ATM catches Man City on European trek, ‘2-1’ UCL-quality win draws 65,000 stormers

Atletico Madrid (Spain), the ‘Big Three of La Liga’, has caught Man City (England), the ‘European Treble’.
Atletico Madrid defeated last season’s European trekking champions Manchester City 2-1 in a preseason friendly at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Tuesday, thanks to back-to-back goals from forward Memphis Depay and flanker Yannick Carrasco in the second leg of the Coupang Play Series. City had to settle for a late consolation goal from center back Hubeng Dias. Atletico bounced back from a 2-3 reverse in the Team K League on April 27 by beating the ‘big fish’ City and stroking the pride of the Primera Liga giants.

The game was delayed by 40 minutes due to a sudden downpour. With the stadium flooded, the game could not take place at the scheduled time, resulting in an 8:40 p.m. kickoff.

But the players on both sides were at their best. Atletico coach Diego Simeone and City manager Pep Guardiola both vowed victory in their pre-match press conferences. As expected, they brought out their best.

Atletico lined up in a 3-5-2 formation. Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann started up front. Toma, Koke, and Rodrigo DePaul supported them. Cesar Aspilicueta and Samuel Lino were the wingbacks for both sides. Mario Hermoso, Axel Witsel, and Chalar Soyuncu formed the defense, with Jan Oblak in goal.

City lined up in a 3-2-4-1 formation. Elling Holland led the attack with Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, and Bernardo Silva supporting him. Rodri and John Stones orchestrated the midfield. The back four was Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias, and Kyle Walker, with Ederson in goal.

A large crowd of 64,185 fans braved the inclement weather to cheer on both teams. Atletico and Man City rewarded their fans with quality performances.
Sparks flew as soon as the whistle blew. Griezmann opened the scoring with a dynamic volley, before City hit back with an Alvarez strike. Monster striker Holland also had a chance early on. In the seventh minute, he fired a left-footed shot that lacked power. Atletico goalkeeper Oblak made an easy save. 메이저놀이터

It was an event match, but the atmosphere heated up as the game wore on. There was a little nervousness between City’s Foden and Atletico’s Reno, and in the first 20 minutes, Foden got involved in the defense and started the team’s counterattack. From the ensuing corner, Rodri rattled the net with a header. But before that could happen, a foul was called on City. The goal was disallowed.

Atletico, who had been outplayed, broke through City’s intense pressure in the 25th minute with a brilliant passing play. In the 28th minute, Morata tried a header in front of goal, but it went just over the bar. City also had a chance in the 30th minute when Silva played a good pass into the penalty box. Foden got on the end of it but couldn’t find the back of the net. The teams went into halftime at 0-0.