Atletico Madrid

The biggest obstacle to Pep Guardiola winning another Champions League, it is widely accepted, is Pep Guardiola. There cannot be a Manchester City knockout ...

It is a vulnerability in the method: to call it a flaw is misleading because it is what makes them great – and in football, no blanket is ever big enough. Bayern’s defeat to Barcelona in 2015 was readily explicable: Barça were the better side, and Guardiola gambled on surprising and unsettling them by pressing high and operating a back three in the Camp Nou and it didn’t work. Imagine the alternative: imagine the mockery if he just kept sending out his sides with the same approach and they kept being caught on the counter. It may be that better sides are less intimidated by the high press, are better able to exploit that vulnerability. His Barcelona had lost implausibly to Internazionale and Chelsea in semi‑finals in 2010 and 2012. They had lost in the Champions League semi-final in the two previous seasons: unpicked on the break by Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid in 2014 and blown away in the first leg by Luis Enrique’s Barcelona in 2015. Lewandowski levelled the aggregate scores with 16 minutes left and Torres missed a penalty but Atlético went through on away goals. They had the better of all but about 25 minutes of the 180 and scored as many goals as Atlético. And they were out. Guardiola had left out Thomas Müller for the first leg, in Spain, a decision that provoked consternation and, perhaps, increased the pressure. But nine minutes into the second half, Atlético caught them on the break, Torres playing in Antoine Griezmann to equalise. Guardiola identified a vulnerability between Filipe Luís, Atlético’s left-back, and Stefan Savic, the left-sided centre-back. This perhaps is the flip side of the experience.

Atlético Madrid is facing a decisive week for their hopes in the closing stages of the 2021-2022 season, facing the double competition (domestic and ...

This would mean the almost certain departure from the club of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, who will have to find a new destination to arrive in full fitness and form for the World Cup in Qatar to be held next November. Saturday’s game will be the final test for the Colchoneros before their crucial clash against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League quarter-finals. Alavés, meanwhile, have a dismal away record in the league, picking up just 6 points out of a possible 42 in that condition.

Braces from Suárez and João Félix secured Atleti's sixth straight league win.

In extra time he struck again with a run into the area and a deft finish at the far post. A strong performance in the midfield, highlighted by his physicality and accurate long balls over the top. Picked up a knock to the head in the first half but played through and came up with some much-needed clearances. Had a calm presence in the back, in both his defending and passing. He knocked on the door early by making a run-and-cross to set up a Thomas Lemar goal, but it was called back for offside. Was put in positions of pressure early on in the match from Alavés and did well to take command of the ball when necessary.

Diego Simeone's side head to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday for the first leg of their quarter-final clash.

While City comfortably saw off Burnley with a 2-0 win at Turf Moor, Atletico thrashed Alaves 4-1 at the Wanda Metropolitano. Something went wrong, please try again later. Something went wrong, please try again later.

Joao Felix and Luis Suarez both bagged braces as Atletico Madrid thrashed Alaves 4-1 on Saturday night at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Joao Felix and Luis Suarez were on target as Atletico Madrid beat Deportivo Alaves to rack up a sixth straight LaLiga win.

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Atlético Madrid celebrated, on Saturday evening, its victory over its guest, Alaves, who finished last, in the 30th round of the Spanish Football League.

Alaves returns to last place. After changing sides, Alaves managed to equalize somewhat surprisingly (63) through Gonzalo Escalante – also with a header. Joao Felix puts the hosts ahead after a perfect cross from Vrsaljko (11). After that, the Madridists decide the match, but there are few big chances.

Joao Felix and Luis Suarez scored twice each as Atletico ran out winners despite receiving a scare from bottom-side Alaves.

Atletico Madrid have prepared for their midweek trip to Manchester City with a ruthless 4-1 La Liga home win over Alaves.

João Félix with the opener for Atletico Madrid! 🔴⚪ Los Rojiblancos head to Manchester in their Champions League quarter final first leg with Diego Simeone’s side still fighting for a Top Four spot in domestic action in 2021/22. Atletico Madrid have prepared for their midweek trip to Manchester City with a ruthless 4-1 La Liga home win over Alaves.

Of course, it also guaranteed Atletico Madrid a spot in this season's Champions League quarterfinals courtesy of a clinical, and stereotypical, 1-0 win at Old ...

