On a night that was largely one-way traffic at the Etihad on Tuesday, Manchester City picked up a Champions League first-leg advantage as they secured a 1-0 victory against Atletico Madrid.
Hardly having to get out of second gear and backed by a vocal home support, Pep Guardiola’s side will be hoping for a similar affair when they make the trip out to Spain next week.
Watching attacking talisman Kevin De Bruyne bag what could turn out to be a crucial winner as the Belgian playmaker produced a smart finish with 20 minutes left on the clock, Guardiola was filled with praise for his side’s display.
In what occasionally erupted into a heated affair at the Etihad, we have taken a look at the main talking points as Manchester City moved themselves into pole position.
Is this finally City’s year?
Marking their return from March’s international break with a routine 2-0 win away at relegation scrappers Burnley last weekend, it is no secret that Manchester United have their sights set on doing the double this season.
Still holding a one-point buffer over fellow Champions League quarter-finalists Liverpool in the race to reclaim their domestic crown, Guardiola knows that it is critical that his side take things one game at a time.
Breezing their way past Sporting Lisbon last month as they claimed a first-leg 5-0 romp on foreign soil, the question still remains, is this finally Manchester City’s year to lift their first European title?
Left heartbroken out in Portugal last season as they watched Chelsea claim their second Champions League trophy thanks to a 1-0 victory, European success is the only thing that has alluded City since their blockbuster takeover back in 2008.
With many across the continent still tipping the former Bayern Munich boss to get his hands on Europe’s most prestigious title for the first time since 2011 this time around, City certainly impressed on Tuesday night.
Able to welcome England international Kyle Walker back from suspension when they travel to Spain next week, Guardiola will simply be hoping to avoid a banana skin on foreign soil.
The KDB & Foden effect
Producing over 400 passes in the first-half alone and completely dominating proceedings from the opening whistle, Tuesday’s contest at the Etihad was largely just screaming out for someone to put the ball in the net.
With Atletico putting every man behind the ball and defending from the edge of their 18-yard box, it was no surprise to see Manchester City’s attacking talisman hand them a crucial first-leg advantage.
Popping up in the box with just 20 minutes on the clock and producing a slick finish under Jan Oblak, fans around the blue half of Manchester will be hugely excited by Kevin De Bruyne’s recent purple patch.
Once again finding the net away at Turf Moor on his return from the international break last weekend, the one-time Chelsea star has now bagged five goals in as many appearances for Guardiola’s side across all competitions.
However, while the Belgian playmaker might steal most of the headlines on Tuesday night, England international Phil Foden deserves plenty of praise for a wonderful cameo appearance off the bench.
producing a stunning pass to get an assist for De Bruyne’s second-half winner, the 21-year-old certainly underlined why City are so desperate to tie their homegrown gem down to a new deal.
The same trick doesn’t work for Atletico
Heading into March’s international break after shocking Manchester United at Old Trafford with a 1-0 victory, Atletico would have been desperate to pick up another notable Premier League scalp.
However, while Diego Simeone’s ultra-rugged approach might have seen them come past a struggling United side last month, the Colchoneros failed to gain any kind of foothold in proceedings here.
Really losing their focus during the final stages and watching right-back Šime Vrsaljko get into several altercations with Jack Grealish, Atletico will know that they face a huge task next week.
Making the trip to the Etihad on Tuesday night enjoying a six-match winning run across all competitions, Simeone should also have a real headache over his side’s extended European issues at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Including defeats against both Liverpool and Chelsea, Atletico have remarkably failed to win any of their last seven straight Champions League appearances on home soil, a run that stems all the way back to October 2020.
Failing to ask any real questions of the Premier League leaders and largely outclassed by Guardiola in the battle of the dugouts, Atletico already know that they will need somewhat of a miracle following their 1-0 loss here.
Match Report:
Manchester City: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Laporte, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne, Gündogan, Sterling, Silva. Mahrez
Subs: Foden, Jesus, Grealish
Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Vrsaljko, Savic, Felipe, Mandava, Lodi, Koke, Kondogbia, Llorente, Griezmann, Felix
Subs: Cunha, de Paul, Correa, Lemar
Goals: De Bruyne 70′
Yellow Cards: Manchester City: Jesus, Ederson – Atletico Madrid: de Paul, Correa, Vrsaljko
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: István Kovács
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