The 'Mbappé syndrome' scares Pep Guardiola's City

The careers of Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland are linked in many ways. Beyond trajectories that could be considered parallel at the level of irruption, talent or goals, The Champions League is giving them matches that seem tailor-made to follow the comparison between the two, considered candidates to fight for the throne that Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi are already discussing. Haaland's rival for tonight is Manchester City, precisely against whom Kylian Mbappé presented himself as an emerging talent against Europe with Monaco.

In his first year at the helm of City, Pep Guardiola faced a luxury Monaco in the quarterfinals. Fabinho, Bakayoko, Lemar, Falcao, an even younger Mbappé and two that he liked so much that he ended up signing them: Benjamin Mendy and Bernardo Silva.

In that tie, Mbappé signed a great goal from Fabinho at the Etihad to make it 1-2 (the match would end 5-3), but the Stade Louis II is where it would be final. It was barely the 8th minute when the Frenchman scored the first goal in the game that gave Monaco hope of coming back. A wish that became a reality. Today, Haaland has a new challenge. Also Pep.

Two different approaches

Erling Haaland plays tonight the third European leg of his career. In the first time in the quarterfinals he scored two goals on a good European night, precisely against Mbappé. The Frenchman together with Neymar gave oxygen to the Parisians with a goal in that event and in the capital, they finished off Dortmund led by the Norwegian.

Then I was just arrived. Now, more experience, a level more than proven in the elite and the challenge of being able to bring down the City to continue walking along with Kylian. To win your first tie and dshow that in hot matches he can also reign.

For Pep, his summer goal is his spring nightmare. City fearlessly slide their interest in Haaland to replace Sergio Agüero, but tonight they must stop the one they hope to have to boost since September. The quarters begin and are the great barrier for this City that has dominated England and wants to take over Europe. Their attacking players scare anyone, but something has changed compared to previous playoffs: defense.

If the skyblue are walking firmly towards a new title, it is because their defense has matched the effectiveness they looked like in attack. They are the team with the fewest goals in the Premier League (21 goals against in 31 games) and in the Champions League they have conceded just one goal against Porto on the first matchday. Since that meeting, seven consecutive clean sheets without losing an iota of power upa (Gladbach 4-0 in total, Marseille 5-0, Olympiacos 4-0 …).

To seek victory against Haaland, Pep and City know that something has to change. Each defeat in the quarterfinals in past editions was marked by an exchange of blows that was not resolved in their favor. Details, such as that goal by Llorente with his leg, in uncontrolled matches that prevented him from reaching the semifinals. Only one year, the one they faced Klopp's Liverpool (3-0 and 1-2 for the reds) were unable to respond with goals each that conceded. After last season's 1-3 against Olympique Lyon, defense and control of the result gain importance for a City that will have to stop the best scorer in the competition (10 goals in six games). ANDI know how they want it to be theirs next season.