Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Real Madrid deliberately targeted Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson as a potential weak link during their Champions League showdown on Tuesday night.
Madrid pulled off a stunning late comeback at the Etihad Stadium, scoring twice in the final minutes after City appeared to have secured victory when Erling Haaland converted an 80th-minute penalty.
Ederson had an eventful night, producing key saves but also making costly errors. His misplaced pass led to Brahim Diaz’s equalizer, and he was caught out of position when Vinicius Junior’s lob set up Jude Bellingham for the winner.
Madrid’s game plan involved putting pressure on Ederson in hopes of forcing mistakes.
“We aimed to press high when Ederson had possession and drop into a mid-block when he didn’t. Our forwards stayed compact inside, and our midfielders avoided pushing up too aggressively,” Ancelotti explained.
That pressure paid off. When Madrid pushed forward in search of an equalizer, Ederson opted for a long clearance instead of playing short, leading to a turnover in midfield that allowed the visitors to capitalize.
Pep Guardiola, however, defended his goalkeeper’s decision, arguing that any choice carried risk.
“Eddy decided to go long, and it wasn’t a great kick, which led to their goal,” Guardiola admitted. “But if he had played short and we lost the ball, you’d be saying he should have gone long. Players make split-second decisions—it works sometimes, and other times it doesn’t. This isn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last.”
Madrid’s tactical approach ultimately paid off, securing them a crucial victory and exposing City’s vulnerabilities under pressure.
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