It is not very often that Manchester City’s defenders get to be the heroes. They are usually the guys who knock it around peacefully at the back, creating the build-up, and then give the ball to the magic men further up the field.
But on a riotous, red-raw night at the Wanda Metropolitano, they shone like beacons amidst the darkness of Atletico’s thuggery and skulduggery. The Spanish champions ended up without Felipe - red-carded for his part in a 20-man bout of shoving sparked by the ill-treatment of Phil Foden, his head still bandaged from the first half smash he took from the same defender’s shoulder.
It was a terrible shame that Atleti felt the need to resort to such unpleasantness because at times in the second half they showed just what a good football team they are, albeit against a City team that ran out of steam after the efforts of Sunday against Liverpool.
