Zinedine Zidane's back-to-basics approach gives Real Madrid hope against City | Jonathan Wilson

A traditional and unfashionable defence-first style has reaped rewards for the La Liga champions going into their belated Champions League reunion with Manchester City

A long, long time ago Manchester City beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. It was a strange game, in that while it was widely regarded as having been a tactical triumph for Pep Guardiola, evidence he could temper his philosophy, there was also a lingering sense that Madrid were there for the taking and that City playing their usual game might have had the tie won there and then.

Related: Champions League last 16: previews and predictions for the remaining ties

Zidane apparently has no defined philosophy. He has left no mark on the tactical evolution of the game. He is flexible – and wins

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