Manchester City qualified for the Champions League semifinals for the second year in a row after a tense 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday. They advanced 1-0 on aggregate.
Last week’s goal by Kevin de Bruyne at the Etihad proved decisive against an Atletico team who displayed more forward zeal in front of their home fans but lacked a cutting edge over the two games.
Following a second yellow card for Felipe during a violent altercation in the final minutes, Diego Simeone’s increasingly frustrated team concluded the game with ten men. Following the final whistle, the scuffles continued into the tunnel, requiring police intervention.
Manchester City will now face Real Madrid in the last four as they attempt to return to the final after surviving some fierce Atletico Madrid pressure in the second half.
After the game, City midfielder Rodri told reporters, “It wasn’t our best game, that’s for sure.”
“We were tired in the second half because of the calendar; we had a very intense match with Liverpool the weekend before, and we were out of our legs by the end.”
Nonetheless, Atletico believed they deserved more and chastised City for attempting to run out the clock.
“When Atletico played the way City played today, we were criticised. Let’s see what people say today,” Movistar Plus spoke with captain Koke.
In compared to the earlier leg, Atletico Madrid came out much more aggressively, putting a lot of pressure on City and trying to disturb their rhythm. After a hard aerial challenge from behind by Felipe, Phil Foden suffered the price for Atletico’s intimidation tactics, requiring long treatment and a bandage around his head.
City, on the other hand, resisted the early pressure and began to regain control of the situation. Pep Guardiola’s side also had the clearest chance of the first half, as Ilkay Gundogan attempted a side-footed goal into the bottom corner of the net during a goalmouth melee, only to see his effort rebound against the foot of the post.
Atletico pushed Ederson into his first save of the night in the 35th minute, tying the game. But it wasn’t until the second half that they started to pose a significant threat to City’s goal.
Joao Felix could have done better with a free header from 12 yards that he misjudged, while Antoine Griezmann blasted wide from just outside the area when he should have hit the target.
City displayed true indications of discomfort for the first time as the fans in Madrid, which felt more like a cauldron, screamed their team on. In a tense final five minutes, John Stones had to make a remarkable save to deny Matheus Cunha a point-blank shot, while Jan Oblak and Ederson were forced to make solid saves on the other end.
Atletico, on the other hand, was unable to make the visitors pay in the end. As the clock approached the 90th minute, Atletico made their own worst enemy by reacting to what they perceived as Foden’s theatrics, wasting valuable time and sending Felipe seeing red.
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