"Manchester City's starting lineup… Guardiola has completely abandoned Kolarov and Zabaleta, who were previously starters. Indeed, these two players' performances in defense often become the opponent's breakthrough point.

This time, Guardiola has deployed a three-center-back system: Otamendi, Stones, Kompany.

In midfield: De Bruyne, David Silva, Fernandinho, Zhao Gang.

Three forwards: Jesus, Aguero, Sterling.

It's still Guardiola's favorite 3-4-3 formation recently. Jesus has good ability to grab points and break through. We can look forward to his performance in this game.

In this formation, Zhao Gang and De Bruyne appear as wing-backs. Zhao Gang's defensive ability allows him to retreat as a full-back to participate in defense, but De Bruyne is basically unable to do the job of a full-back.

In this way, Manchester City's left-wing defensive pressure will be very high. It is very likely that in specific defenses, Otamendi will fill in as a full-back, Stones and Kompany will be the two center-backs, Zhao Gang will retreat to become the right-back, and Fernandinho will most likely support the left wing.

Guardiola's tactics have a very obvious characteristic: the players have a great deal of autonomy, and the positions on the field become extremely blurred.

This is different from the mainstream Arsenal style of play in Europe. In the Arsenal system, each player's position and area are almost fixed, like a factory assembly line. The advantage of this is that players can maximize their strengths and have stronger teamwork ability. Of course, at the same time, football loses a lot of its灵性 (lingxing -灵气 and 性格, meaning both flair and character) and surprise.

Guardiola's tactical system requires players to have very outstanding individual abilities. The players currently on the field for Manchester City can all play multiple positions.

This ensures that Guardiola's complex tactical system can operate.

Juventus's formation is almost the same as Manchester City's: 3-4-2-1.

At the very front is the 小烟枪 (Xiao Yan Qiang – Little Gun) Higuain, a strong contender for Serie A's top scorer this season.

Behind him on both sides are Dybala and Mandzukic.

Dybala is nicknamed 小魔仙 (Xiao Mo Xian – Little Fairy). He has a handsome appearance and outstanding skills. He can organize, break through, pass the ball, and is also a very powerful scorer when necessary.

His technical characteristics are very similar to Zhao Gang's. In this game, we can watch the peak duel between two spirited young men.

The four midfielders are Sandro, Pjanic, Marchisio, Alves.

The three defenders are Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini.

The partnership between Bonucci and Chiellini is not only the defensive pillar of Juventus, but also the most relied-upon defensive backbone of the Italian national team.

The goalkeeper is Buffon.

The Italian national goalkeeper.

Buffon should be the strongest goalkeeper in world football right now. He is also the only player in the goalkeeper position in the last two or three decades who has been able to compete for the Ballon d'Or. His ability is evident.

Juventus's experienced defense encounters Manchester City's crazy attacking group. This Champions League quarter-final is definitely full of highlights!"

Zhao Gang stood calmly in his own half, looking at the Juventus players on the opposite side.

Champions League quarter-finals.

Manchester City's curse-breaking begins now!

Juventus chooses the side, Manchester City has the ball.

Zhao Gang receives the ball, and Pjanic quickly follows. He and Sandro will work together to limit Zhao Gang.

When necessary, Dybala and Mandzukic will also appear around Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang didn't stick to the ball and passed it to Fernandinho.

Then he stood on the sideline in midfield, not moving.

Pjanic began to move towards the center, while Sandro stayed around Zhao Gang, paying attention to the passing of Manchester City players.

Manchester City did not rush to attack at the start, but passed the ball back to test the waters.

After all, the two sides have not officially played against each other, and they do not yet know the other's specific strength.

Everyone knows that Manchester City's attack is fierce and Juventus's defense is outstanding.

But if you really want to know the level, you have to start a fight with real swords and guns.

Juventus's midfield began to slowly move forward, preparing to press.

Mandzukic and Dybala also tried to get closer to the center, compressing Manchester City's midfield cooperation.

Fernandinho encountered Mandzukic and passed the ball to David Silva.

