Pep Guardiola has pinpointed the great quality that makes Atletico Madrid difficult opponents for Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final. The reigning champions of England and Spain will meet in just over a fortnight, with a semi-final tie against either Chelsea or Real Madrid the prize for the winner.
The Blues will face Atletico over two legs in the space of eight days, the first meeting being at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday April 5 and the return at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on Wednesday April 13.
The two clubs have never met before, despite both being regulars in European competition for the past 12 years and while City are top of the Premier League and in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Atletico’s season has not gone as smoothly. The reigning Spanish champions lie fourth in the table, 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid, and lost at home to AC Milan and Porto in the group stages of the Champions League.
