Man City rediscover old tactic at perfect time to boost treble chances

When Manchester City put seven past RB Leipzig, and Pep Guardiola was asked whether his side are getting better in the Champions League, he instead pointed to the clean sheet his defenders kept.

Likewise, Rico Lewis said the City dressing room were equally happy with the clean sheet in the rout of Burnley four days later, with the Blues aware that keeping goals out is just as important at this stage of the season as the goals they are firing in at the other end of the pitch.

In City's 10-game unbeaten run that has kept them alive in three competitions, they have kept five clean sheets and conceded just five. They've also shown how being better at 'guaranteed' situations like set plays can turn tight games in your favour and away from an opponent.

ALSO READ: Man City have finally done what Pep Guardiola wanted after the World Cup

Before the World Cup, City conceded four of their 14 goals against from set pieces, at a rate of one every five games. Since the World Cup, they have conceded just two of 16 goals against in 21 games, at one every ten games.

In attack, the goals are flowing more from set plays, where City know a quality ball into the box can offer a good chance of a shot on goal. In particular, City's movement and reactions to second balls has been evident in recent games.

During the 10-game winning run, seven of City's 31 goals scored have come from set play situations, representing 22 per cent of their goals. Over the whole season, City have nine set-piece goals in the Premier League at 13 per cent of their league goals scored. Slowly but surely, they are making their set pieces more effective.

They didn't need to rely on set pieces against Burnley, with six open play goals, but against Leipzig they won the