Razeen Gutta
Liverpool and Manchester City progressed to the Uefa Champions semi-finals after another entertaining round of continental fixtures.
The Reds reached their 20th European semi-final with a 6-4 aggregate win over Benfica after a goal fest at Anfield this evening.
Manchester City, meanwhile, fought hard to earn a 0-0 draw so Kevin De Bruyne’s goal in the first leg at the Etihad was enough to settle the tie in an evening marred by ugly scenes in the closing minutes.
Atletico switched to an all out attack game plan in the final third of this evening’s clash, but Pep Guardiola’s men held firm despite the game boiling over in the dying embers with Felipé getting sent off for the visitors.
Atletico centre-half Stefan Savić was at the centre of commotion, after trying to drag Phil Foden off the pitch after he was taken out by Felipé’s challenge. This led to a brawl in which Savić appeared to headbutt Raheem Sterling before pulling Jack Grealish’s hair. Astonighly, the Montenegrin escaped a sending off.
At Anfield, Liverpool went into their home leg 3-1 up with Ibrahima Konate adding to his goal from the first leg early on to make it 1-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.
Goncalo Ramos pulled one back for the visitors before Roberto Firmino scored a brace to make it more comfortable for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Roman Yaremchuk and Darwin Nunez got two late on for Benfica to make things interesting again, but the Reds seen out the remaining ten minutes and progressed to the last four.
Liverpool’s Premier League title rivals Manchester City held their nerve against an aggressive Atletico Madrid side at the Wanda Metropolitano with a 0-0 draw enough to send the English champions through 1-0 on aggregate.
Kevin De Bruyne’s goal in the first leg at the Etihad was enough to settle the tie with Diego Simeone’s side being let down by the defensive approach they had adopted away from home.
It will be two for England and two for Spain in the last four of Europe’s premier competition.
City will take on Real Madrid in a game that modern football has yet to see after Los Blancos beat Chelsea in Tuesday’s quarter final.
Liverpool, on the other hand, will face off with Villarreal after Unai Emery’s side shocked Bayern Munich in yesterday’s other last eight clash.
Image source: @NYTSports
