Manchester City secured a comfortable 2-1 victory over Watford in the third round of the League Cup.
Player of the Match
Rico Lewis was the standout player in Man City’s 2-1 win over Watford. The 19-year-old full-back showed remarkable composure when deployed in central midfield, filling in due to Rodri’s long-term absence after his injury in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League.
Over the course of the match, Lewis touched the ball 107 times, completed 82 passes with a success rate of 90%, and created 7 key passes leading to shots for his teammates. He also registered 1 assist. Defensively, Lewis held his own, winning 4 out of 8 duels, making 1 clearance, and executing 2 tackles.
Sofascore awarded the young English talent a score of 8.1, the highest of the match, surpassing the two goal-scorers for Man City, Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes.
Who Struggled?
On the Man City side, goalkeeper Stefan Ortega was rated the worst player, with a score of 6.3. Although he didn’t face an exhausting workload, he did concede a goal late in the match. However, he contributed to build-up play with a successful completion rate of 7 out of 12 long passes.
For Watford, midfielder Ken Sema had a disappointing outing. He was ineffective in the center of midfield, managing only 32 touches, completing 15 passes, and winning just 3 out of 13 duels.
Tactical Statistics
Pep Guardiola’s side dominated in the first half with 73% possession and an impressive 344 passes compared to Watford’s 130.
Man City registered 9 shots (3 on target) in the first half, while Watford failed to muster a shot on target. Doku and Nunes effectively capitalized on opportunities, giving their team a significant advantage.
In the second half, Man City maintained control with 72% possession, taking 15 shots and completing 409 passes compared to Watford’s 4 shots and 154 passes. Had they capitalized on two major chances, Guardiola’s men could have won by a more substantial margin.
Key Moments
Jack Grealish continued his impressive form this season, becoming the focal point of Man City‘s attacking plays in the opposition’s third. With his superior technique, Grealish acted as a potent drill on the right flank, exhausting Watford’s defense. He further solidified his influence with 1 assist.
Against Watford, Grealish completed 6 out of 13 dribbles, created 4 key passes, successfully executed 3 long passes, and won 10 out of 19 duels. It would have been a perfect performance had he not missed a significant opportunity in this match. Sofascore rated the 29-year-old midfielder 8.0, just behind Lewis.