Atletico Madrid vs. Manchester City score: Guardiola's side survives scare en route to Champions League semis

It was not easy for Pep Guardiola's side as they scraped by with a scoreless draw in Spain to reach the semifinals

Manchester City are through to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League after drawing 0-0 at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday in the second leg of the quarterfinal round. Pep Guardiola's squad won the tie 1-0 on aggregate and were in a comfortable position for the first hour, but a late surge by Atleti led to a nervy, controversial and overly physical ending at the Wanda Metropolitano in front of a cauldron of rowdy Atleti supporters. 

It was Kevin de Bruyne's goal in the first leg that made all the difference as City held on. They will now face Real Madrid in the semifinals, while the other semifinal will see Liverpool take on Villarreal as the road to Paris takes shape.

Atletico finished the match with 10 men after Felipe's red card in added time for a sweep of the legs of Phil Foden. That resulted in hair pulling, multiple cards and an ugly ending to a dramatic game. Nine yellow cards were handed out as emotions ran high with so little to separate the two sides. One of those will be especially costly as Joao Cancelo is suspended for the next leg for yellow-card accumulation thanks to his challenge on Yannick Carrasco deep into stoppage time.

All in all, it was enough for City despite not looking all that threatening in attack. City had 69 percent possession though the first half but that was reduced to 59 percent in the last 45 as Atleti grew into the match. Ultimately, Los Colchoneros failed to finish some decent looks. Atleti had no shots in the first leg but recorded 14 in the second leg, good enough for an xG of 0.71.

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As a result, there will now be two English teams and two Spanish teams in the final of the UEFA Champions League. Twelve of the last 16 Champions League winners have come from those two nations.

After the match, it seems that there was an altercation in the tunnel to the dressing room, but there hasn't been clarification of what happened outside of yelling as reported by Guillem Balague. Things were at least tense enough that Manchester City had to wait extra time before coming out to celebrate their victory.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 5:02 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

This finish is frantic but City will march on.

Correa gets a shot on target that Ederson saves to send Manchester City on to the next round!

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:57 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Gundogan came close deep in stoppage time

The ball didn't have enough on it to trickle across the line but Atletico will have a final chance as Joao Cancelo brought down Carrasco just outside the box. Cancelo will miss City's next match.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:51 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

FELIPE IS OFF!

He already had a yellow and got another for his role in the Foden incident. This is quite a blow for Atleti in a critical moment!

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:49 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Foden goes down and tensions are flaring

The referee will need to get control of this one as Savic has caused a stir. The cards are coming as each team feels the pressure in the final minutes of this match. 

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:47 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Atletico came close!

A big save by Ederson and a big block by John Stones helped to keep this tie level. City can't be comfortable as this moves closer to stoppage time.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:43 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Diego Simeone empties the bench

Luis Suarez and Matheus Cunha are entering for Thomas Lemar and Joao Felix. Fresh legs for the final ten minutes to try and push extra time.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:41 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

After fouling Fernandinho, Marcos Llorente will be suspended for the next round of Champions League

Atletico Madrid will worry about that if they can get a goal before the match is out but that's something that could loom large.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:39 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Fernandinho is on as City needs to improve their defense.

After coming out with his intent to move back to playing in Brazil after the end of the season, many wondered if Fernandinho would feature on the day but with 11 minutes remaining in a game separated by one goal, Manchester City needs their captain. 

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:37 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Atletico wants a penalty

it doesn't seem like anything is doing as Correa went down in the box but City are on their heels as the game grows on. 

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:35 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Another sub for City and this one could hurt

Kyle Walker has exited for Nathan Ake with Cancelo shifting sides. WIth Atletico having fresh legs on the pitch this is one that could make a difference.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:32 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

20 to go...

Just 20 minutes remain, and Atleti have to go forward with everything now. City keeping two players up top and aiming to apply pressure. City lacking a bit of sharpness as Atleti look to get the equalizer. The hosts are getting the ball deep into the attacking third but the accuracy remains off as Rodrigo de Paul misses well wide on a good look.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:30 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

City have made their first change with Raheem Sterling entering for Kevin de Bruyne

De Bruyne has ice on the bench but this changes things for Manchester City as their key playmaker is now out when they need to create chances sooner than later.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:17 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Nearly!

