Manchester City vs. Atletico Madrid score: Kevin De Bruyne gives Pep Guardiola's side much-needed breakthrough

Man City knocked on the door all game long and finally picked Diego Simeone's lock in the second half

Manchester City substitute Phil Foden came off the bench to quickly find superstar Kevin de Bruyne for the game's lone goal as the Premier League leaders beat Atletico Madrid, 1-0, on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. The one-goal advantage gives Pep Guardiola's team the lead entering next week's second leg in Madrid.

It was a deserved result in the end for City as they dominated the ball and the chances, but it took over an hour to break down that strong Atleti back line with their overwhelming possession. On the other side, Atleti rarely looked like a threat to score, recording zero shots. They grew into the match in the second half but came away with nothing to show for it with poor passing when it mattered most as City put one foot into the semifinals.

Here's a look at the winning goal, which came in the 70th minute. 

Here are three takeaways from the match:

KDB will get most of the praise, but Foden was the key

De Bruyne's finish was sublime, and he was the engine in the middle, but this game instantly changed with 22 minutes to go when Foden came on. A surprise not being in the starting XI, the England international was electric in his short time on the pitch. He created one chance, got an assist off of it, and he also produced a shot on 16 touches. 

His quickness, and his precise passes, allowed him and KDB to exploit the very little space Atletico gave by sitting so deep. 

Without the change, it was hard seeing City getting the victory because the consistent, quality chances weren't there. But it only took Foden two minutes to do just enough to give City the chance they needed.

Atletico's plan didn't really work

That was awful from the Atleti attack. Look, I understand manager Diego Simeone wants to go on the counter and all, but they never came close to scoring. The numbers tell quite the story in the end, and I'd urge supporters of Los Colchoneros to look away:

• Possession: 30.3 percent
• Shots: 0
• xG: 0.00
• xA: 0.11
• Passes completed in final third: 35.6 percent

They are still firmly in this tie, but boy do they need to show much more offensively at home. They were reserved and tried to limit the damage, but now they need to cause some. On Tuesday, they had a couple looks on the counter where the final ball was simply not good enough. If they can be on the ball more and be more assertive, they'll have a chance. But if they approach the second leg like they did this one, they can start making other midweek plans.

City sitting pretty

Because of City's style, craving the ball, it's difficult to envision how Atleti can take control of the second leg and create what they need. They will, in all likelihood, have to take more chances, sit with fewer numbers deep and hope it doesn't come back to bite them. They must win the second leg to have any chance of going through, but rotation will also be needed. Getting Angel Correa on the pitch more will be expected, with the Argentine giving them a little jolt off the bench in this one. Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix could not replicate their performances against Manchester United from the round of 16, and Simeone has a lot of tough decisions to make.

On the other side, City will be confident and comfortable. They obviously would have liked a larger advantage, but they know they will likely score in the second leg, so as long as they can produce a similar defensive performance, they'll be on their way to the semifinals for the second year in a row.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 5:00 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Full time!

City win 1-0, and the KDB goal is the difference! A narrow advantage ahead of the second leg, where Atleti need to show much, much more.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 4:28 pm ET · James Benge]

The substitutes pay off

The introduction of Jesus, Grealish and Foden gave City some fresh legs and that really paid off just there. A great turn and a pass slid in behind from the latter unlocks De Bruyne and brings the Etihad to its feet. That's the problem with Atletico's approach. You have to have something more than a few moments of threat to stop wave upon wave of attack. That was tired defending there from the visitors. No wonder.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 4:27 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

The opener for City!

De Bruyne scores, and City take the lead! A fine, low finish to the far post! It comes off a lovely ball from Foden, who just came on! 1-0!

[Apr 5, 2022 at 4:15 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Big changes for Atleti

Cunha, Correa and De Paul coming on for Atletico. That's three attackers players, essentially. De Paul will look to distribute dangerous balls forward. 

[Apr 5, 2022 at 4:14 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Agreed on Atleti's improvement

Much more intention from Atleti to attack, but the final product still hasn't been there. Feels like a match where Correa could make an impact off the bench, but Atleti would sign on the dotted line for a 0-0 draw. 

[Apr 5, 2022 at 4:11 pm ET · James Benge]

Better from Atletico

At last this team looks like it might be willing to take some shots. Admittedly every time they get near the box Llorente and Griezmann seem to be getting nosebleeds but they are at least fighting through the pain and trying to test Ederson with pretty tame attacks. In doing so they're just making City and their supporters that little bit more nervous. The longer it stays like this the more you fancy Atletico's chances.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 4:07 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Second half underdway! 

[Apr 5, 2022 at 3:48 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

At the break it's 0-0

Nothing doing in the first 45 minutes as we enter the break as we started. No shots at all for Atleti and 27.9 percent possession, while City have had all of the chances but no really good ones. Will something change in this second half, or are Atleti on their way to a goalless draw?

