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Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart celebrates at the end of the game. PA Wire/Press Association Images

Man City make Champions League history after dour draw

Manuel Pellegrini’s men had a very comfortable evening at the Etihad.

INJURIES TO CENTRE-BACKS Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi overshadowed proceedings as Manchester City reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time by drawing 0-0 with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday.

Leading 3-1 from last month’s away leg, Manuel Pellegrini’s side completed the job in forgettable fashion, with Jesus Navas’s shot against the post for City the nearest either side came to breaking the deadlock.

But first-half injuries to captain Kompany and Otamendi cast a pall over the evening at a hushed Etihad Stadium, leaving City vulnerable in defence ahead of Sunday’s derby with Manchester United in the Premier League.

While progress in the Champions League represents a historic achievement for Pellegrini, who will hand over to Pep Guardiola at the season’s end, the injuries could have a costly impact on City’s attempt to resurrect their domestic title challenge.

The League Cup winners have fallen 12 points below leaders Leicester City, although they retain a game in hand, and face challenges from both United and in-form West Ham United for their top-four place.

Pellegrini welcomed Yaya Toure back from the heel problem that had caused him to miss Saturday’s frustrating 0-0 draw at Norwich City, but within seven minutes he was counting the cost of another injury.

After misjudging a bounce on the City right, Kompany slipped as he tried to recover the situation and immediately realised that he had done himself damage, passing the ball out of play and signalling to the bench before limping off with a look of disgust etched on his face.

The Belgium international, who has suffered 13 calf injuries since 2008, was soon joined in the home changing room by Otamendi, who came off second-best in a collision with Vitaliy Buyalskiy.

- Aguero miscues -

The Argentine attempted to play on, before admitting defeat, leaving City with reserve centre-backs Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis in the heart of their defence.

It was not a combination that will have inspired great confidence among the home support and there were early nerves as Mangala’s missed kick from Demichelis’s pass almost let Lukasz Teodorczyk in on goal.

With the atmosphere affected by the double injury blow, City struggled to get going and when Navas managed to pick Sergio Aguero out with a right-wing cut-back, the Argentine miscued.

Visiting goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy was not tested until early in the first half, when he showed a neat touch to control the ball on his thigh after a defender had inadvertently prodded it towards his own goal.

City began to show signs of life, Toure curling a free-kick over and Aguero dragging a shot wide, before Navas collected a pass from Toure and drilled a low shot against the left-hand upright.

Moments later, City goalkeeper Joe Hart made his first save of the night, comfortably fielding an effort from Andriy Yarmolenko after the Ukraine winger robbed Gael Clichy.

Toure continued to drive the home team forward and he threatened to make the breakthrough from Navas’s cut-back, only for Shovkovskiy to save.

There were two late scares in the hosts’ box when first Buyalskiy and then substitute Olexandr Yakovenko took aim, but Hart blocked alertly on both occasions, giving City a clean sheet for only the second time in their 18 Champions League home games.

Spain Soccer Champions League Atletico's players celebrates as they win over PSV Eindhoven after a penalty shootout Paul White Paul White

Meanwhile, Juanfran’s winning penalty sent Atletico Madrid into the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday, clinching an agonising 8-7 penalty shoot-out win over PSV Eindhoven after neither side could manage a goal in 210 minutes across the two legs of the tie.

The first 14 spot-kicks of the shootout were then converted in clinical fashion before PSV’s Luciano Narsingh smashed his effort against the bar.

Juanfran then stepped up to convert the winning penalty and keep Atletico’s hopes of a first ever Champions League victory alive.

It is the second consecutive season that Diego Simeone’s men have progressed to the last eight on penalties after seeing off Bayer Leverkusen in similar fashion a year ago.

And PSV will be left to lament Jan Oblak’s brilliant save to tip Jurgen Locadia’s effort onto the post in the second-half of normal time as the Dutch champions came so close to causing a huge upset.

With the tie delicately balanced, Simeone opted for an extra midfielder in Augusto Fernandez in place of Luciano Vietto from the start, but the hosts were overrun for the first half hour by the visitors.

However, Atletico did enjoy the best chance of the first-half when Koke’s low cross found Antoine Griezmann unmarked just six yards out, but Jeroen Zoet got down to deny the French international his 24th goal of the season.

PSV had captain and top scorer Luuk de Jong back after he missed the first-leg through suspension and the former Newcastle United striker was a constant menace to the usually unflappable Diego Godin.

De Jong was unfortunate when the ball fell just behind him after Oblak cut out dangerous cross from the right.

Atletico settled into their stride at the start of the second-half, but still relied on a set-piece to carve out an opportunity as Jose Maria Gimenez rose highest at the back post only to head Koke’s corner inches wide.

As the hosts opened up, though, PSV became even more of a threat on the counter-attack and were somehow denied the vital away goal on the hour mark when Locadia’s shot was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Oblak and De Jong’s follow-up header from point-black range blocked on the line by Filipe Luis.

Luis stung the palms of Zoet from outside the area and Yannick Carrasco blasted the rebound over on the volley as Atletico struck back moments later.

Simeone sent on Fernando Torres for Fernandez in an attempt to break the deadlock.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea striker at least offered Atletico more of a reference point in attack and twice came close with an attempt lob which landed on the roof of the net before Zoet palmed away his fierce near post drive.

