Manchester Metropolis secured their place within the Champions League semi-finals for the second consecutive season after a goalless draw with Atletico Madrid on the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday noticed them lead 1-0 on mixture.
Kevin De Bruyne’s purpose at Al Ittihad final week proved decisive in opposition to an Atletico aspect who confirmed extra attacking efforts in entrance of their followers however lacked superiority within the two matches. Diego Simeone’s more and more pissed off aspect ended the match with ten males after Felipe’s second yellow card amid a heated conflict within the ultimate minutes.
Metropolis, who nonetheless needed to endure some heavy Atletico strain within the second half, will now face Actual Madrid within the final 4 as they appear to return to the ultimate.
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“It wasn’t our greatest match, that is for positive,” Metropolis midfielder Rodri advised reporters after the match.
“We have been drained within the second half due to the schedule, we had a really robust sport on the weekend with Liverpool and have been out of legs on the finish.”
Nonetheless, Atletico felt it deserved extra and criticized the best way Metropolis tried to beat the clock.
“When Atletico play the best way Metropolis performed as we speak, we’re very criticized. Let’s examine what folks say as we speak,” Atletico captain Koke advised Movistar Plus.
“I am pleased with my teammates for the efforts they put in, and there is nothing guilty the group for. We had probabilities, we did not take them and congratulate the opponent, however Atleti deserved extra.”
In distinction to the primary leg, Atletico began extra aggressively, urgent Metropolis excessive and seeking to disrupt the guests’ rhythm. Phil Foden paid for Atletico’s intimidation ways, requiring extended remedy and a bandage round his head after a vigorous aerial problem from behind by Felipe.
However Metropolis withstood that early strain and started to imagine their acquainted management of the proceedings. Pep Guardiola’s aspect had their clearest likelihood within the first half as properly, when Ilkay Gundogan tried to run his foot into the underside nook of the web amid a mouth scramble solely to see his effort bounce off the underside put up.
It wasn’t till the thirty fifth minute when Atletico pressured Ederson to the primary save of the match and a draw. However solely within the second half did they start to significantly threaten the Metropolis purpose.
Joao Felix may have carried out higher with a free header he missed from 12 yards, whereas Antoine Griezmann fired extensive from exterior the field when he ought to have discovered the goal.
As followers in Madrid who felt like a cauldron shook their group, Metropolis confirmed actual indicators of alarm for the primary time. And within the frantic ultimate 5 minutes, John Stones was known as upon to make a heroic save to dam a penalty from Mateusz Cunha, whereas Jan Oblak and Ederson have been pressured to avoid wasting onerous at each ends.
In the long run, Atletico didn’t get guests to pay the value. With the time approaching the ninetieth minute, Atletico proved to be their staunch enemy once they responded to what they noticed as Foden’s play and misplaced priceless time and a person who noticed Felipe in crimson.
After two matches in opposition to Atletico cornered a top-of-the-table sport in opposition to Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis are nonetheless on observe to realize the treble earlier than Saturday’s FA Cup ultimate, as soon as once more in opposition to Liverpool.
Info from Reuters was used on this report.
