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English teams qualify for the Champions League semi-finals
This Wednesday the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals between Atlético Madrid and Manchester City, as well as Liverpool and Benfica, took place. The first of them was at the Wanda Metropolitano and ended in a goalless draw that gave the Citizens a pass to the next round.
The meeting stood out for the wide possession of those trained by Guardiola, since they obtained 61% and the colchoneros 39%. However, in terms of chances, the home side only had three shots on goal and the visitors one.
From the first minutes the English team tried to impose conditions, although the first clear one was through Stones who took a header that went slightly high by the near post at minute 10.
But the clearest of the first half and perhaps of the entire game came in the 30th minute. A new attack from City, this time led by Walker who entered the area from the right to the baseline, where he took a powerful cross from low that It falls to Foden and he gives it to Gündogan, who finishes it off with his left foot, but hits the post.
After this action, the visitors dominated for several minutes, but without creating much danger in Oblak's area. What most characterized this final stretch of the first half was the fight to gain control of the ball and not wanting to risk so much to avoid counterattacks that could generate the goal. So they would go to rest.
In the second half, Atlético would come out with a different attitude. From the 47th minute, those led by 'Cholo' had an opportunity through Griezmann who received a throw-in and escaped at speed down the right wing, entering the area and taking a shot that Cancelo deflected for a corner.
One of the clearest for the home side took place at minute 57, when Llorente stole a ball down the right wing, passed it to Joao Féliz who was on the front with his back to the area and he passed it to Griezmann who took a powerful shot that passes near the left post.
At 69', Simeone makes some changes. Carrasco, Correa and De Paul enter the field and Koke, Griezmann and Lodi leave. A minute later there would be a new attack by the colchoneros with a series of passes and one of them would fall to De Paul who entered the area through the center and his shot went slightly off the right post.
De Paul himself, at 77', would receive a center from the left wing and the Argentine hit him with a 'volley', but he left near the right post. Atlético would keep trying in the final minutes with some actions by Correa and Savic.
However, at minute 89, Foden was trying to get to a ball down the left wing, but it went wide. Felipe also tried to get there, but in the sweep he hits the City player. After that action, players from both teams faced each other and the referee ended up giving Savic a yellow card and a direct red card for Felipe. Atleti was left with 10 players.
The referee would add nine more minutes to end the game, which ended up being more for some City players to play for time. In that period Gündogan would have a one-on-one with Oblack and the local goalkeeper ended up stopping at minute 90+6.
But Atlético would have two clear. One from Carrasco who called for a foul at 90+8', but Ederson stops with his fists and another from Correa, inside the area, who took a shot and the Brazilian goalkeeper saves to avoid a draw.
With this result, those led by Guardiola qualify for the semifinals, since they had won the first leg by one goal and will face Real Madrid next Tuesday, April 26, in the first leg at the Etihad. The second leg will be at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday, May 4.
Liverpool qualifies after a tough game against Benfica
At the same time , the match between Liverpool and Benfica took place at the Anfield stadium. The English had already won the first leg 1-3, so they had the tie on the right track, but struggled to get through to the next round.
The game was very balanced and was evidenced by the six goals that were scored. Everton started giving the warning with a mid-range shot that ended up passing very close to the left post at minute 15.
However, Liverpool would respond with the first goal of the match. At minute 21, Konaté would score by hitting the ball that came from a corner with his head. Partial 1-0.
A minute later, Darwin Núñez would receive a filtered pass that left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper and defined 'Vaseline' to score the tie, but the action was invalidated due to a clear offside of the striker.
At 26', Luis Díaz would lead a new attack by the 'Reds'. He enters the area from the right sector and dribbles a defender to then take a right hand that ends up deflecting the goalkeeper Vlachodimos to a corner.
But at minute 32, Benfica would tie the game due to a goal by Gonzalo Ramos, who received a pass filtered through the left sector and entering the area he finished off powerfully and scored the tie in the game. That way they would go to rest.
Starting the second half, Liverpool would again go ahead on the scoreboard. At 55' there was an error in Benfica's exit, the locals took good advantage of it and Diogo Jota received, being in the area, from the left and sent a low cross that Firmino received and sent it to the back of the net to convert the 2-1 partial.
At minute 65, there is a foul for Liverpool that charges Tsimikas and sends a cross into the area that Firmino, again, sends into the back of the net. 3-1 (6-2 on aggregate). The advantage was wide, but the Portuguese would not surrender.
At 71 ', Yaremchuk receives a filtered pass that leaves him hand in hand with the goalkeeper and decides to dribble Alisson and defines an empty goal. 3-2 partial. The play was invalidated for offside, but after reviewing the VAR, the referee indicated that the goal counted.
At minute 80, again, Benfica would score and this time through Darwin Núñez, who took advantage of an assist that left him alone with the goalkeeper and before his exit he defined by crossing it to the right post. 3-3 definitive.
Two minutes later, Darwin Núñez himself would shoot from the edge of the box, adjusted to the near post from below, but this time Alisson managed to save in two counts. At 90 'Liverpool would score a goal through Mané that would be annulled for being clearly offside.
At 90+5'. Darwin would score again, but again it would be invalidated for offside. With this result, Liverpool qualifies for the semifinal, where it will face Villarreal in the first leg, next Wednesday, April 27 at Anfield, while the second leg will be at the Cerámica stadium, on Tuesday, May 3.