Atletico suffered a huge blow just before the end of normal time when Godin limped off to be replaced by 20-year-old Lucas Hernandez.

However, the young Frenchman had a great chance to make himself a hero early in extra time when he headed over from a corner.

Griezmann’s range was off again when he shot straight at Zoet after great work by Saul Niguez as Atletico dominated during the first period of extra time.

Yet, it was PSV who came closest after the break, but Andres Guardado curled just wide to send the game to penalties.

 © AFP 2016 

Randolph bemoans Schweinsteiger nudge that cost West Ham semi spot>

‘8 games from history’ – a match-by-match analysis of Leicester’s remaining fixtures>

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    Mute WJH
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    Mar 15th 2016, 9:52 PM

    Jesus that was painful.

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    Mute Fill Knick
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:11 PM

    It Defiantly Was Painful

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    Mute ronan murray
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    Mar 15th 2016, 9:52 PM

    Why did they risk Kompany tonight. They were through. No need at all

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    Mute Fill Knick
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    Mar 15th 2016, 9:58 PM

    Manchester City v The Rag’s On Sunday
    Be The Highlight Of United Season

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    Mute sparky
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:01 PM

    Fill…glad you were able to lift that rock..history will never be beaten. .now go back under it..

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    Mute Paul Hughes
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:06 PM

    Did they manage to fill their stadium tonight?

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    Mute Fill Knick
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:10 PM

    Ah Sparkieeeeeeeeeeeeee

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    Mute Alan b
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:13 PM

    Sparky you sound like a Liverpool supporter with your history

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    Mute sparky
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:20 PM

    Naaa utd…you just gussed a 50/50..

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    Mute Fill Knick
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:46 PM

    Ah Sparkieeeéééééééé
    Is That The Same Rock That Gave Lvg, The Funny Shaped Head

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    Mute sparky
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:52 PM

    Is your thumb stuck on e..or just your phone is broken. .lvg is not utd..he is just another chapter in our history. .

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    Mute Fill Knick
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:53 PM

    Are You A Chelsea Supporter

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    Mute Andy
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    Mar 15th 2016, 11:09 PM

    Highlight of your season.

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    Mute Tom O'Connor
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:13 PM

    Half empty stadium for a champions league knock out match. Useless ‘fans’

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    Mute Fill Knick
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:51 PM

    Tom , Give Us A Joke

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    Mute Tom O'Connor
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    Mar 16th 2016, 8:47 PM

    Manchester City before they had a sugar daddy were a joke

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    Mute BAZINGA !
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:02 PM

    History lol !! Making the quarters lol .

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:04 PM

    Comical

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    Mute sparky
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:05 PM

    Baz..ya should read before you comment…

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    Mute Anthony
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:41 PM

    The glorious English premier league is miles behind the rest of the big European countries at the moment. Next year they could have Leicester (hopefully as champions), West Ham and Spurs representing them. The coefficient could take a battering and the 4th place could be lost to Italy.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Mar 16th 2016, 12:16 AM

    If Leicester Spurs and West Ham invest in 2 or 3 most Payets etc each, They could make another run at it next season before the billion pound spenders get their acts together.

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    Mute Anthony
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    Mar 16th 2016, 7:38 AM

    True, but I can’t see them making any impact in Europe.

    It’s not going to be easy to find the next Payet either. He’s a real find. Close call between himself and Mahrez for POTY.

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    Mute Clifford Feehan
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:22 PM

    “20,000 empty seats”.

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    Mute William Boland
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:38 PM

    It’s good to know United fans have their history to help them sleep at night, where would they be without it. But then again, united fans think history began in 1992.

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    Mute sparky
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    Mar 15th 2016, 10:45 PM

    William..guessing by your comment you’re still in primary school. .

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    Mute Finn Tennance
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    Mar 15th 2016, 11:05 PM

    As an Everton fan I would love to have their history but there is a difference between history and memories. Unfortunately most united fans can say they remember their glory years, unlike some other teams, like ourselves.

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    Mute pat donovan
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    Mar 15th 2016, 11:14 PM

    Except those who remember the 70s and 80s, when success was limited to the cup but despite that United’s average attendance was consistently the highest around. Indeed United’s average attendance in div two is still a record.

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Mar 16th 2016, 5:09 AM

    Don’t put Kompany in charge of a farm, 13 calf injuries!!!!

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    Mute Fill Knick
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    Mar 15th 2016, 9:54 PM

    The Future Is Blue , Blue Moon,

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    Mute sparky
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    Mar 15th 2016, 9:55 PM

    F…..missed it..what channel was it on..

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    Mute Mick Power
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    Mar 15th 2016, 9:59 PM

    Channel 319 on skybox

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Mar 15th 2016, 11:40 PM

    Ah Mick, you rascal

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    Mute Eoin
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    Mar 16th 2016, 2:22 PM

    Fail to see how they made history. Might be historic for City but when this season is revisited years later Man City beating CSKA is a footnote. Leicester winning the PL or Barca retaining the title would be historic.

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Mar 16th 2016, 8:48 AM

    Fill , I really hope your the oldest you are is 12 or 13. I’d actually despair if your an grown adult , my faith in the species would be destroyed.

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