Man City vs Atletico Madrid LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction as De Bruyne nets winner
Manchester City 1-0 Atletico Madrid: Follow all the action as Pep Guardiola’s side take a quarter-final first-leg lead over Diego Simeone’s LaLiga champions
The Champions League returned on Tuesday night and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, eventually broke down Atletico Madrid at the Etihad Stadium to take a 1-0 lead in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
After being frustrated by the visitors for large swathes of the game, City finally made the breakthrough on 70 minutes as Phil Foden slipped in Kevin De Bruyne who finished expertly beyond Jan Oblak and gave them a lead to take into next week’s second leg at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Both Guardiola and opposite number Diego Simeone have faced heartache in the final of this competition with their current clubs, but City remain the favourites to go the distance this time - even if this is proving to be a huge test for the Cityzens in the last eight.
The winners of this tie will progress to face either Chelsea or Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League, following last month’s draw.
Follow all the reaction as Man City beat Atletico Madrid below:
Man City vs Atletico Madrid
A reminder that Man City do have the small matter of welcoming Liverpool to the Etihad on Sunday in what could well turn out to be a Premier League decider.
Not that Pep is thinking about it, of course.
He said: “If people think I will play the same against Atletico and Liverpool, I don’t think like that because the movements from Liverpool are completely different than Atletico - especially because the players are all different.
“That’s why I love to overthink and create stupid tactics, and when we don’t win I am punished. I will take inspiration and I’m going to do incredible tactics [on Tuesday]. We play with 12!”
Man City vs Atletico Madrid
Here is a good stat about tonight’s meeting. These two sides have NEVER met before in any competition.
This is a first. You very rarely get them in football these days.
Man City vs Atletico Madrid
So now the team news is out, anyone changed their prediction for tonight? Here is our very own Harry Latham-Coyle’s verdict ahead of the clash this evening.
“Atletico Madrid will be tough to break down for Manchester City, particularly away from home, but Pep Guardiola’s side should be able to take a slim first leg advantage to Spain for the second leg. Manchester City 2-1 Atletico Madrid.”
Man City vs Atletico Madrid
Former Liverpool man Luis Suarez has been forced to settle for a place on the bench.
You get the feeling, though, that he will have some say in this tie - whether it be positive or negative.
Man City vs Atletico Madrid
What do we make of that XI from Guardiola then? Kyle Walker is still suspended after his silly group stage sending off. But instead of Cancelo as right-back and Zinchenko at left-back, Guardiola has gone with Stones on the right and Cancelo on the left.
He has also selected Raheem Sterling ahead of Phil Foden. Interesting.
Man City vs Atletico Madrid
And the team they will be facing.
Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Savić, Felipe, Reinildo, Lodi; M. Llorente, Kondogbia, Koke; Griezmann, João Félix.
Subs: Lecomte, Christian, Wass, Hermoso, Ibra, De Paul, Lemar, Serrano, Suarez, Correa, Cunha.
Man City vs Atletico Madrid
Here is the all-important starting line-up from Pep then.
Man City XI: Ederson, Stones, Laporte, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Sterling.
Subs: Steffen, Carson, Jesus, Grealish, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Foden, Egan-Riley, Mbete.
Man City vs Atletico Madrid
A reminder that this is the English champions vs the Spanish champions. It doesn’t feel quite like that though given Atletico’s poor defence of their La Liga title.
Simeone’s men are 12 points behind local rivals Real Madrid with just eight games remaining.
Man City vs Atletico Madrid
There is another Champions League tie going on tonight. Liverpool have travelled to Portugal for the first leg of their last 16 clash against Benfica.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are looking to book a semi-final place against either Villarreal or Bayern Munich.
You can follow that one by clicking on the link below.
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