13.03.2026 11:01
It has been revealed that the footage of Arda Güler marking Haaland in the match where Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 3-0 was part of a special tactical plan based on the analysis of the coaching staff.
On the Champions League night when Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 3-0, the moments when Arda Güler matched up with Erling Haaland at the corner created a huge stir on social media. Following this much-discussed image due to the height difference, a special tactical plan prepared by the coaching staff emerged.
ATTENTION-GRABBING PERFORMANCE FROM ARDA GÜLER
Arda Güler, who started the match in the starting 11, displayed an effective performance both offensively and defensively during the 70 minutes he spent on the field. The national player achieved an 89% passing success rate by completing 25 out of 28 passes. Arda also played an important role in his team's game balance with 1 key pass, 2 ball recoveries, and 7 loose balls he won.
TACTICAL PLAN THAT STOPPED HAALAND
The most talked-about image of the match was Arda Güler marking Manchester City's star Erling Haaland during set pieces. According to a report in Marca, this matchup was not a coincidence. Analyses conducted by Real Madrid's head coach Arbeloa and his team revealed that Haaland's role during set pieces was more about screening than being a direct threat with headers.
For this reason, tall defenders were matched up with players like Rodri, Guehi, and Ruben Dias, while the task of controlling Haaland was given to Arda Güler.
STRATEGY PAID OFF
This plan implemented by Real Madrid paid off. Norwegian striker Erling Haaland finished the match without taking a shot and was only able to touch the ball once in the opponent's penalty area.