MANCHESTER CITY survived a bruising encounter with Atletico Madrid to reach the Champions League semi-finals after a hard-fought goalless draw in the Spanish capital.
Pep Guardiola’s side battled an intimidating atmosphere and a fired-up home side at the Wanda Metropolitano to edge a tense quarter-final courtesy of last week’s equally-draining 1-0 first-leg win.
Atletico finished with 10 men as Felipe – who escaped a booking for a terrible challenge on Phil Foden in the first half – was sent off as home frustrations boiled over in the closing stages.
City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan went close to scoring when he hit the post in the first half but the visitors had to dig deep late on.
Atletico upped the tempo in the closing stages and there were some moments of alarm, not least when Antoine Griezmann shot narrowly wide and Angel Correa tested Ederson in stoppage time.
City withstood great provocation to hold out and book a return to the same city to face Real Madrid in the last four.
A number of players took knocks for their troubles, with Foden needing to be bandaged around the head and Kevin De Bruyne limping off.
The atmosphere was ferocious as Atletico fans did their best to throw City off their game.
Yet after UEFA hit Atletico with a partial stadium closure for this game for discriminatory behaviour by supporters – a sanction suspended by the Court of Arbitration for Sport – the fans did themselves no favours before the game.
First they vociferously booed the competition’s anthem in protest at UEFA’s attempted punishment and then did similar as City’s players took the knee as a statement against racism.
As the action began, Atletico started positively. Manager Diego Simeone was widely criticised for his defensive, damage-limitation tactics in the first leg but, with an onus to attack this time, they looked to get forward more.
Joao Felix made a good run down the right in the opening minutes and fired across a dangerous ball looking for Renan Lodi in the box but Kyle Walker read the situation.
The hosts soon showed their notorious physical side however as Felipe clattered into Foden from behind as the City midfielder went up for a header.
Foden suffered a cut to the head and needed to be bandaged up but remarkably Felipe was not booked by German referee Daniel Siebert who – for not the only time – was surrounded by protesting Atletico players.
Yet if Felipe was let off on that occasion, there was no escape soon after when he clipped De Bruyne. This time Siebert did brandish the yellow card.
Despite finding Atletico tough to deal with, City did look the stronger side. They controlled possession for large spells and did start to threaten.
Gundogan shot wide and John Stones headed over from a corner before they went close to opening the scoring just before the half-hour.
Walker and Riyad Mahrez combined well on the right before Foden teed up Gundogan to crash a shot against the base of the post. The German’s follow-up header was blocked and Atletico scrambled clear.
City managed to restrict Atletico’s openings and Geoffrey Kondogbia failed to make the most of a chance when his shot was deflected and gathered by Ederson.
Atletico looked to step up the pace in the second half and went close to levelling the tie when Griezmann caught hold of a half-volley from a Felix lay-off that drifted narrowly wide.
Another good move then saw Correa flash an effort just wide of the top corner moments after coming off the bench. Fellow substitute Rodrigo De Paul also volleyed wide.
But time began to run out for the hosts and their frustration became evident as Felipe caught Foden again. A scuffle broke out, heavily involving Stefan Savic and Jack Grealish, which ended with Felipe sent off.
Atletico were not quite finished but City held on with Ederson saving from Correa in the closing seconds.
Savic getting dogs abuse from BT…if an “injured” player has the wherewithal to roll back onto the pitch when I’m chasing an all important equaliser you bet I’m stepping in to try stop him doing so…as for the fracas with grealish..fairplay to him,,,, justice for savic
@Pol Mlp: 100%
@Pol Mlp: Agreed. Watching live I thought Savic lost the plot. Looking back he was dead right to pull Foden back off the field! As for the headbutt still waiting to see footage..
@Johnny Mads: don’t see a headbutt but he did lose the plot. No matter what you think you can’t drag players when there on the ground. And it was counter productive as it wasted more time. As for Simone clapping the time wasting. Has he seen his own team play. No idea why Atm play so defensive as when they went at city they had plenty of chances.
@Pol Mlp: Foden only short of ending up in the back of the net from that tap on the calf by Felipe hahaha. Absolute bunch of headers Atleti all the same!
