Manchester City and Atletico of Madrid have played the first leg of quarter finals of Champions League. This is one of the best matches you can see on Europe and around all the world. Also, the style of these teams are totally different. The team of Pep Guardiola prefers to have possession and build plays little by little. Definitively, “football champagne“. On the other side, we have Cholo Someone´s team. The Argentinian coach prefers to play with counterattacks and endure the matches as much as they can.
The first half of the game was really boring. The script of the qualifying round was written. Atletico woould suffer and City would attack them with all their artillery. Spanish team started with 5 defenders. At the same time City was attacking more and more, Atletico was more defensive. They ended the first 45´minutes with a 5-5. And with City on top of them. Due to this good defensive system, Manchester City did not have any dangerous chances during this first half. However, was strange that City did not score any goal on the last terms of this beginning.
The story would change on the second half. The accumulated fatigue of Cholo´s players and the good shape of City would do that English´s team got ahead. On minute 70´would arrive the only goal of the match. Kevin De Bruyne (MVP of the match) scored a great goal with an assist of Foden. The entry of Phil Foden from the bench changed totally the rhythm of the match. The England player (in addition of the assist to his teammate) did a great performance with good key passes and incredible movements that baffled the defenders of Atletico.
The attack of Spanish team was awful. They did not have any chance during all the 90´minutes. However, this is the match that they had to do. With just a goal in opposition, all is open for the match at Wanda Metropolitano. With the fans and “field factor” they will try to achieve the comeback.
Also, the match was full of mistake by both teams. They completed bad decisions on key moments and bad passes during all the game. If they were more concentrated probably would have been more goals or more chances. “Citizens” may can regret of not having scored more goals. The next week will be the match on Atletico´s home, so we will see if they fight for be on the semifinals of the biggest European tournament.
Jorge Barbero