Champions League: Benitez warns Man City to be wary of Vinícius and rapid counterattacks

Former Real Madrid manager Rafa Benítez, who won the Champions League with Liverpool, analyses the key aspects of the second-leg showdown at Etihad Stadium for The Times.

Walker versus Vinícius Jr: Part II

One of the most interesting battles from the first leg at the Bernabéu, which finished 1-1, was Kyle Walker versus Vinícius Jr and how they reacted to each other. Watching La Liga and the Champions League this season, we have seen Vinícius grow into an elite player with his pace and technical ability. Normally, players have one or the other, but not both. He has.

Since arriving at Real Madrid as an 18-year-old, he has had time and support and his numbers are outstanding. He has the most one-versus-one dribbles of any player in Europe’s top five leagues, most successful take-ons, and has 23 goals and 21 assists in 52 games this season at club level. He is far more dangerous than in the past because he has become more clinical simply by arriving in more and better scoring positions and testing himself.

Vinícius’s pace almost became a personal issue for Walker. It was like the Manchester City right back was saying: “No! I’m faster than you. I will show that you cannot beat me just with pace.” At times, he was waiting for the race and then Vinícius realised that he had to change a little bit and go inside.

My feeling is that he will want to stay wide and run in behind City’s high defensive line with or without the ball. When he does go off the flank and move inside, that is when Walker will need some help in the middle because your body position changes and he may have to block Vinícius with his weaker left foot.

If Vinícius receives the ball inside on the left, then the difficult thing about that for Walker and City is that with one touch he can face the goal and try a shot, as we saw last week with the opening goal.

It is an important battle once again and demands concentration from both players.

Remember Anfield

City would be my choice to progress because of their performance in the first leg when they were dominant for a period. However, you always have to consider Real and their experience means they will not view the second leg the same as another team who might be arriving at The Etihad at 1-1.

Don’t forget what happened at Anfield in the round of 16. Real trailed 2-0 early in the game, but little by little with their counterattacks they gained confidence, Liverpool lost confidence and suddenly the tie was at 5-2. Even if Real are not confident, they will not let you as an opponent know that. They play almost as if they are saying to themselves: “We are Real Madrid, we can do it.”

Pep Guardiola has the experience to manage this game, but he will also know that Real are the team who can chase anything, even when they do not seem to be doing well, to get the result.

Possession versus counterattacks

I do not see Real having more possession than City. Guardiola’s team will have the ball but that will not concern Real too much.

If, when City lose possession, Real can avoid the first line of pressing then they will be very dangerous — not simply due to the pace and movement of Vinícius, but they are strong in the middle with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Fede Valverde and Karim Benzema. The link play between them comes easily, they attract players and can create space in behind.There were times against Everton on Sunday when City were being countered. The difference with Real is that they will make more of those sorts of opportunities because of the quality they have. Set pieces could also be key in this game because very often it comes down to one moment.

Pep will not do much differently. City were in control for a while in Spain and the positioning of John Stones at centre back, who then moves into the midfield area when they are in possession, does not affect the balance of the team too much. When the right back is the one who is moving into midfield, then it can leave a big gap on that flank.

Pep will be focusing on the wide areas, trying to find space in the pockets, and this is the game they play the majority of weeks. It is just that this time, Real are the ones trying to stop City playing in between the lines and in behind.