Manchester City 1-0 Atletico Madrid: Kevin de Bruyne goal gives hosts a slender lead

Kevin de Bruyne has scored six goals and created five in his last 12 knockout stage matches in the Champions League

Kevin de Bruyne's second-half goal gave Manchester City victory as they overcame Atletico Madrid's typically fierce resistance in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Etihad Stadium.

Diego Simeone's side performed with their trademark defensive discipline, restricting City to very few opportunities until De Bruyne pounced to make the breakthrough with 20 minutes left.

Phil Foden, on as a substitute, produced the moment of magic to unlock Atletico with a perfect pass through the legs of Reinildo for De Bruyne to slot past goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

It was the decisive moment in the tightest of games but City manager Pep Guardiola's wild celebration illustrated just how much it means to take a lead, even if slender, to Madrid for the second leg on 13 April.

Foden introduction sparks City

It was clear from the opening moments this was going to be a night for patience from City as Atletico, to no-one's great surprise, strung a bank of five defenders across the pitch and invited Guardiola's side to break them down.

For the first 45 minutes it worked to perfection as the hosts barely laid a glove on the Spanish champions, who protected keeper Oblak with the diligence and desire Simeone demands.

It was actually Atletico who threatened with a couple of breaks early in the second half, but City eventually managed to impose themselves and become more of a threat.

De Bruyne saw a free-kick well saved by Oblak and Aymeric Laporte headed over from a good position following a corner.

But it was the introduction of Foden that finally allowed City to spread some stardust on proceedings.

He showed glorious control and vision to nutmeg Reinildo, allowing De Bruyne to fire low past Oblak to ignite what had been a tense, largely subdued atmosphere inside Etihad Stadium.

City could not add a second with De Bruyne denied by a block on the line from Stefan Savic, but any lead is precious against an Atletico side who have made a speciality of frustrating Premier League giants in the past.

Liverpool found that out in 2020 when they lost both legs as holders in the last 16, while Manchester United were also eliminated at the same stage this season.

"We played an incredible top side who are difficult to face, but it is a good result," said Guardiola.

"We had chances to score a second and third. It is not easy to face a team with a lot of experience in this tournament. We will go there to score and try to win again."

Simeone marched off in defiant fashion at the final whistle and the Argentine will rightly feel Atletico are still in this tie - it would be folly to dismiss Simeone or his durable Champions League campaigners.

The onus, however, is now on them to attack in the return leg. This may well suit City more than having to break down the red and white wall of resistance that made their lives so difficult until that important De Bruyne strike on his 50th Champions League appearance for the club.

Player of the match

AkéNathan Aké

Atlético Madrid

Squad number13Player nameOblak

Squad number7Player nameJoão Félix

Squad number14Player nameMarcos Llorente

Squad number6Player nameKoke

Squad number8Player nameGriezmann

Squad number23Player nameReinildo

Squad number18Player nameFelipe

Squad number4Player nameKondogbia

Squad number12Player nameRenan Lodi

Squad number15Player nameSavic

Squad number24Player nameVrsaljko

Squad number5Player namede Paul

Squad number10Player nameCorrea

Squad number19Player nameMatheus Cunha

Squad number11Player nameLemar

Line-ups

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

31Ederson

27Cancelo5Stones14Laporte6Aké

17De Bruyne16Rodri8Gündogan

26Mahrez20Bernardo Silva7Sterling

31EdersonBooked at 90mins27Cancelo5Stones14Laporte6Aké17De Bruyne16Rodri8GündoganSubstituted forGrealishat 68'minutes26MahrezSubstituted forFodenat 68'minutes20Bernardo Silva7SterlingSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 68'minutesBooked at 85mins

Substitutes

9Gabriel Jesus10Grealish11Zinchenko13Steffen25Fernandinho33Carson47Foden56Egan-Riley79Mbete

Atl Madrid

Formation 5-3-2

13Oblak

24Vrsaljko15Savic18Felipe23Mandava12Lodi dos Santos

14Llorente6Koke4Kondogbia

8Griezmann7Sequeira

13Oblak24VrsaljkoBooked at 90mins15Savic18Felipe23Mandava12Lodi dos Santos14LlorenteSubstituted forSantos Carneiro Da Cunhaat 60'minutes6KokeSubstituted forde Paulat 60'minutesBooked at 69mins4Kondogbia8GriezmannSubstituted forCorreaat 60'minutesBooked at 83mins7SequeiraSubstituted forLemarat 81'minutes