MADRID: Manchester Town secured the goalless draw they had to edge out Atletico Madrid and advance to the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday however the fit was once marred via a mass brawl past due within the recreation that persevered to rage within the tunnel after full-time. Police had been observed within the tunnel on the Wanda Metropolitano as video pictures confirmed heated arguments breaking out between the gamers, together with Atletico’s Stefan Savic and Town’s Jack Grealish, with group of workers looking to stay the gamers aside. “I didn’t see it,” mentioned Diego Simeone. “I used to be at the pitch applauding the fanatics. By the point I went inside of there was once no one there.” Pep Guardiola was once requested in regards to the conduct of Atletico’s gamers. “Not anything to mention,” he mentioned.
The difficulty started at the pitch, as Atletico defender Felipe sparked an enormous brawl within the nook after a taking a wild swipe at Town’s Phil Foden. Felipe was once despatched off however no longer prior to a crowd of gamers, substitutes and group of workers swarmed in. “We knew it was once no longer a very easy position to come back, this can be a antagonistic surroundings, it was once a troublesome night time all spherical and the way we defended and regulated ourselves over the 2 legs was once improbable,” Town defender John Stones advised BT Game.
After all, Kevin De Bruyne’s first-leg strike closing week on the Etihad Stadium proved sufficient for Town to say a 1-0 victory on combination in Madrid, despite the fact that the Belgian needed to cross off with an harm which, if important, can be a hammer blow to their hopes of profitable the treble. Kyle Walker additionally hobbled off in the second one part. Town will now face Actual Madrid, with Liverpool up towards Villarreal within the different semi-final to finish an all Spanish-English line-up within the closing 4.
Simeone was once extensively criticized for Atletico’s adverse techniques within the first leg and there was once just a minor shift right here, with the plan nonetheless to stay the sport tight forward of a last push. Atletico got here shut, spurning various past due possibilities, however as an alternative Town advance to the semis for a 2d consecutive yr, in sight once more in their first Champions League triumph. “If we play like we did in the second one part we haven’t any likelihood,” mentioned Guardiola. “We’re enjoying Actual Madrid, the kings of this pageant. We will be able to need to undergo.”
After a rousing rite prior to kick-off that noticed the phrases “Delight, Hobby, Feeling” spelt out around the crowd, Atletico made a stirring get started, harrying Town top up the pitch and snapping at their heels in midfield. Foden was once clattered via Felipe, Stefan Savic bulldozed Ilkay Gundogan over and Walker poked a ball out of play, underneath tension from the Atletico press. However Town survived the early, bodily onslaught and established keep an eye on, although Atletico appeared a danger at the wreck, failing most effective with their last cross.
Gundogan hits put up
Town’s ownership must have advised halfway in the course of the part when an attractive Riyad Mahrez cross launched Walker, whose move kept away from the sliding Atletico defenders and located Foden on the again put up. He teed up Gundogan for what appeared a easy end however the ball cannoned back down the put up. Within the scramble, Gundogan’s headed rebound was once blocked via Felipe.
Atletico, although, surged once more after the restart, the group coming with them. Antoine Griezmann dipped a volley simply broad of the put up, Ederson lashed a nervy punt downfield and Marcos Llorente barged the ball off Joao Cancelo. Guardiola flapped at the sideline, looking to jolt his group again into lifestyles. With 25 mins left, De Bruyne was once changed via Raheem Sterling and shortly after Simeone determined it was once time to assault, Angel Correa, Yannick Carrasco and Rodrigo de Paul all approaching.
De Paul’s first contact was once to fireplace simply previous the put up and Town had been taking flight now, camped in their very own part, accepting or not able to stop the Atletico drive. Simeone rolled the cube, Luis Suarez and Matheus Cunha thrown on for the closing 8 mins. Within the 86th minute, Correa chested down for Cunha however his end was once blocked via the left leg of Stones. From the nook, Ederson didn’t transparent and the purpose was once gaping however Savic was once not able to influence in.
A feisty contest erupted on the finish when Foden was once taken out once more via Felipe, who swung his leg on the Town midfielder on his manner down. A swarm of gamers, substitutes and group of workers rushed in and it was once only some mins later that Felipe was once despatched off. With 9 mins of added time, Gundogan must have settled it for Town however Atleti survived. De Paul examined Ederson with a free-kick, the Brazilian then parrying away as Correa had the closing shot. – AFP