1. CSKA made a mockery of UEFA’s stadium ban
CSKA Moscow could not make their Arena Khimki Stadium as intimidating as they would want without breaking Uefa’s rules but they flouted the sanctions as much as possible. No fans from either side were supposed to be in the game but there was a sizeable number of vocal CSKA Moscow fans in the supposed group of corporate guests inside.
2. Manuel Pellegrini should take responsibility for his half measures
Manchester City were 2-0 up at half-time and they had spent the entire first half pinning the Russian side in their defensive third. Pellegrini had a choice to make at the interval as he could have directed his side to search for more goals for or drop back to protect their lead.
The Chilean boss decided to drop back and see the game out, which was okay but he should have been decisive by making the necessary changes to back that up. Instead, Pellegrini kept his two strikers on until CSKA Moscow halved City’s lead.
That was when he introduced Jesus Navas and then Fernando to give his side a more solid shape with five in midfield. It was a bit too late though as the Russian side that evidently hoped for an honourable defeat in the first-half were now confident that they could actually get something from the game.
3. Vincent Kompany had an easy night leading his side on the pitch
Despite there being more fans than expected, they could not impede Kompany from clearly commanding his side. No City player could feign deafness when their captain barked orders like “get after the ball” or “hold the line” as they were clearly audible.
4. Sergio Aguero’s goal proved why Pellegrini prefers a 4-4-2 formation for the Citizens
Manchester City have sometimes faced criticism for the way they set up with only two central midfielders in Europe but Aguero’s goal revealed the perks of sacrificing an extra central midfielder for two strikers. Edin Dzeko timed his run perfectly then waited for CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev to commit before feeding Aguero for a simple tap in.
It usually takes two natural strikers who can instinctively complement each other’s runs while selflessly linking like that in forward positions. Given that Manchester City have three such strikers, including Stevan Jovetic, Pellegrini’s decision is justified in usually accepting the defensive price for a devastating offence.
5. Seydou Doumbia should start in CSKA Moscow’s visit to Manchester
There was a huge difference in CSKA’s attacking approach before and after Doumbia came on. Initially, Zoran Tosic and Georgi Milanov were predictable with their rigid offensive movements from the flanks. Doumbia came on and tracked back well when defending but also added a different kind of threat.
When they attacked, Doumbia appeared in any potentially dangerous space he could find in the final-third and it was hardly surprising that he was directly involved in both of their goals as he really looked confident with his offensive game.
Leonid Slutsky will need Doumbia in his starting XI when they visit the Etihad Stadium to at least have someone to support Ahmed Musa when they attack.
