Narration and statistics This is how we live the game
The clause Who is the coward?, by Iñako Díaz-Guerra
If you have to die, always better to do it with honor.
Atlético tried to circumvent the scaffold by wrinkling a Manchester City that, for much of the tie, seemed from another galaxy.
He did not hit the key before the goal, but the stands ended up roaring for what he has just experienced.
His life was exhausted in that last shot by Correa.
His honor was left intact.
[Narration and stats: 0-0]
There were just over 10 minutes left before kick-off and Joao Félix and Koke continued to shoot on goal over the south end goal.
They were still hurrying with the training shirt on.
Sharpening the aim, obviously, was part of the plan to find a tickle in Manchester City.
To make possible that dream of being in the semifinals that seemed like a pipe dream on the Etihad lawn last week.
It was the rojiblanco captain who showed a few times, not far from the Portuguese, since Griezmann awaited a night of hard work along the right side.
Atlético, how could it be otherwise, started with a spirit and intentions that were very different from those of the first round.
Another very different thing was to manage to enter the Ederson area with danger.
The presence of Lemar in the center of the field, with more precision than in recent weeks, facilitated some rojiblanco threat.
But City hardly fretted throughout the first half.
After half an hour, Kondogbia tried his luck.
125 minutes of qualifying had elapsed to witness the first shot on goal by Simeone's team.
The shot, bitten, was left more for statistics than for anything else.
Oblak and Savic face several City players. EFE
Because life often leaves you no choice but to forget your fears.
To keep all fear and caution in a locked drawer.
Atlético did it halfway.
Nor did he want to go crazy, knowing how Guardiola's boys spend it in the open field.
Everyone had seen the lightning exchange on Sunday against Liverpool on television.
That's why no one was surprised that the first big occasion of the night, between the walls of a shocking Metropolitano, dressed a bit of that mystique worn by old Vicente Calderón, was enjoyed by the British team.
Mahrez took a ball to Lodi's back out of his hat that only he saw and Walker, swift and menacing, directed the ball into the heart of the area.
If it didn't lead to a goal, it was because Gündogan ran into the post and Felipe, so clever on that occasion,
like past revolutions in another, he put out the fire with his chest.
The Brazilian defender had it in a jump with Foden, which ended with the head of the poisonous English footballer cumbersomely bandaged.
Atlético walked to the locker room a considerable distance from something resembling a comeback.
City's game started from the boots of its goalkeeper Ederson, to take possession of the ball, as usual, weaving a spider web difficult to decipher.
Joao Félix chased shadows above alone.
The second act started with Griezmann dawning like a bullet down the wing and entering the City area, but Laporte quelled the revolt.
Atlético, reconfigured to a defense of four, had woken up.
Because there was no possible alibi for not turning over the Ederson area.
Llorente stretched on the right flank and Joao was able to finish off his first ball, albeit with little skill.
The rojiblanco team was animated, aware that death was lurking.
That he had started his countdown in Europe.
That is why he got rid of any complex and, perhaps for the first time in the entire tie, looked fearlessly into the eyes of the English team.
In the band, Guardiola and Simeone, Simeone and Guardiola gave their lives in the technical area, convinced that their fuss would be reflected on the green.
As if from there they could be able to change the destiny of the planet.
El Cholo tried it with a triple change and De Paul, one of the newcomers, whispered with a right hand Ederson's squad.
One more march with which he ended up squeezing the morale of a City with his tongue out.
Hence the entry to the rescue of Fernandinho.
The Metropolitan was shaken to see the feat possible.
And Cunha and Suárez showed up for that last puff.
For that goal that never came, despite having the almighty City on edge for a long time.
Atlético's adventure in this Champions League came to an end last night,
but no one can blame him for the way he chose to part with that last breath of life.
With that last release from Correa.
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Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeon
Pep Guardiola