On Wednesday, Manchester City held off a late surge by Atletico Madrid in a tense draw at the Wanda Metropolitano, advancing Pep Guardiola’s team to the Champions League semi-finals.
Kevin De Bruyne’s first-leg goal at the Etihad Stadium last week was enough for City to win 1-0 on aggregate in Madrid, despite the Belgian having to leave with an injury that, if serious, would spell the end of their treble aspirations.
Kyle Walker was also forced to leave the game in the second half.
City will now meet Real Madrid in the final four, while Liverpool will face Villarreal in the other semi-final, completing an all-Spanish-English line-up.
Felipe of Atletico Madrid was sent off in the final minutes for a violent swipe at City player Phil Foden, who was already wearing a bandage on his head from an earlier Felipe challenge.
The incident caused a major brawl in the corner, which only slowed Atletico’s momentum as the hosts eventually placed City under siege in the closing ten minutes.
Diego Simeone was severely chastised for Atletico’s negative tactics in the first leg, and there was only a tiny shift here, with the goal remaining to keep the game tight before a last assault.
Atletico, on the other hand, were unable to score the winning goal, and City advanced to the semi-finals for the second year in a row, putting them in contention for their first Champions League title.
Atletico Madrid made a thrilling start, harrying City high up the pitch and snapping at their heels in midfield after a memorable pre-match ceremony that saw the words “Pride, Passion, Feeling” spelled out across the arena.
Under pressure from the Atletico press, Foden was clattered by Felipe, Stefan Savic knocked Ilkay Gundogan over, and Walker punched a pass out of play.
Even though Atletico looked dangerous on the break, faltering only with their final pass, City weathered the early physical onslaught and took control.
– Gundogan strikes post – Midway through the first half, City’s possession should have paid off when a fantastic Riyad Mahrez pass unleashed Walker, whose cross avoided the sliding Atletico defenders and found Foden at the back post.
He teed up Gundogan for a seemingly straightforward finish, but the ball cannoned off the post. Felipe blocked Gundogan’s headed rebound in the scramble.
After the restart, though, Atletico resurrected, accompanied by the crowd. Antoine Griezmann dipped a shot just past of the post, Ederson smashed a nervy punt downfield, and Marcos Llorente pushed the ball away from Joao Cancelo. Guardiola flailed on the sidelines, attempting to re-energize his team.
De Bruyne was replaced by Raheem Sterling with 25 minutes remaining, and the game was soon over.
De Bruyne was replaced by Raheem Sterling with 25 minutes remaining, and Simeone thought it was time to attack, bringing in Angel Correa, Yannick Carrasco, and Rodrigo de Paul.
City were retiring now, trapped in their own half, accepting or unable to prevent the Atletico pressure. De Paul’s first touch was to fire just past the post, and City were retreating, entrenched in their own half, accepting or unable to prevent the Atletico push.
Simeone gambled, bringing in Luis Suarez and Matheus Cunha for the final eight minutes.
Correa chested down for Cunha in the 86th minute, but his finish was stopped by John Stones’ left leg. Ederson failed to clear the corner and the goal gaped, but Savic was unable to steer it in.
Accepting or unable to prevent the Atletico pressure on their own half.
When Foden was brought down again by Felipe, who swung his leg at the City midfielder on his way down, a furious contest ensued at the end. A swarm of players, substitutes, and staff surged in, and Felipe was sent off just a few minutes later.
Gundogan should have won it for City with nine minutes of added time, but Atleti held on. With a free-kick, De Paul put Ederson to the test. When the ball fell to Llorente in the box, he was down on the ground. He had the final shot, but Ederson blocked it.
AFP
