Manchester City secured the goalless draw they needed to edge out Atletico Madrid and advance to the Uefa Champions League semifinals on Wednesday but the match was marred by a mass brawl late in the game that continued to rage in the tunnel after full time on Wednesday, April 13th, 2022.
In the end, Kevin De Bruyne’s first-leg strike last week at the Etihad Stadium proved enough for City to claim a 1-0 victory on aggregate in Madrid, although the Belgian had to go off with an injury which, if significant, would be a hammer blow to their hopes of winning the treble.
Police were seen in the tunnel at the Wanda Metropolitano as video footage showed heated arguments breaking out between the players, including Atletico’s Stefan Savic and City’s Jack Grealish, with staff trying to keep the players apart.
In the end, Kevin De Bruyne’s first-leg strike last week at the Etihad Stadium proved enough for City to claim a 1-0 victory on aggregate in Madrid, although the Belgian had to go off with an injury which, if significant, would be a hammer blow to their hopes of winning the treble.
Manchester City showed their character in a tough contest in Madrid to celebrate their 100th UEFA Champions League game by securing their place in the semi-finals at the expense of Atlético de Madrid.
What’s next?
Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the semi-finals. The first leg will take place in Manchester on 26 April, with the second leg at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on 4 May.
Key stats
This was Manchester City’s 100th game in the UEFA Champions League (group stage to final). In the period since they made their competition debut in 2011/12, only three clubs have played more games: Real Madrid, Bayern and Barcelona.
Josep Guardiola has now reached nine European Cup semi-finals – the most of any manager in the history of the competition.
Manchester City have lost only three of their last 18 matches in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League (W13 D2).
Manchester City have kept a clean sheet in each of their four UEFA Champions League knockout phase matches this season.
Atlético have won only three of their 13 matches in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League (D4 L6).
Atlético have conceded only two goals in their last 14 UEFA Champions League knockout phase matches in their own stadium.
Line-ups
Atlético: Oblak; Savić, Felipe, Reinildo; Marcos Llorente, Koke (De Paul 69), Kondogbia, Lemar (Suárez 82), Renan Lodi (Correa 69); Griezmann (Carrasco 69), João Félix (Cunha 82)
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker (Aké 73), Stones, Laporte, João Cancelo; De Bruyne (Sterling 65), Rodri, Gündoğan; Mahrez, Foden, Bernardo Silva (Fernandinho 79)
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