Analysis: Alexia and Mariona’s movement in Barcelona v Manchester City

Manchester City lost 3–0 to Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash on Wednesday. Here I’ll analyse one of the biggest issues they had in this game: tracking the movement of Alexia Putellas and Mariona Caldentey.

Barcelona’s system was a 4–3–3 with Caroline Graham Hansen on the right wing and Asisat Oshoala up front. They played more on the last line, looking to run in behind. Their movement and pace forced City’s defenders back, creating space between the lines for Alexia and Mariona.

Defending in a 4–4–2 high block, the responsibility was on City base midfielders Keira Walsh and Sam Mewis to eliminate these threats by tracking Alexia and Mariona’s runs and filling in between the defenders when necessary, but they often failed to do so. This led to numerous opportunities for Barcelona, which I will analyse with video here.

CLIP 1

In this first clip, Walsh is the far-side midfielder so is most responsible for covering the movement of Mariona, who receives the chipped pass from Mapi Leon. Walsh was a long way away, so Abby Dalhkemper had to close Mariona down. A better first touch and Mariona might have released Oshoala in behind.

CLIP 2

Part of the problem is that City weren’t able to stop the ball out from Barcelona’s center-backs. They didn’t really get good pressure on the ball, and they also weren’t compact. This is a bad combination and Barcelona exploited it consistently to find Alexia and Mariona in dangerous positions.

Again we see Alexia wandering between the lines with no City midfielder dropping to cover her. Again City don’t get pressure on the ball. The result is the same: a chipped ball over the top for Alexia. Alex Greenwood messes up her clearance and Alexia pounces.

CLIP 3

This next clip is all about Alexia. First she drops to the side of Mewis to offer an angle to the centre-back, then she spreads play to the right wing before hitting the penalty box. Walsh is pre-occupied here — this time Mewis lets Alexia go. It leads to another shooting chance for Barcelona in City’s box.

CLIP 4

This clip shows the freedom Mariona has within Barcelona’s system to find space. She moves from one wing to the other looking to make herself available. At one point, Walsh is right next to her and could easily go with her. However, Walsh decides to pass Mariona on.

The problem is City’s defenders already have their hands full with Oshoala and Hansen, so none of them are free to go with Mariona. Again, the Barcelona ball-player has time to play the pass, and picks out Mariona’s channel run.

CLIP 5

This is Barcelona’s third goal. Walsh and Mewis start on the same line as Alexia. However, as the move carries on Walsh is drawn to the ball and Mewis loses track of Alexia, who again hits the box and runs onto a through ball to shoot.

CONCLUSION

City also failed to nullify the runs of Alexia and Mariona throughout most of the game. Obviously there were other issues that impacted the outcome, like their lack of effective pressing, but if they are to turn the tie around, Walsh and Mewis — or whoever plays base midfield in the second leg — will need to get closer to Barcelona’s attacking midfielders.