Boy, that was the best chance for Atleti in the two legs. It's a good hit from Griezmann off the laid off ball of Joao Felix, but it goes right by the post. That looked headed in..

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:16 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

56' Chances for Felix from each wing

Atletico are coming out of their shell as Lodi and Marcos Llorent have played excellent crosses to Felix in the early going of the second half. There's space in the City box but can Atletico Madrid capitalize?

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:10 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Atletico Madrid are pushing

It's not much but Atleti have already tripled their shot total from one to three in the early going in the second half. They still look disjointed in the final third but it's better than the first half.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 4:06 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Back for the second half

Time to see if a team can get more than one shot on target in this one.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 3:51 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Halftime numbers

City in full control of the match with eight shots to Atleti's one, while the visitors also have 69 percent possession. While the match has felt open for Atleti, the end product hasn't been there, recording one shot and an xG of 0.03. That is all they've done in attack in three halves against Pep Guardiola's men.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 3:50 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Kondogbia massive early on

The talented midfielder is coming up huge for Atleti early with his elegant control, turning and passing, and it is clear that Atleti want to get the ball forward quickly to the attackers. Kondo's passes early have been quite sharp, but now it is up to others to produce something from it.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 3:42 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Foden has flipped to the left to link up with Cancelo

While it has made City more dynamic, they still don't have a shot on target to show for it. Impressive defending as expected from Atletico so far in the first half.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 3:35 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

32' Lodi on the chase...

... and he's all alone. Kondogbia played an excellent ball over the top but no one was trailing Lodi for him to cross it to in the end. It's these attacks that Atleti needs to send trailing runners on if they want to win this tie.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 3:31 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Saved by the post!

Foden was the creator again as City went on the offensive. Gundogan fired his shot off the post and then saw his follow up blocked by the defense. City are knocking on the door though.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 3:29 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

26' City's best chance of the game!

Cancelo gets free to find Foden for the shot. de Bruyne's volley was blocked by Reinildo but these are the type of attacks that City can make you pay from. Atletico went' right on the counter following the attack via Griezmann but they still haven't taken a shot in the match.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 3:22 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Atletico Madrid are doing the right thing, the passes just aren't coming off

It's only a matter of time until Lemar hits one of the forwards over the top. He was just short of finding Joao Felix as Atleti are looking more like themselves creating dangerous chances.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 3:16 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

15' Foden takes a knock early 

After getting his head bandaged, Phil Folden will try to continue on but Jack Grealish is getting ready in case he is needed in the match. If Foden can't continue, it will be a massive blow to Manchester City.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 3:13 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Incredibly open to start

Frantic beginning this! Physical, intense, open and with plenty going on. City look like the sharper team going forward, but boy this could go either way. City's defense is a bit poorly positioned, and there is space to be had there.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 3:12 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

10' City win their first corner of the day and it's close!

de Bruyne's delivery found John Stones and he'll want to have done better with his header but City has gotten off two shots with neither hitting the target in the early going. Both teams seem to be feeling each other out a little.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 3:06 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Manchester City has possession early but Atletico are pressing

You already see more of a press coming from Atletico Madrid as the counter attack is more progressive than the first leg. Both teams will have their chances if it continues at this rate.

[Apr 13, 2022 at 2:56 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Five minutes to kickoff!

Only one goal separates the sides, how will the match play out?

[Apr 13, 2022 at 2:48 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Does Guillem Balague see the future?

[Apr 13, 2022 at 2:23 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Slightly more attacking with the addition of Thomas Lemar

Atletico Madrid struggled to get the counter attack going in the first leg so the fix is adding more creativity to the midfield. Lemar is capable of linking up with the attackers and hopefully getting an early goal so that Diego Simione's defense can go to work. It's as expected for Atleti which will lead to another interesting chess match.