ZIDANE v GUARDIOLA WHO GOT IT RIGHT?

STARTING LINE-UPS

ZINEDINE ZIDANE took a gamble on the so-often wild finishing of Vinicius Junior and it backfired in the first half as the Brazilian forward squandered Real Madrid’s best chance, failing to bury the rebound from Karim Benzema’s header. Zidane had left Gareth Bale, whose goal separated these two sides the last time they met in the Champions League, on the bench. Alongside him was Toni Kroos and the game was crying out for his precision passing. Guardiola’s big call was to play Gabriel Jesus instead of Sergio Aguero and the Manchester City manager despaired when the Brazilian failed to threaten Real’s defence from good situations. But the City boss had the last laugh when Jesus headed in City’s equaliser.

TECHNICAL AREA

GUARDIOLA has always been more animated than Zidane. When he first played against him in Euro 2000 for Spain against France, he asked for his shirt at the end of the game. In his 2001 autobiography, Guardiola wrote: ‘I told him it had been a pleasure playing against him. I don’t think he even answered me.’ Last night, both men stayed stoically in character. Zidane was statuesque, often motionless, hands in pockets for the most part, apparently unmoved until Isco scored. Guardiola was hyperactive from the first kick, crouching in the corner of his technical area, bouncing up when his team attacked and waving his arms.

CHANGES DURING GAME

ZIDANE delayed switching Vinicius Junior, whose legs had gone after a lung-busting 70 minutes. What the 19-year-old Brazilian lacks in natural finishing he makes up for with the skill and speed that saw him tee up Isco for Real’s goal. The Madrid coach was waiting because he felt his side were on top and close to getting the second. Sure enough, as soon as he brought on Bale, Real were pegged back — and worse was to follow. Guardiola’s first second-half change was Raheem Sterling for Bernardo Silva and, when Sterling forced Dani Carvajal’s clumsy challenge in the box, Kevin De Bruyne had the chance to turn the game on its head and he didn’t fail. For once, Guardiola was relatively unmoved — head down, hands in pockets as the City bench celebrated.