Champions League

PEP GUARDIOLA used Manchester City’s ballboys to try and curb Atletico Madrid’s time-wasting last night.The reigning LaLiga champions have gained a reputation for partaking in the “dark arts” during Diego Simeone’s tenure with the club.
Manchester City ballboys were instructed to quickly give Atletico players new ballsCredit: CityTV
Pep Guardiola was meticulous in his game planCredit: Rex
In an effort to prevent Atleti from time-wasting from the off, Guardiola gave his ballboys very clear instructions.
According to The Athletic, Guardiola told City’s ballboys to ensure that new balls were supplied to players immediately whenever it went out of play – even if it was to an Atletico player.
Sometimes ballboys may be a little reluctant to hand the ball quickly to opposition players, because of the risk of counter-attacks catching their team off guard.
This time around, however, Guardiola reportedly recorded a video message for the club’s ballboys – telling them that they were to play an “important” role in his tactical plan.
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City’s ball kids are taken from their Under-12 and Under 14 sides.
Some are claimed to have joked that they had “never been so nervous in their lives”.
The ball boys followed Guardiola’s instructions, constantly getting new balls into the hands of Atletico players, as their side won 1-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Despite their incredibly negative game plan, at times appearing to play a 5-5-0 formation, Guardiola refused to publicly criticise Simeone and Co.
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He said: “What is ugly? What is playing ugly? I don’t know what playing ugly is.
“My team were winning at Old Trafford 1-0 or 2-0, Bernardo went to the corner and spent four or five minutes in the corner.
“This is ugly? No, it’s not ugly.
“It’s being smart, it’s defending with the ball in the final third to not concede counter-attacks and defending our position. That’s all.
“I’m here to talk about what we do to try to play, I never judge the opponents.”
Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring his side’s winnerCredit: Getty More

HISTORY is not on Manchester City’s side despite their first leg win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16.Kevin de Bruyne’s 70th minute strike gave Pep Guardiola’s side a slender 1-0 advantage ahead of the return clash in the Spanish capital next week.
Man City will take a one goal lead into the second leg in SpainCredit: Getty
But it has now been revealed that Atletico have NEVER lost a Champions League tie when losing the first leg away from home by one goal.
They have been forced to come from a single goal down after away defeats on two occasions in the past.
The first came back in 2015 when they were beaten by Bayer Leverkusen, but Diego Simeone’s men claimed a 1-0 victory at home before winning 3-2 on penalties.
Then 12 months later they managed a similar feat against Spanish rivals Barcelona.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The 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A brace from Luis Suarez handed the Catalan giants a 2-1 victory at the Nou Camp.
But Antoine Griezmann helped himself to a double in the second leg as Atletico claimed a 3-2 aggregate victory.
This record does not bode well for Guardiola’s side heading to the Wanda Metropolitano next Tuesday.
However, Man City will take confidence from their dominant display over Atletico.
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The Premier League champions’ superiority was illustrated by the fact that the visitors did not manage a single shot over the course of the 90 minutes.
According to OptaJoe, this is the first time Atletico have been restricted to not having a single shot since the data became available at the start of the 2003/04 season.
Man City are looking to go one step further than they managed last year when they were beaten by Chelsea in the Champions League final.
Atletico are hoping to go beyond the last eight for the first time since 2017 when they were knocked out in the semi-finals by Real Madrid. More

THIS is the horrifying moment a thuggish Benfica fan launched a metal POLE at Luis Diaz.The terrifying incident occurred as Liverpool’s newest star celebrated his first Champions League goal for the Reds.
That one would have felt good for Luis Diaz! 👊The former Porto man bags his first #UCL goal for Liverpool to regain their two-goal advantage ✌️Klopp’s smile says it all! pic.twitter.com/VPpaz89Fot— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 5, 2022

A Benfica fan dangerously threw a metal pole at Luis Diaz during Liverpool’s 3-1 winCredit: BT Sport
The fan was lucky the object missed Diaz, an ex-Porto playerCredit: BT Sport
Former Porto superstar Diaz, 25, returned to Portugal on Tuesday for the first time since his January switch to England.
And the Colombia international came in for a rough ride from the hostile Benfica crowd throughout the match.
Diaz made his presence felt with the assist for Sadio Mane’s effort in a 3-1 win for the visitors.
But the night nearly ended on a sour note when one Benfica fan found it all too much.
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Diaz hit the target in the 87th minute to all-but-secure Liverpool’s semi-final spot.
And he went to celebrate in front of irate home supporters.
One man grabbed what appeared to be a metal pole hanging in front of the stand.
And as Diaz turned away with Liverpool teammates, he flung the object at the back of the winger’s head.
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Luckily for Diaz, it missed him and his Reds pals.
But footy fans were left horrified by the potentially devastating attack.
One said: “They should find the fan who threw the object at him in the front row and ban him for life.”
Another tweeted: “Not on. Ban fans from Anfield leg.”
One noted: “Absolutely awful and disrespectful.”
Another added: “He can watch his team lose while he’s in the jail cell.”
Diaz was not the only Liverpool star targeted in the fiery atmosphere at the Stadium of Light.
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Andy Robertson revealed he had been pelted with lighters during throughout the game.
But the Scotland captain saw the funny side, joking: “Quite a few lighters (were thrown) at me, so maybe it will help them stop smoking – take the positives!” More