6:30 PM ET
Rob DawsonCorrespondent
MADRID — On a night when Atletico Madrid tried everything to make Manchester City lose their heads, Pep Guardiola’s players showed they have the steel as well as the silk to win the Champions League.
By the end, it was the home side who lost their cool when Brazilian defender Felipe was sent off in the aftermath of a confrontation in the corner that involved most of the 22 players and backroom staff from both benches.
That Atletico’s frustration eventually boiled over was credit to the way Man City managed an awkward tie amid the mayhem to see out the game 0-0 and hold the aggregate at 1-0, setting up a semifinal with Real Madrid later this month. It wasn’t pretty, but it doesn’t always have to be.
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The night ended after more than 13 minutes of stoppage time with Guardiola being pelted by bottles as he left the pitch and with police pulling apart players from both sides in the tunnel after Stefan Savic had raced after Jack Grealish. If City can come through this, they can get through anything.
“Nothing to say,” said Guardiola afterwards when asked about the melee on the pitch and in the tunnel. “It’s always difficult with these people in this stadium. “It’s a big compliment for the players. We gave everything. We have to live these kind of situations. We suffered.
“We can’t expect that we’re going to make everything marvelous against the champions of Spain. The opponent was really, really good.”
Backed by fierce support inside the Wanda Metropolitano, Atletico set out their plan to literally knock City out of their rhythm as early as the first minute. At the Etihad last week, they didn’t look keen to engage with City’s blue shirts much beyond the edge of their own penalty area but at home they suddenly found a whole other half to play in.
Savic quickly came charging out of defence to thunder into the back of Ilkay Gundogan in the centre circle, and Kyle Walker was forced into a slip after Diego Simeone had roared his players…
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