City play Atletico at their own game
After Manchester City failed to establish a two-goal lead in the tie, Atletico Madrid naturally pushed forwards for an aggregate equaliser as this game wore on, causing some nervy moments in the City defence - not helped by Kyle Walker's injury.
Pep Guardiola knew exactly what to do, though, as he brought on Fernandinho and took off two attacking players. City started to run the clock down, stay down after free kicks and show less attacking intent. Just as Atletico had done for the previous three-quarters of the tie, and much to their ironic annoyance. Raheem Sterling even picked up the ball to award himself a free kick and eat up valuable seconds.
The jeers and whistles from the Atletico crowd showed how effective it was, as the Blues saw the tie out by playing Atletico at their own game. They beat them in the first leg by playing football, and saw out the win in Madrid by playing smart. In the end, it was Atletico who lost their heads as they saw red, and City kept theirs to book a Champions League semi-final place.
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Stones celebration provides match-winning moment
With five minutes left at the Wanda Metropolitano, time froze. Angel Correa chested down a ball forward in the box, and Matheus Cunha looked certain to volley home for Atletico and break Manchester City's resistance. Not if John Stones had anything to say about it.
Stones put himself in the way however he could, and somehow blocked Cunha's goal-bound effort as it deflected over the bar. He reacted by celebrating with Aymeric Laporte as if they'd just scored at the other end. As it happened, it was a match-winning tackle, and will deserve as much praise as his clearance vs Liverpool in 2019, and Rodri's block at Anfield this season.
Magic Mahrez but Gutted Grealish
It was a surprise when Riyad Mahrez was dropped for Gabriel Jesus at the weekend, who did his chances of more games no harm with a good performance against Liverpool.
But with Jesus suspended at Atletico, Mahrez was restored and showed why he fought his way to first choice on the right. He was energetic throughout and his outside-of-the-boot ball to create City's best first-half chance deserved a goal but Ilkay Gundogan eventually hit the post. If Jesus worked his way back up the pecking order on Saturday, Mahrez might have overtaken him again.
On the other wing, Jack Grealish has now been overlooked in City's four Champions League knockout games this season, as well as against Liverpool at the weekend. Guardiola has clearly opted for experience in these games, so Grealish may not get a recall in the Champions League again this season.
Five starters 'confirmed' vs Liverpool?
With little between these sides, Guardiola couldn't afford to do any thinking about Saturday's FA Cup semi-final with Liverpool, while Jurgen Klopp made seven changes in his Champions League game. Guardiola made just two changes from the side that drew with Liverpool in the Premier League, with seven players starting all three high intensity games this week.
Sterling's drop to the bench and Jesus' absence could see them start at Wembley, with Ruben Dias' return to the squad another option to mix things up. Zack Steffen will play as it's an FA Cup game, and you'd expect Grealish to have a point to prove after failing to start any of the last three games. That could be five starters against Liverpool effectively confirmed after an intensive period.
Liverpool boost over City in two competitions
Liverpool had that luxury of making seven changes for their own European quarter-final, resting Virgil Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane. Benfica made them work for victory at Anfield, but Liverpool's second string did enough to progress to the semi-finals relatively easily. With City picking up injury concerns for Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker, Liverpool will certainly be the fresher side at Wembley on Saturday in the FA Cup.
Their semi-final against Villarreal will fall between a run of big Premier League games against Everton, Newcastle and Tottenham - all games City might be hoping they slip up in - so a supposedly-easier last-four clash against the Spaniards could also help them in the Premier League.
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