The new signing sessions from Pep Guardiola can make a real difference in Madrid, because the 'mini rodri' of Manchester City and Omar Marmoush look ready to start.
It was a case of Marmoush? You can't handle Marmoush … for Newcastle at the weekend.
Here, Dean Scoggins from our brilliant tactics explains show how Pep Newcastle destroyed and what that means for the second stage of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Haaland is the Lokvogel
Seems great – the use of the world's best striker to become a Lokrunner.
But that is exactly what Guardiola did against Newcastle when Marmoush dropped a hat trick.
Unaccerous Captain For the day Erling Haaland dragged the defense of Newcastle and they kindly followed him to admit flying Egyptian Marmoush to run for his first goal.
His third was more of a good job from Haaland – who brought the defenders to the back post, so that space for Marmoush for Savinho's cross could be allowed to find him.
Haaland may not have scored – but City hit four.
Mini Rodri Glues City together
Nico Gonzalez gave a master class of the midfield that Rodri would be proud of, and Pep called him 'Mini Rodri' after the game.
He is not very mini on more than 6ft and was dominant against a physical tone.
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But it was his ability to read the game that was so impressive – he is almost one pass for everyone else.
He read where the next Newcastle Pass went and was there to press or cut.
Exactly 100 completed Pass Knitted City together again and they kept ahead against a stretched Newcastle.
Ederson Volleys
Another assist for City keeper Niererson showed his value, with that help from Haaland's Run.
But Ederson also broke a number of great steps from his hands to the chest of the city of Widemen who maintained their widths to stretch Newcastle sideways and to release their hold in midfield.
The keeper also stepped into the line of defense to make an overload, which meant that Newcastle, who pressed on 1V1, did not know if he should get stuck or turn.
Now a real challenge
City was set up in attack with a 2-3-5 form, where the right back turns to midfield to give them more dominance and Josko Gvardiol offers that attacking width on the left.
But that often leaves them defensively, as Real showed in the last ten minutes of the 3-2 defeat in the first stage.
With the rise of Nico and Marmoush, who were both involved, Pep could choose to make it a more 3-2-5 form with stones that remain in the defense of right back to replace the wounded Manuel Akanji .
Nico could be trusted to play the '2-in-1' role that Rodri plays in attack and defense and it could be Kevin De Bruyne who misses Marmoush's attack again for direct balls with Haaland .
But it's a big call for a big game!
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