Introducing: The Double False 9

The clock has just ticked over 20 minutes and Real Madrid's centre back partners Sergio Ramos and Raphaël Varane are finding themselves in a rapid whirlwind of calculations. Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva had both been positioning themselves within reach for quite a while, but it was only now that City were able to properly feed them the ball. A quick play from İlkay Gündoğan to Bernardo Silva had created a paradox of instincts in the center backs’ minds. Should they approach or should they stay back?

After some quick interchanges on the right side, City once again found one of their dropping strikers in free space, this time De Bruyne, and Varane now decided to take his first option, to approach. However, just when he placed his first steps forward, the creative Belgian fed the ball in behind to a leaping Gabriel Jesus. The French centre back could only declare defeat as he witnessed the Brazilian striker free on goal. 

This was all a recall from the first of two rounds of sixteen games in the 19/20 Champions League’s season between Real Madrid and Manchester City. Although the Brazilian striker eventually missed the opportunity, this moment was the start of a chain of events that would mainly decide the outcome of the match, but also echo throughout Europe's tactical spectrum.

Pep Guardiola had, during the season, witnessed Real Madrid's centre backs’ willingness to apply pressure on players in front of them, and his general idea was that by deploying two players roaming in close contact with them, he would be able to cause uncertainty and disruption in Real Madrid's defensive line. By doing so, he was also reinventing the use of the false 9 role that had proven to be so fruitful for him in the past.