The pressing effect was okay. Manchester City's formation was slowly moving back. Zhao Gang did not follow the formation, and the formation became a strange 3-3-4.

Sandro, as Juventus's wing-back, should have followed the formation forward. Once he intercepts the ball, he can immediately step in to assist the attack, but he didn't.

He was always active around Zhao Gang.

After studying a large number of Manchester City game videos, Allegri felt that it was more appropriate to arrange a dedicated person to follow Zhao Gang all the time.

Zhao Gang strolled towards the center, looking at his teammates' positions while observing the entire Juventus players' formation and defense.

Juventus's defensive line was slowly moving forward, and Buffon's position was also relatively forward.

This is the change in modern football. A long time ago, the goalkeeper's position was fixed in the small penalty area and did not participate in the team's attack. Later, a "traitor," Lev Yashin, came out and ran out of the penalty area.

This led to a shift in football tactics towards the goalkeeper, changing the goalkeeper's inherent style of play.

Lev Yashin also became the father of modern goalkeeping.

The goalkeeper's participation in the attacking style of play has gradually become popular, and Guardiola is the coach who has taken it to the extreme.

Therefore, in modern football, when the team's defense line begins to move up, the goalkeeper will mostly move away from the goal line to support the team's defense and attack at any time.

Among them, the best is the goalkeeper-sweeper Neuer, who often appears near the center circle.

At this time, Buffon moved forward restlessly, preparing to look for opportunities to support his teammates.

Zhao Gang faced his own half and strolled forward two steps, looking like he was preparing to receive the ball with his back to the goal in midfield, and then pass the ball.

Suddenly, Zhao Gang turned and ran in the opposite direction. Sandro paused for half a second before suddenly waking up and quickly following.

Silva seized the opportunity and made a long pass directly to Zhao Gang's running route.

Zhao Gang looked back at the ball, predicted the landing point of the ball, accelerated forward, and when the ball landed, he gently raised his knee. The ball didn't even bounce off, but was directly unloaded at his feet.

This kind of ball feel can be counted on one hand in the entire football world.

"A very exquisite stop, it's really an enjoyment! Let's take a look at this attack!"

Zhao Gang led the ball directly, ran past the center line, and charged all the way towards the Juventus hinterland.

At the same time, Aguero was running in the center to pull apart the Juventus defense line, and Jesus and Sterling were also observing Zhao Gang's advance, pulling towards the two sides.

There were Alves and Pjanic controlling the sidelines, so the Juventus central defenders focused their attention on Aguero and the rushing Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang, who had the ball, looked up. The Juventus central defense line was pulled open by Aguero with a gap that was neither too big nor too small. Behind him were Sandro and Marchisio, who were chasing back.

Chiellini was ready to step forward to limit Zhao Gang's advance, joining forces with the players who were chasing back to completely block Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang had two choices: pass the ball to Aguero, who was running, but Bonucci kept looking back at Zhao Gang, waiting for Zhao Gang to pass the ball at any time.

Chiellini was also ready to intercept while leaning forward.

Juventus's defense has a tacit understanding and a lot of experience, so passing the ball like this is likely to cause problems.

Zhao Gang dribbled the ball, and Sandro and Marchisio were full of energy, chasing back frantically.

In another two seconds, they might form an encirclement.

Zhao Gang turned his head and glanced at Jesus on the side, and De Bruyne, who was striding forward to meet him.

This glance made the Juventus players instinctively look slightly to the left.

Similarly, Buffon naturally began to adjust his defensive strategy.

It was just an advance preparation.

Now, neither Zhao Gang nor Jesus have entered the danger zone. Buffon will only make the final choice of whether to retreat to the goal line or directly attack after the attack arrives.

Now he is standing outside the small penalty area, staring!

Zhao Gang accelerated forward, saw the gap torn out by Aguero, swung his right leg, and suddenly took a fierce shot while dribbling!

The distance from the goal was nearly forty meters!

Bang!

A powerful outside instep shot!

Zhao Gang's favorite way to shoot.

Concealed and swift.

The football, spinning, cut through the air like a bullet, and roared towards the goal!