Manchester Metropolis see off Atletico Madrid to arrange Champions League semi-final with Actual Madrid | Soccer Information – Occasions of India

Manchester City secured the goalless draw they wanted to edge out Atletico Madrid and advance to the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday however the match was marred by a mass brawl late within the sport that continued to rage within the tunnel after full-time.
Police had been seen within the tunnel on the Wanda Metropolitano as video footage confirmed heated arguments breaking out between the gamers, together with Atletico’s Stefan Savic and Metropolis’s Jack Grealish, with workers making an attempt to maintain the gamers aside.
“I did not see it,” stated Diego Simeone. “I used to be on the pitch applauding the followers. By the point I went inside there was no person there.”

Pep Guardiola was requested in regards to the behaviour of Atletico’s gamers. “Nothing to say,” he stated.
The difficulty started on the pitch, as Atletico defender Felipe sparked an enormous brawl within the nook after a taking a wild swipe at Metropolis’s Phil Foden.

Felipe was despatched off however not earlier than a crowd of gamers, substitutes and workers swarmed in.
“We knew it was not a simple place to return, it’s a hostile surroundings, it was a tough evening all spherical and the way we defended and managed ourselves over the 2 legs was unimaginable,” Metropolis defender John Stones advised BT Sport.

Ultimately, Kevin De Bruyne’s first-leg strike final week on the Etihad Stadium proved sufficient for Metropolis to say a 1-0 victory on combination in Madrid, though the Belgian needed to go off with an damage which, if vital, could be a hammer blow to their hopes of successful the treble.

Kyle Walker additionally hobbled off within the second half.
Metropolis will now face Real Madrid, with Liverpool up in opposition to Villarreal within the different semi-final to finish an all Spanish-English line-up within the final 4.

Simeone was extensively criticised for Atletico’s detrimental ways within the first leg and there was solely a minor shift right here, with the plan nonetheless to maintain the sport tight forward of a ultimate push.
Atletico got here shut, spurning a lot of late probabilities, however as a substitute Metropolis advance to the semis for a second consecutive yr, in sight once more of their first Champions League triumph.

“If we play like we did within the second half we have now no probability,” stated Guardiola. “We’re taking part in Actual Madrid, the kings of this competitors. We should undergo.”
After a rousing ceremony earlier than kick-off that noticed the phrases “Delight, Ardour, Feeling” spelt out throughout the gang, Atletico made a stirring begin, harrying Metropolis excessive up the pitch and snapping at their heels in midfield.

Foden was clattered by Felipe, Stefan Savic bulldozed Ilkay Gundogan over and Walker poked a ball out of play, beneath stress from the Atletico press.
However Metropolis survived the early, bodily onslaught and established management, even when Atletico seemed a menace on the break, failing solely with their ultimate go.
Metropolis’s possession ought to have advised halfway by means of the half when an exquisite Riyad Mahrez go launched Walker, whose cross evaded the sliding Atletico defenders and located Foden on the again submit.
He teed up Gundogan for what seemed a easy end however the ball cannoned again off the submit. Within the scramble, Gundogan’s headed rebound was blocked by Felipe.

Atletico, although, surged once more after the restart, the gang coming with them. Antoine Griezmann dipped a volley simply large of the submit, Ederson lashed a nervy punt downfield and Marcos Llorente barged the ball off Joao Cancelo. Guardiola flapped on the sideline, making an attempt to jolt his staff again into life.
With 25 minutes left, De Bruyne was changed by Raheem Sterling and shortly after Simeone determined it was time to assault, Angel Correa, Yannick Carrasco and Rodrigo de Paul all approaching.
De Paul’s first contact was to fireside simply previous the submit and Metropolis had been retreating now, camped in their very own half, accepting or unable to stop the Atletico stress.
Simeone rolled the cube, Luis Suarez and Matheus Cunha thrown on for the final eight minutes.

Within the 86th minute, Correa chested down for Cunha however his end was blocked by the left leg of Stones. From the nook, Ederson didn’t clear and the objective was gaping however Savic was unable to steer in.
A feisty contest erupted on the finish when Foden was taken out once more by Felipe, who swung his leg on the Metropolis midfielder on his method down. A swarm of gamers, substitutes and workers rushed in and it was only some minutes later that Felipe was despatched off.
With 9 minutes of added time, Gundogan ought to have settled it for Metropolis however Atleti survived. De Paul examined Ederson with a free-kick, the Brazilian then parrying away as Correa had the final shot.