Diego Simeone might be the one manager mostly impacted negatively by the scrapping of away goal rule in the Champions League as he is a man renowned for his defensive minded tactics which has paid dividends for his side in the past in the competition.
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The Argentine has benefitted from the rule, helped him eliminate the likes of Bayern Munich and Liverpool in the past as just a goal proved enough for progression as long as they defend well and not concede goals at home.
However with that rule no longer in use, the manager and his disciples were able to oust Manchester United in the last round of the Champions League, winning the return leg in Manchester by a lone goal after the first stalemate in Madrid, but in this round, the other Manchester club has notched a golden goal in the first leg in England, putting the 2016 losing finalist in a difficult situation.
Despite Atletico Madrid’s defensive approach in the first leg, Kevin De Bruyne was able to produce a single moment of brilliance to hurt the traveling fans in the second half of the contest, however it is worth plaudits, how discipline Los Colchoneros were at the back throughout the 90 minutes at the Ethiad.
But that in the past, Atletico Madrid will have the most difficult task of beating Manchester City at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday to stand any chance of progression into the last four.
Pep Guardiola had been a victim of Simeone in the knockout rounds of the Champions League in the past, while at Bayern Munich and will surely relish the chance to pay back, now that his side will hold an advantage heading into the return leg in Madrid.
Even though it is a slender 1-0 lead, both side will know it is a massive advantage for City as this is a side with strong defense not easily breakdown, and are very dangerous going forward, giving Atletico an uphill task in their own backyard.
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Manchester City have lost two of their four away games in the Champions League this season, winning only in Belgium to Club Brugge while Atletico Madrid have been without victory against the two English teams to have visited the Wanda Metropolitano this season, losing to Liverpool and drawing to United.
Manchester City have lost just once in their last 23 games across all competitions and are unbeaten in their last 12 away games. Atletico Madrid on the other side have lost their last two games and have failed to score in both.
The La Liga club will surely have a long night against a very demanding Manchester City side as they will probably spend most duration of the game pinned to their own half while there will be few chances on the counter as City will not be too adventurous on the attack because of the lead they already have.
PSG are the only side to beat Manchester City and at the same time prevent them from scoring in the Champions League this season and in that match, City had 18 shots with seven of them hitting the target, which could also well mean a busy night for Jan Oblak in the Atletico goal.
Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid need a win to remain in the competition but it will be a very tough job yet not impossible. It will be interesting to see how it goes on Wednesday night in Madrid.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