@Cormac Flanagan: You can’t drag players but BT going on as if Savic shot him. Ya was good to see City give them some of their own medicine with play acting at the end so Simeone can have no complaints there. He’s just stubborn on one tactic and one tactic only. Fair play to the fans and players for buying into it.. that’s the only way it works and it has worked for them pretty well over the years.
@Johnny Mads: ya BT really went overboard with it. Still a stupid think to do. Then he was fighting in the tunnel after too. While no love for city the competition is the better for athletico gone.
@Pol Mlp: they really pander to little englanders. At least it livened it up a bit. Was some snooze compared to the chelsea real game.
Loved that, extra time would’ve been blockbuster
BT commentators & pundits are absolutely embarrassing too, you’d think Savic had committed war crimes the way they were carrying on. City are a side full of weasels and Atletico were right to put it up to them
@Sam Murray: They’d make ya sick. Not a word from them about Grealish walking on to the pitch winding up Savic first. Sure Jack loves to get his hair touched !
@Sam Murray: deffo
@Johnny Mads: it was the same last week for Cresswells red card against lyon with carlton and Joe cole…they are an English channel so bias ofcourse, is expected…but it gets ridiculous when you are saying “refs usually favour the home team in these ties” and not even giving a small mention of the provocation the English players get upto…tis great tele all the same..long may it continue
@Sam Murray: Ciyt played Athletico at their own game and they ran to the ref to complain all night. They are well able to dish it out but can’t take it when they are on the receiving end.pity because they are a very good team
Delighted for Atletico getting dumped out, the most anti football team I’ve seen in a while. Brilliant to see them getting EXACTLY what they serve up themselves. How long was the ball actually in play for the last twenty mins against Utd again?? They have been doing the time wasting and fake injuries nonsense trying to kill the clock or get players sent off for years and they have been getting away with it, then when it’s done to them they start getting physical with opponents and officials. A bunch of bullies who don’t like being served their own medicine. Well done city!!!
Those Atletico boys are off their nut! Simeone syndrome throughout the squad. Gas entertainment.
@Johnny Mads: City lads weren’t great foden made a show of himself rolling around like that and savic pulling grealish hair what a legend. Atleti really should of won that game and tie had loads of great chances couldn’t score, City non existent second half Madrid must of had 90% possession in it. Entertaining game no doubt
@John Kelly: Atletico were impressive. It’s mad how they hold and hold… look like they’ve nothing to offer and then bang on the press and attack and a chance comes out of nothing.
@Johnny Mads: that’s what Simeone does to his players, he winds them up to the nth degree and it carries onto the pitch. They’d bleed for him, they’d die for him. Felipe was lucky to be on the pitch to be fair he had two tackles in the first half that could both have been yellow and only one was and he deserved to go for the sneaky follow through on Foden although his tackle was timed to perfection. Foden did himself no favours by rolling back onto the pitch. Atleti really stepped it up in the second half and could have won the tie. It just shows that Simeone’s teams can play when they/he want to. It’s just that Simeone doesn’t care about the aesthetic of his team’s football, he just sets them up to win regardless of how.
@Killian Bushell: ya was just saying the same to Cormac above. It’s a credit to Simeone how he manages to get everyone from players to fans to buy into it.. thats the only way it can work.
I see from a lot of comments here, a lot of supporters very bitter with City doing a job on Atletico,,, City showed a resolve tonight that is not often apparent with so called rich spoilt brats…you see plenty of that from some teams overspending underachieving…City rose to a huge challenge tonight and will be an even better team going foward for it
@Aidan Ryan: have to agree aidan, I’m probably one of the bitter comments you speak of, but as you say..city did a job on atletico tonight, the same type of job that atleti do to many other teams..one of the most enthralling 0-0 draws I’ve ever seen to be fair
Well done city. Better team over the 2 legs
Can’t see how anyone here defends Madrid. They hacked the hell out of City. Yes City played defensive for the first time in years but Madrid’s defence just hacked. Should have been down to 9 players. Great grit from City not playing their usual game. Good to see they can grind it out when needed.