Atlético de Madrid and Manchester City stole the ‘show’ in the Champions League

Yeison Daniel Fajardo Bohórquez February 22, 2019

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Both managers obtained valuable results in the first leg of their respective series, in the case of Atletico, they left in check the team of Cristiano Ronaldo

Atlético de Madrid and Manchester City stole the 'show' in the Champions League

Atlético de Madrid and Manchester City took advantage in the second week of the first leg of the knockout stages of the Champions League. The Manzanares beat Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus, while the 'Citizens' defeated visiting Schalke 04 in Germany. In the remaining keys, Lyon vs. Barcelona and Liverpool vs. Bayern Munich did not hurt and registered the same result: 0-0.

Leer en español: Atlético de Madrid y Manchester City se robaron el 'show' en la Champions League

One of the most advantageous of his rival, without a doubt, was Atlético de Madrid: he won 2-0 at home, against a powerful and well-armed Juventus with Cristiano Ronaldo, and goes to Turin with two goals up; a more than satisfactory advantage considering how well defensive is the 'Atleti'.

The defender Diego Godín, and author of one of the goals 'colchoneros', highlighted a key aspect of the triumph over the 'Vecchia Signora'. "The small details made a difference," the 'charrúa' said on UEFA's official website. That same highlights the portal of La Vanguardia, which flatters that Atletico has regained the memory to take advantage of the ball.

Another high point, according to the portal, was the efficiency facing the rival goal. Simeone's side took the win with only 32% of possession. And it finishes highlighting the traditional claw that Atleti always prints in each match, the effort of its players and the good run that it has against Italian teams.

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City showed authority

Manchester City was the other winner of this second week of Champions. In Germany, he won 3-2 over Schalke 04 and left the series almost liquidated. Despite this, coach Josep Guardiola was not at all happy with the performance of his team and even dares to think that against a rival of more carats could be left out of the Champions League.

"The result is incredible, we made three away goals and that's very good, but we conceded two goals and we had a red card, and at this level, we have no chance of winning the title, we are not yet ready to fight for the Champions League." Pep said after the meeting, in statements quoted by Libero.pe.

In this way, the City helmsman believes that many aspects should be improved and changed before thinking about the Champions League title. And it is that the 'citizen' were down on the scoreboard until the 85th minute when the magic of Leroy Sané appeared to unlock the match and equalize the actions. Finally, the visitor won with an agonizing of Raheem Sterling.

Barcelona continues with the closed arch

The one that did not have it easy in the first match was the Barcelona of Leo Messi, who was in front a hardened Lyon that stood up to him during the match and left the score open for the return in the Camp Nou: 0-0.

The coach Ernesto Valverde could not hide his concern and said after the meeting, cited by Marca, that "it is a dangerous result" since a Lyon goal would force Barcelona to do immediately two to get up in the series.

Exactly, the Madrid newspaper highlights some clues that weighed the 'Blaugrana' in the first leg and it will be important to correct for the clash at the Camp Nou. In the first place, Luis Suarez's scoring drought is "worrisome", and that has influenced the Barcelona side to have scored only two goals in their last four matches, one of them via the penalty kick.

Second, the lack of a game generator in the midfield. Marca reviews that the Brazilian Arthur, who had been a solution in principle for Valverde, now does not seem so affirmed in his position. Added to that, he has not found that key player in Arturo Vidal either. With Ivan Rakitic and Sergi Roberto has tried to impose a midfield that is still more under construction.

And to add insult to injury notes the media, Messi seems not to find the highest curve of his level at a key moment of the season. Although in the League his performance seems indisputable, in this start of the Champions League he has left doubts. "It is more imprecise and less clairvoyant. In this section, a goal, and a penalty, "says an aside from Marca's analysis.

Finally, one of the most attractive keys of these round of sixteen, starring Bayern Munich and Liverpool, left a pale 0-0 to be unlocked in the rematch to play in the Allianz Arena.

The analysis of the result could translate in the defensive bet that Niko Kovac did and that went to perfection him. In that sense, a summary of AFP and published by La Nación highlights the offensive power that Liverpool wanted to propose in the initial stage; He overturned his trident composed of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Roberto Firmino, and constantly released dangerous men like Naby Keita and Joel Matip.

In as much, sport.es described the game as "bad" and that in its development it was of "more to less". Equally, it agrees that the 'reds' were the ones who sought with more insistence the rival portico, but were stopped by the good approach and the concentration of the men of Bayern. The media emphasizes that Bayern left-back David Alaba "drowned" with his constant mark the Egyptian Salah.

In that way, neutralizing the key players, Bayern drew a draw at home but must go home to kill or win because this score would send the series to overtime, also must be careful not to receive a goal against.