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Manchester City edge through to Champions League semi-finals after tense draw

Manchester City secured a Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid after a 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. 

A 1-0 win at home last week in the first leg had meant Man City only needed a draw to get though into the final four.

Pep Guardiola started Phil Foden at the Wanda Metropolitano after the England man’s heroics from the bench in the first leg last week.

Foden arrived as a second half sub at The Etihad and promptly fed Kevin de Bruyne with a brilliant pass for the only goal of the game.

Guardiola made two changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Liverpool on Sunday.

Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez started with Raheem Sterling, who reverted to the bench, and the suspended Gabriel Jesus making way.

Ruben Dias, out since the start of March with a thigh injury, was also among the substitutes.

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0-0 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/gdPv1yXPyF

— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 13, 2022

Atletico were widely criticised for their defensive tactics in the first leg but they showed greater attacking intent early on.

Still their tough side was on display, however, with Felipe catching Phil Foden with a heavy challenge from behind and leaving the City midfielder needing to be bandaged around the head.

City had the first serious opportunity of the game just before the half-hour mark when Gundogan hit the post after good link up play between Mahrez and Kyle Walker.

While Atletico earned their first shot of the tie when Geoffrey Kondogbia’s effort from 25 yards deflected off De Bruyne and into the arms of Ederson.

Atletico on the attack

Atletico started the second half on the front foot with a corner, while Thomas Lemar cut inside and tried to get a shot in which Rodri blocked.

Joao Felix did get his head to a Marcos Llorente cross from the right, but it was just to high for the Portuguese star.

And on 57 minutes Atletico came as close as they had in the tie to scoring when Felix laid the ball off to Antoine Griezamann. But the France star fired just wide from the edge of the box.

Sub Rodrigo De Paul then fired wide with his first touch as the ball was laid into him just inside the right side of the penalty area.

De Paul then volleyed wide after a cross from the left found him in space.

Angel Correa then blasted wide from a tight angle as Atletico tried to turn the screw.

Luis Suarez was given a run out with eight minutes to go with Diego Simeone ringing the changes.

Correa chested the ball down for Matheus Cunha, but his shot was deflected off target by a brilliant John Stones block.

Felipe was then sent off in stoppage time after a melee broke out on the touchline after Foden had been fouled.

But City almost grabbed a goal themselves when sub Sterling fed Gundogan, but Jan Oblak kept his effort out.

Correa then smashed a shot towards goal that Ederson shovelled away, but City stood firm to line up a clash with Atletico’s local rivals.

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