It may not have been the most thrilling of first legs but Manchester City claimed control of their Champions League quarter final with a 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium last week. The question going into this game is whether Atletico Madrid can offer the attacking thrust on home soil needed to test Ederson.
Certainly Diego Simeone’s side are heavy underdogs in a battle between the champions of Spain and England but such a rule tends to suit the Atleti manager and his players. Meanwhile Pep Guardiola is not always the most comfortable of favorites. Might the Champions League have one more upset left in these quarter finals? Here is how you can
Pep Guardiola’s men take a one-goal to the Wanda Metropolitano for the second leg of their quarter-final after Kevin De Bruyne bagged the only goal of the game a week ago in Manchester.
Last season’s runners-up in the competition come into the match on the back of a thrilling 2-2 draw at home to title rivals Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday that has kept them top of the Premier League by a point.
But the Champions League remains the one major trophy to have eluded them in their history. Guardiola, who won the tournament as Barcelona head coach in 2008 and 2011, is also anxious us to win the competition again himself having been unable to win it for a third time at Bayern Munich or with City, at least until now.
Atletico have reached the final of the competition three times. They lost to Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016, having previously suffered a heavy aggregate defeat in the European Cup final of 1974.
It will be their city rivals who they would meet in the semi-finals if they do manage to overturn their deficit against City, with Madrid awaiting the victors in the last four after they beat Chelsea 5-4 on aggregate.
watch the match and what you need to know:
Viewing information
Date: Wednesday, April 13 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Wanda Metropolitana — Madrid
TV/Live stream: Paramount+
Odds: Manchester City -700; Draw +650; Sporting +1800 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
City were impressive over the weekend in their 2-2 draw against Liverpool, which maintained their slim advantage at the top of the Premier League table, and now their focus turns to a competition the club are desperate to win more than any other.
Whoever gets through tonight will face Real Madrid in the semi-finals, after Carlo Ancelotti’s side got the better of Chelsea in a thrilling quarter-final tie.
City come into Wednesday’s second-leg tie following a frustrating 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League, while Atletico suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat in La Liga on Saturday – losing to 17th placed Mallorca.
Atletico Madrid have failed to beat both Liverpool and Manchester United at home already this season, and were unable to register a single attempt during last week’s first-leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Ahead of Manchester City’s massive trip to Madrid to face the La Liga Champions for a spot in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, here is all the latest team news regarding both teams.