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It’s a big weekend for Manchester City as they take on Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.

Sunday’s match at Wembley will be City’s first step in their quest to secure an unprecedented quadruple success.

The Blues have been in blistering form since the turn of the year, scoring a staggering 49 goals in just 13 games. In fact, this season across all competitions, they’ve racked up a phenomenal 127 goals. Of those goals, 74 have come in the league, that’s an outstanding average of 2.7 goals scored per 90 minutes.

Pep Guardolia has seemingly developed a blueprint this season for creating lethal goal scoring opportunities that opposing sides are struggling to contain.

That pattern of play seems to consist of a ball through the middle, the play is then shifted out wide to an attacking winger who takes up an extremely wide position on the pitch in order to stretch the opposition.

From there, a blend of either individual skill or raw pace gets the attacking wingers to the byline or in a suitable crossing position before cutting the ball back across goal for a striker to apply the finish.

Despite its seeming simplicity, it’s been an extremely effective form of attack for Guardiola's men. Unsurprisingly, they have carved open 78% of their league goals this campaign from open play, with 41% of those attacks coming down the left side of the pitch, a side Guardiola clearly favours.

So how do City generate so many of these chances?

Sergio Aguero's role has been pivotal. Following the arrival of Gabriel Jesus, Aguero’s starting position was less assured. In fact, at one point it seemed the Argentinian would ply his trade elsewhere, as he became Jesus’ understudy.

However, Guardiola has a knack of making already elite and primed players better, and he has again seemingly done that at Manchester City with Aguero. Injuries hampered Jesus’ run in the in the first team, allowing Aguero to win the trust of his manager back, and that’s exactly what has happened.

Back in the side, the City boss urged the striker to run more for the team, press defenders, almost acting as the first defender in the side. He also demanded the striker become more involved in the play, coming short more, creating angles to link up midfield and attack with quick passes.

Aguero complied. In return, he has made 21 league starts already for the Champions this season and has become the linchpin in their build up to these attacking situations.

In the below image taken from Manchester City vs Arsenal earlier this season. Ilkay Gundogan has possession of the ball inside the Arsenal half. Arsenal are compact in their defensive shape.

In this situation, Aguero makes and angled run short creating a passing lane for the midfielder.

(Image: Wyscout)

Aguero receives the ball from Gundogan in space and plays a superb one-touch pass outside to Raheem Sterling. Note the width of both Sterling and Bernardo Silva in these situations. Part of the success to the build up in these attacks is the spread of width Guardiola implements in his attackers, making it difficult for defenders to adequately cover without creating openings in their back line.

(Image: Wyscout)

Through individual skill, Sterling can weave his way into the box. As is often the case, through the runs of Aguero and on this occasion David Silva, City now have two clear goal scoring opportunities.

Sterling can either cross the ball into the six-yard box for Aguero to attack, or he can cut the ball back to Silva on his right shoulder to unleash a shot towards goal. The essence of this attacking method means City are always presented with two strong goal scoring opportunities, resulting in a large amount of their goals being scored between six-yard-box and penalty area this season.

On this occasion, Sterling fires the ball across to Aguero who scores City’s third of the game.

(Image: Wyscout)

This same tactic was demonstrated to great success against Chelsea.

Aguero again comes short to create a passing lane this time for Aymeric Laporte. When he receives the ball, he quickly turns around and plays the ball again to Sterling.

(Image: Wyscout)

This time Aguero drifts into the box unmarked and takes position on line with the penalty spot. Sterling cuts it back to Aguero and although his shot is blocked, Gundogan follows up with a great effort to make it 4-0.

(Image: Wyscout)

Look out for this ruthless form of attack at Wembley on Sunday.

If it is implemented as well as it has been so far this season, you can expected City to heap further misery on Chelsea as they clinch their first piece of silverware this season.