Manchester City went in as the clear favorite for Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final at home against Atlético Madrid. Before tonight’s match, City had played 17 straight CL matches at home without a loss, but Atlético offered tough opposition in Manchester.
It was an expected match picture in the first half, where City had 70 percent of the ball possession and were constantly looking for gaps in a well-assembled Atlético defense with five players in the back line. However, the clear goal chances shone with their absence in a half with dot zero finish on goals from each team.
– It is probably Atlético Madrid who are most satisfied with the match picture so far, said Telia and C More’s expert commentator Olof Mellberg at the end of the first half.
City continued the search for a lead goal after a break when Kevin De Bruyne threatened with a free kick that Jan Oblak saved with some effort. Shortly afterwards, Aymeric Laporte had a nod in a dangerous position that went close over the crossbar.
In the middle of the second half, City manager Pep Guardiola made a triple change to bring the home team to life – and it paid off. Phil Foden, who was substituted a paltry two minutes earlier, came up with an insert for De Bruyne who put it 1-0 with a well-placed finish in the penalty area.
– Here comes exactly what we ask for – dare to stick in these balls. The foot gets a nice position and releases the ball to a running De Bruyne who finishes nicely, says Mellberg.
– It looked incredibly unnecessary. He kicks the ball on Grealish from close range. It looked full. Clear yellow card, says Mellberg in the broadcast.
Emotions then calmed down when City held off and won the match 1-0 after a big game advantage but few goal chances were created.
– It took a while, says a relieved Manchester City midfielder in Rodri to Frida Nordstrand, Telia and C More’s reporter on site in Manchester.
John Stones:
– A tough and frustrating evening. Many players on one half of the field at the same time. Ten players behind the ball … we knew what we were up against.
Match winner De Bruyne:
– Two teams with completely different playing styles. They played their way and it is very defensive, but they do it very well. It is difficult to create chances and find surfaces. We controlled the match in the first half and in the second half we created more and scored a goal. We played a good match.
How satisfied are you with 1-0?
– We are satisfied, because you can only control what you do today. Of course we want to win with more, but their quality is good and we must respect that.
Do you believe in a completely different match at their home arena?
– I do not think so at first, because it is very even (in the double meeting). It depends on. If we make goals, they need to move forward a little more.
Atlético midfielder Stefan Savic, who played for Manchester City earlier in his career, has high hopes that the Spanish league champions can turn around the double encounter in the home return.
– It is not easy to play against Manchester City. We knew we would suffer a little but I do not think they created that many chances. We had some counterattacks and we could have done better. But we can still manage and since we will play at home next match, we know that it will be a different match compared to today, says Savic.
Did you play according to plan?
– More or less. We defended well, they did not create many situations. When it comes to their goals, we did not have the concentration required in that situation. But I’m sure we’re still alive and will do better in our arena.
A hoarse Diego Simeone summed up his feelings and thoughts after the match like this:
– We play against one of Europe’s best teams, if not the best, in my opinion. I think we defend very well against them, but we can always do more offensively. We will do that at home. In the first half we would have done more going forward. It is a result that feels okay (to take with you to the return).
The return match will be played in Madrid on Wednesday next week, April 13.
Startelvor:
Manchester City: Ederson – Stones, Laporte, Aké, Cancelo – De Bruyne, Rodri, Gündogan – Mahrez, Sterling, Bernardo Silva.
Atletico Madrid: Oblak – Vrsaljko, Felipe, Savic, Reinildo, Renan Lodi – Llorente, Kondogbia, Koke – João Felix, Griezmann.
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