November 22, 2024

Man City through after Atleti stalemate

Atleti #Atleti

Kevin De Bruyne’s solitary goal in the first leg last week gave Pep Guardiola’s side a slender lead to take to the Wanda Metropolitano.

Diego Simeone’s men put City under intense pressure in the second half, but Guardiola’s men held firm before tempers flared late on and Felipe saw red.

That left the visitor to see out a 1-0 aggregate victory to reach back-to-back Champions League semi-finals for the first time in its history.

The Premier League leader will face Real Madrid in the last four after Carlo Ancelotti’s team overcame Chelsea.

The first clear sight of goal for either side came on the half-hour mark when Ilkay Gundogan struck the base of Jan Oblak’s right-hand post from eight yards after being teed up by Phil Foden.

City, coming into the game on the back of a thrilling 2-2 draw with title rival Liverpool, looked the more likely to score throughout the first half, yet it went in at the break having failed to hit the target with any of its eight shots.

The host side was much improved at the start of the second period and Antoine Griezmann flashed a dipping effort past the post from the edge of the penalty area shortly before the hour. 

There was a melee after Felipe’s late challenge on Foden in the closing stages, with both sets of players clashing near the corner flag.

The end result was a second yellow card for the Atleti defender as the home side’s Champions League campaign ended on a sour note, with Simeone himself booked in stoppage time after stepping onto the pitch.

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