[Apr 5, 2022 at 3:46 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

A look at the numbers

As we approach half time, City have six shots and 0.21 xG while Atleti have yet to record a shot in the match. Still all square, while in the other match Liverpool are leading 2-0.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 3:32 pm ET · James Benge]

It's all in the Atletico third

Genuinely there was a moment just there where 20 players were in Atleti's zone of the pitch with Aymeric Laporte camped just outside. Even Ake and Stones have had more touches in the final third than the entire visiting team. It's a curious thing where the crosses crash into the box and the pressure builds but so far it has not resulted in too many hugely difficult moments for Oblak. But it'd be very hopeful indeed to expect this away defense to cope under such sustained pressure for the full 90 minutes.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 3:26 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

First decent run for Atleti

Joao Felix is sent through with a fine ball down the left, and he tries to cut in and find Griezmann, but Cancelo is there to stop his Portugal teammate. No shots yet for Atleti, but they are clearly looking to go on the counter.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 3:16 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

City getting closer to goal 

Good skill by both Sterling and Silva sees City approach goal, but the Atleti defense has been ready. Two penalty claims aren't warranted, with the most controversial one seeing Koke clearly take the ball from Silva.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 3:11 pm ET · James Benge]

Galaxy brain Guardiola watch

Well this is very disappointing. Guardiola has sent his team out in a normal Manchester City fashion. There's a slight tweak here and there with Bernardo coming to the ball as the centre forward where Foden might look to stretch the play in behind. But really that just seems perfectly logical considering that there's hardly any space in behind Atletico that isn't just Oblak's goal.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 3:09 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Griezmann shifting towards Ake

The French striker is looking to take on Ake as much as possible, sitting on that right side while Joao Felix stays more centrally. Ake is clearly the least experienced defender in the side, with Simeone looking to expose him to get the attack going.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 3:03 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Underway! 

90 minutes of action has begun! 

[Apr 5, 2022 at 3:00 pm ET · James Benge]

The heavens have opened

It is pouring it down here. Genuinely out of nowhere, a minute ago I was looking down at my laptop on a lovely spring evening in the north. But this is Manchester so what was I expecting? Combine that with the customary whistles from the Etihad crowd and this is really as pure a City footballing night as you could want. Maybe Pep will have overcomplicated things too.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 2:58 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Kickoff in moments

Just a couple minutes until the match begins as the team enter the pitch for the UCL anthem.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 2:37 pm ET · James Benge]

Pep's plan becomes clearer

We don't yet know how the attack is going to look but Guardiola has confirmed that Ake will play left back with Cancelo on the opposite flank.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 2:16 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Thoughts on Atleti XI

Five at the back for Los Colchoneros in defense, it would seem, though you will see a ton of movement when they shift towards attack and leaving three at the back. Vrsaljko can get very deep into the attacking third, and Renan Lodi will be expected to as well. Don't be surprised to see Vrsaljko stay back in favor of Llorente getting forward though. In attack, Joao Felix and Griezmann have been the top players, but they've got so many options off the bench. Expect to see De Paul, Suarez and probably Correa, who typically earns more minutes than anybody else. 

[Apr 5, 2022 at 2:10 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Diego Simeone on City

"City have extraordinary players," the Atletico boss said in his pre-match press conference. "They have better players than us. City and Bayern are the favorites because of the players they have, but last season Chelsea won. They got better, they played as a team and they won the tournament."

[Apr 5, 2022 at 1:59 pm ET · James Benge]

So how is that City team going to work today?

Guardiola was in a lighthearted mood when asked about his tendency to overcomplicate these sorts of games, joking that he'd name 12 players for today's game. I'm devastated to report that that is not the case and he's played it safe with 11 but how they'll line up is very intriguing indeed.

At full back he has probably opted for Cancelo at right back and Ake on the left to cover for the suspended Kyle Walker, though we did see John Stones go rampaging up the flanks in the last 16 against Sporting. It's at center forward things could get very interesting. No Phil Foden in the XI opens up a few options. UEFA have them as playing Sterling through the middle, flanked by Bernardo and Mahrez.

That's certainly possible but I wouldn't rule out the possibility that it's De Bruyne through the middle with Bernardo in midfield alongside Gundogan. With Jesus, Foden and Grealish on the bench there are certainly options if things aren't working. First world problems, really...

[Apr 5, 2022 at 1:48 pm ET · James Benge]

Teams in full

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Laporte, Ake; Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Sterling
Subs: Steffen, Carson, Jesus, Grealish, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Foden, Egan-Riley, Mbete

Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak; Savic, Felipe, Reinildo; Vrsaljko, Llorente, Kondogbia, Koke, Renan Lodi; Joao Felix, Griezmann
Subs: Lecomte, Christian, De Paul, Suarez, Correa, Lemar, Wass, Matheus Cunha, Hermoso, Javi Serrano, Camara

[Apr 5, 2022 at 1:45 pm ET · James Benge]

Manchester is buzzing

There was a great atmosphere around the city earlier today, a sizeable travelling contingent from Madrid making themselves heard from their vantage point near the cathedral without the suggestion that any trouble might be brewing. Meanwhile City fans were on hand to welcome their coach to the ground with plenty of blue flares, a far cry from when it was said that this ground struggled to get excited for European nights.

[Apr 5, 2022 at 1:40 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Wednesday's broadcast schedule

• UEFA Champions League Today, 2 p.m. ET, Paramount+
• Chelsea vs. Real Madrid, 3 p.m. ET, CBS and Paramount+
• Villarreal vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+
• UEFA Champions League Post-Match Show, 5 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network and Paramount+

[Apr 5, 2022 at 1:35 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

How to watch and odds

• Date: Tuesday, Apr. 5 | Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Etihad Stadium -- Manchester, England
• TV: CBS  | Live stream: Paramount+
• Odds: Manchester City -300; Draw +390; Atletico Madrid +950 (via Caesars Sportsbook) 

[Apr 5, 2022 at 1:28 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Predicted XI

City: Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Laporte, Ake; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Foden, Grealish
Ateti: Oblak; Lodi, Reinildo, Felipe, Savic, Llorente; De Paul, Kondogbia, Koke; Feliz, Griezmann

[Apr 5, 2022 at 1:15 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Tuesday's broadcast schedule

• UEFA Champions League Today, 2 p.m. ET, Paramount+
• Manchester City vs. Atletico Madrid, 3 p.m. ET, CBS and Paramount+
• Benfica vs. Liverpool, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+
• UEFA Champions League Post-Match Show, 5 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network and Paramount+