ZAC LEE RIGG - In the 2009 Champions League final, Pep Guardiola radically shifted his attacking tactics from the slaloming system Frank Rikjaard had left him to the new, cynically dominant side his own Barcelona would become. The flair was and is still there, but the unconventional move to shift Lionel Messi central and have the forwards attack from wide positions heralded a more ruthless, efficient outlook.

In that match, Sir Alex Ferguson was flummoxed and his side never looked like recovering once Samuel Eto’o scored from his unpredictable right-hand position. Later Messi used all five-foot-six-and-a-half-inches of his height to soar highest in the box and head the killer second goal past Edwin van der Sar.

Guardiola had a trick up his sleeve in the 2011 final as well. Instead of using Messi as a false nine, he deployed him as a conventional 10. David Villa played furthest forward as a pure striker, and Pedro switched from the right flank to the left. No one bothered using the space down the right.

Check this graph by Opta of average positions in the first half. Note how Messi’s position essentially makes it a diamond midfield. Also check out how far forward Patrice Evra could roam, because no one was pinning him back. Then read on. (more…)