Winner in the first leg at home, Manchester City managed to qualify after a thrilling match at the Wanda Metropolitano (0-0). A performance during which the Citizens were jostled by the Colchoneros reduced to ten at the end of the match.
In pain, City manages to snatch its ticket for the semi-finals. Starting with a one-goal advantage at kick-off, Pep Guardiola’s players started the game with a bang, dominating Madrid in terms of chances. A domination that could have turned into a score advantage following an action initiated by Riyad Mahrez. The latter, left in the back of the opposing defense, manages to cross for Phil Foden, place on the left side, which serves Gundogan in the axis. The German international saw his shot crash into Oblak’s left post (30′). Mahrez and the Citizens will thus succeed in obtaining several clear chances without managing to open the scoring before returning to the locker room.
Gündoğan finds the post and Atlético got very, very hot
#ATLMCI | #UCL | #CCC ▶️ https://t.co/IH2nOcYw4F pic.twitter.com/SDWlkHWLet
— Canal Football Club (@CanalFootClub) April 13, 2022
Galvanized by a public on fire, Atlético returned to the field with more obvious offensive intentions after being mocked in the first leg for a 5-5-0 with no shots taken in the first leg. A radical change of dogma in the game illustrated by the opportunity of Antoine Griezmann who saw his recovery graze the left post of Ederson (57 ‘). The Colchoeros push, and the Citizens doubt they can do without Kevin de Bruyne and Kyle Walker, both out injured around the hour mark. The pressure is increasing on City’s shoulders, which allows Atletico to get several clear chances to snatch extra time at home. Among these clear chances, we find that of Rodrigo de Paul (77′) or that of Matheus Cunha (86’). Close to a mental breakdown, the Skyblues lost their football by multiplying the technical faults, thus leaving the doubt of a new air hole in a decisive match in the Champions League. Ederson will however manage to keep his family alive after several miraculous interventions.
In an electric atmosphere, the referee decided to add nine minutes of added time, during which Gundogan thought he had found the fault after a fine collective effort stopped by a save from Oblak (90+6′). Immediate response to a free kick from Yannick Ferrera-Carrasco who saw his attempt diverted by Ederson. A tense end to the match since Atlético will be reduced to ten following the explosion of Felipe for a foul on Phil Foden (90 + 1 ‘). All before seeing Diego Simeone come alive on his bench entering the field before taking a yellow card to calm his defender Stefan Savic.
Additional time will have lasted ten minutes, during which several Citizens players including Mahrez and Cancelo will be warned. Jostled, Manchester City knew not to break and thus validates its presence in the semi-finals of the Champions League following this draw (0-0). Pep Guardiola’s players will thus find Karim Benzema’s Real Madrid, whom they eliminated in the Final 8 played in the summer of 2020 in Lisbon (4-2, sc). The Mancunians thus manage to qualify for their second consecutive semi-final and thus keep all their chances of fetching their first continental trophy which will go through a victory during this much-awaited shock.
On the side of the Algerians, the satisfaction is double since two Algerian players will participate at the same time in a semi-final of the Champions League (Mandi for Villarreal, Mahrez for City). A first in the history of most club competitions. Appointment taken at the end of April at the beginning of May to determine if the adventure will continue to the Stade de France for our two representatives.
DZfoot