foot as Manchester United earned a succession of corner kicks by putting Manchester City’s new look defence under pressure.
However, City responded well and then proceeded onwards to maintain a long period of sustained possession inside the Manchester United half as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men waited to play on the counter attack. It was a 4-3-3 versus a 4-5-1 in the centre of the
park thus the numerical advantage allowed City to have heavy control over ball possession.
Nonetheless, Manchester United used the ball well by spreading the play, as Paul Scholes was on song in the first half. The former English national team midfielder played diagonal balls to Giggs and Nani on both wings to allow United some space in the centre
by stretching play towards the wings.
Ryan Giggs’s delivery into the penalty area in the first half was particularly disappointing but Manchester United did break the deadlock right before the half time whistle.
Ferguson’s team broke at break neck speed as a long ball towards Wayne Rooney resulted in a well earned knock down for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nani-c27299 as the Portuguese
winger took the ball in his stride and then left http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pablo-Zabaleta-c29022 in his wake to give United the lead.
Losing the match at the end of the first half, Manchester City brought in Edin Dzeko as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/James-Milner-c17706 was substituted by Roberto Mancini. This move meant that City moved towards a 4-4-2 formation as David Silva was shifted to the left hand side of Manchester
City’s four man midfield.
Shortly afterwards, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan midfielder.
These changes gave a new look to City’s formation and also resulted in immediate dividends. In the 65th minute of the second half, Silva and Dzeko’s presence inside Manchester United’s penalty area was fortuitous for City as the latter’s shot
deflected off the Spaniards to loop inside United’s goal.
It was a lucky goal but it brought City back on level terms with league leaders. City’s equalizer prompted changes for Manchester United as well, as Anderson was withdrawn in favour of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitar-Berbatov-c11254.
However, what happened next was a sight to behold as once again Luis Nani was involved in the build-up play. The former Sporting Lisbon player whipped in an accurate cross towards http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wayne-Rooney-c36736, who in the 78th minute of the match, unleashed an
acrobatic overhead kick to give Manchester United the lead.
Thereafter, Sir Alex Ferguson brought on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-Scholes-c29394 to shore up the defensive side of Manchester United’s midfield.
Despite a late surge by Manchester City, the visiting side had to settle for a defeat come the end of the match due to Wayne Rooney’s brilliant strike as Manchester United captured all three points to cement their lead at the top of the English Premier League
table
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