Guardiola unfazed as City prepares for Champions League showdown with Atletico

 

Atletico Madrid will face Manchester City in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie at Etihad Stadium.

Atleti are on a six-game winning streak and unbeaten in seven matches and go into the game on the back of an emphatic 4-1 win at the weekend against Alaves in the La Liga.

They also got past Manchester United on aggregate in the last round of the UEFA Champions League, only to now face their city rivals.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone explained his expectations although he mildly agrees his team is the underdog in the tie.

“We all have pressure, but I think it is a matter of responsibility. I have no doubt that City has extraordinary players, maybe they have better players than us, but it’s just two games,” Simeone said.

While speaking on the comparison of Manchester United and Manchester City, Diego Simeone stated that the Red Devils’ style of play is different from Manchester City’s dominant approach to the game while acknowledging that his team has to do more than what they do did against United to get a victory.

Meanwhile, Uruguayan defender Jose Gimenez will miss the game due to injury after leaving the 4-1 victory against Alaves at the weekend. He is also a doubt for the second leg next week.

Atletico Madrid is third on the La Liga table with 57 points same as Barcelona in second and Sevilla in third.

Manchester City, on the other hand, won their weekend Premier League fixture with a 2-0 win against Burnley at Turf Moor, where they returned to the top of the table as Liverpool temporarily sat thereafter a 2-0 win against Watford.

Manchester City still has a point advantage over Liverpool as both teams prepare to face each other next weekend.

 

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu