HAPPY TO CHANGE

POCHETTINO wasted no time in looking to his bench once Raheem Sterling had poked home an equaliser just after the hour. And there came significant positivity, too, calling for Angel Di Maria to replace central midfielder Idrissa Gueye just four minutes after Sterling’s goal. With an extra attacker on the pitch, Messi dropped a little deeper as Pochettino tried to out-think Pep Guardiola in the tactical battle with more onus on one-on-one duels.

A brave move.