This speaks to the disparity between this season’s Atletico side and those of the past. This season is more lacking of the Cholismo, the defining tactic of Atleti for ages. For now, the depth of Atleti’s bench will be stretched when it comes to defense. The main reason they are still contending for a Champions League place is because of offense. Over that time, Diego Simeone’s side fell out of the Supercopa de España and Copa del Rey. Simultaneously, the side plummeted down the LaLiga table, a consequence of Atletico Madrid’s inconsistent season. Take a 3-2 loss to Liverpool that endangered their hopes at a Champions League title in the group stage. His pressure against a vaunted Liverpool defense pushed momentum in favor of the hosts. The rest of the season has been the same old story: Atletico Madrid rising and falling and rising to fourth, fiercely contending with many other clubs for a Champions League spot. Despite adding elite players to an already great and well-organized side, this season is a living nightmare for Atletico. The side’s league struggles are one thing. It saw off Liverpool in the Champions League round of 16 in the 2019/20 season, despite Liverpool entering as the defending champions and eventual Premier League winners. They conceded the least goals in the league, 25. Of course, it also guaranteed Atletico Madrid a spot in this season’s Champions League quarterfinals courtesy of a clinical, and stereotypical, 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

Karim Benzema and Joao Felix ensured Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid claimed morale-boosting victories in LaLiga on Saturday before facing the Premier ...

Joao Felix and Luis Suarez scored twice each as Atletico ran out winners despite receiving a scare from bottom-side Alaves.

Atletico Madrid went third in LaLiga after doubles from Joao Felix and Luis Suarez sealed a 4-1 vict...

James Maddison laid on the assist for Iheanacho, and has now been directly involved in 21 goals in all competitions this season (13 goals, eight assists), four more than any other Leicester player; only in 2017-18 with Norwich has he been involved in more goals in a single campaign (26 – 15 goals, 11 assists). No side has ever gone through an entire Premier League campaign without dropping points when ahead before. Brentford had other ideas at Stamford Bridge as they came from 1-0 down to ease to their first victory in nine meetings against the Blues in all competitions since a 3-1 away win in the top-flight in February 1939. City are the only side yet to drop a single point from a winning position in the Premier League this season, winning all 23 games in which they have led. Liverpool are back in the title race after having won 10 consecutive Premier League games, becoming just the second side to embark on such a run on five separate occasions after City (also five). Having not had any changes of leader since the turn of the year, it was a novelty to see it change twice in one day, albeit with a familiar look at the end as Liverpool and Manchester City both recorded wins.

Karim Benzema and Joao Felix ensured Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid claimed morale-boosting victories in La Liga on Saturday.

Chelsea lost today at home so they will want to come back strong on Wednesday. We have to give more. We lacked a bit of intensity today and we can't do that because that's one of Chelsea's strengths. And Atletico Madrid sailed past Alaves 4-1 before their trip to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Tuesday, the in-form Felix scoring twice, with Luis Suarez adding a brace of his own after coming on as a substitute.

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Champions League clash between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, including predictions, team news and possible.

Simeone's Atletico have been nothing if not resilient when at their best - Man United found that out well enough - and with Simeone having almost all of his big-hitters available, we can envisage the in-form Colchoneros holding Guardiola's men to a score draw before the return leg in the Spanish capital. Tuesday's first leg will mark the first-ever competitive meeting between Man City and Atletico, but Guardiola and Simeone have locked horns as managers three times, with the latter getting the better of his counterpart's Bayern Munich side in the 2015-16 Champions League. Having already seen off one Manchester-based outfit this season, Atletico Madrid travel to the Etihad to face Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night.

Spanish champions run out 4-1 winners ahead of Champions League clash with Manchester City.

"Good thing is that we recovered quickly and managed to score after they tied the match. "I'm not used to be in the bench, it's all new for me but I'm a professional," Suarez said. "The team keeps getting better, although we relaxed after the break and that is dangerous," Simeone said as Atletico switch their attention to Tuesday's Uefa Champions League quarter-final first leg at Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola will be hoping to have John Stones back when Manchester City welcome Atletico Madrid to the Etihad on Tuesday night.

As ever, Guardiola has a number of options in attacking areas. Kyle Walker is also unavailable, as he completes his three-match suspension after picking up a red card in City’s final group-stage match against RB Leipzig. “I don’t know how long, the doctor said four to six weeks,” Guardiola said.

Find out how you can watch Manchester City's Champions League quarter-final clash with Atletico Madrid on TV from wherever you are in the world.

Highlights will be available to watch later in the evening and CITY+ subscribers will be able to watch the entire 90 minutes from midnight after the game. You can also tune in to our Matchday Live show which begins one hour before kick-off and is available on all our digital platforms, including our Matchday Centre. If you are unable to tune in, you can follow minute-by-minute updates in our Matchday Centre on mancity.com and the Man City App from 18:00, whilst key moments will be covered on Twitter: @ManCity.