It was tense, it was suffocating, it was thoroughbred, totally as billed. And for Manchester City, it wasn’t about whether they could add to their first-leg lead in this Champions League quarterfinals, but if they could hold on.
It’s hard to remember Pep Guardiola’s swordsmen being trapped in their own half for so long, but that was precisely what happened throughout the second half. They had prevailed in the first part but it was a different story after the break, Atletico Madrid – egged on by a noisy, partisan crowd – smothering them, forcing them back, asking awkward questions.
Could Atlético make the leap? The answer was no. Despite a few heart-in-the-mouth moments, City kept the back door shut and seemed completely in keeping with the volcanic currents that the tie ended in a bench-emptying melee after Felipe, already booked in the first half, came on at Phil Foden. and I kicked it again.
Felipe would eventually be expelled, after the warring factions were separated, but all City cared about was the outcome. Gündogan almost took it from him at the end. City’s Champions League dream lives on.
The prize was a semi-final encounter with Real Madrid, the Spanish league leaders having advanced 24 hours earlier after what was a city-wide epic against Chelsea. It had to be said that the expectation of another classic was low at the time of the kick-off, mainly because of what had happened in the first leg -when Atlético did not take a shot- and also because of how Diego Simeone had said that he would not be upset. his focus. Simeone’s idea was simply to be tighter, faster, more precise, better.
Guardiola had to find the right balance. It has been a difficult season for Atlético as their defense of the league title is long overdue (they sit fourth in the table, a point above Real Betis in fifth), but they still know how to handle themselves in this competition. It was their sixth quarter-final appearance in nine seasons for them. Guardiola’s watchword had been concentration.
The atmosphere was throbbing, the stadium packed and noisy, shrill whistles for each period of City possession. It had been the same when the visiting players took a knee before kick-off, which was jarring.
Atletico brought the hustle from the start and the key for City was always going to be whether they could keep their composure on the ball and play their way out of trouble. When Kyle Walker, under pressure from the start, fumbled a loose ball into touch and the crowd howled, Guardiola clapped maniacally, hands above his head. He wanted his team to enjoy possession; so as not to be intimidated.
The first half was measured in one-on-one duels, the first high point coming when Felipe jumped onto Foden’s back as they engaged in an aerial battle, the middle half wiping their opponent clean with a ferocious upper body barge.
Foden lay motionless for a worrying period before getting up after treatment, bloodied and bandaged. Surprisingly, Felipe avoided a booking, although that soon changed when he ran through the back of Kevin De Bruyne. Atlético wanted to leave some business cards. For City, it was a test of nerves.
City took the lead as the half wore on, after Atletico’s initial momentum had ebbed. Guardiola’s players began to manipulate them, showing his authority, and it occurred to them that it would be a test for the resistance of the local team.
The visitors had closed in early on from a corner, John Stones making a firm connection but failing to keep the attempt. They created the big half-time chance in the 30th minute, Riyad Mahrez igniting it with a beautiful pass inside the sideline for Walker’s advance. Mahrez was in the mood, all easy balance and dancing feet.
Walker crossed, and when Foden fired from beyond the far post, Gündogan had the opportunity to finish at close range. He hit the post and his header on the rebound was covered by Felipe. At least Atlético had a shot before the break, although it was only one and Geoffrey Kondogbia’s shot deflected from distance in the 35th minute was routine for Ederson.
The needle never seemed to leave the surface, Simeone demanding a yellow card for the Stones, and not receiving one, after the defender stopped João Félix, whose threat was obvious. But the equation for City remained the same in the second half. Stay calm and assertive, and don’t make any mistakes.
The Fiver – Sign up and receive our daily soccer email.
Atlético went a step further after the restart, bringing the aggressiveness once again and had flashes in front of the goal, which the home crowd quickly overcame. Renan Lodi’s cross that goes too far for Félix, the striker heads over a cross from Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann narrowly misses the edge of the box.
The tide had turned, even Commander Rodri was stripped of possession, and City struggled to move up the pitch. De Bruyne seemed to be limping and Guardiola replaced him with Raheem Sterling, hoping he could get something to stand out up front.
Atlético pressed, City happy to keep what they had, and it felt like a risk game. Atlético had them where they wanted them. Could they find a way? Substitute Rodrigo De Paul curled wide, while another replacement, Matheus Cunha, saw a shot blocked by Stones.