Manchester City’s 1-0 lead over Leicester City suddenly didn’t seem too secure when the visitors won their first corner after 16 minutes on Boxing Day.
A scene developed inside Ederson’s penalty area that was hilarious on first viewing, although thoughts of the consequences came soon after.
According to the Premier League's official website, Bernardo Silva is 26 centimetres shorter than Jannik Vestergaard.
That’s almost a foot but when Bernardo went over to mark Leicester’s gigantic centre-back, it still felt like a generous appraisal.
It certainly did not seem like the best way to deploy defensive resources and looked the biggest festive size mismatch since Rocky Balboa took on Ivan Drago on Christmas Day in Rocky VI .
But we all know how that one panned out and, with City’s diminutive Portugal star for company, Vestergaard never got close to threatening from any of Leicester’s four corners in a 6-3 defeat.
As fans, we probably still think of set pieces in a slightly outdated way. It’s natural to see a succession of individual duels all playing out simultaneously. Who can get the better of their man? Will the specialist deliver a killer ball or fluff their lines?
Nevertheless, much like most other aspects of the modern game, a collective effort in defence and attack is unfolding. And it is yet another facet where Pep Guardiola’s side are among the very best, despite it not appearing an obvious area of strength.
“My team are not the tallest of guys, so every set piece [we concede] I go to the church to pray,” Guardiola said after Glenn Murray gave Brighton the lead on the final day of the 2018/19 season before City came back to win 4-1 at the Amex Stadium and clinch the Premier League title at Liverpool’s expense.
“We defend them with players like Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Bernardo Silva. That is the reality.”
And yet, with the likes of Sterling and Bernardo still very prominent in his latest title bid, Guardiola oversees one of the most efficient set-piece operations in the Premier League.
City have only conceded once from set-pieces in the top flight this season. Wolves are the sole side not to have been beaten from a dead ball situation.
A significant measure of the credit has to go to Carlos Vicens, who took on set pieces as part of his remit when he stepped up from City’s under-18s to the senior coaching setup in the summer, following Nicolas Jover’s departure to Arsenal.
According to Opta, City’s set play expected goals against (SP xG) is 2.3 - the lowest in the Premier League, with Chelsea’s defence next on 4.0. It means, despite the disadvantages outlined by Guardiola, City have conceded the lowest cumulative quality of chances from opposition set-pieces.
Of course, this isn’t because Bernardo is standing on Sterling’s shoulders to beat Vestergaard to headers, as much fun as that would have been to witness.
But Bernardo’s natural tenacity and hunger for pretty much any task on the field made him the perfect candidate to block Vestergaard’s desired movements inside the City box.
After getting all up in his opponent’s armpits, he left the likes of Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte with a more straightforward task when it came to making clearances.
Dias, Laporte and others such as Rodri and Kyle Walker - both of whom were absent against Leicester - are another element of City’s set-piece prowess. Put simply, they’re big physical specimens to complement the diminutive ensemble. Working together, Pep’s little-and-large show gets the job done.
The results are clear to see at the other end too. Leicester’s pitiful attempts to repel City corners lead to goals for Laporte and Sterling, with Fernandinho also going close.
The Blues have nine set-piece goals in the Premier League this year - the second-best in the division - and an SP xG of 7.9. That’s one fewer than Liverpool’s 10 goals (SP xG 7.6).
In another title race that could come down to fine margins, Guardiola again has City hitting elite levels as Vicens and his players provide the answers to his set-piece prayers.
Are you surprised by City's impressive form from set-pieces this season? Follow the City Is Ours editor Dom Farrell on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
