Posted: 22:30, 12 April 2022 | Updated: 23:14, 12 April 2022
Atletico Madrid need the perfect night to reach the semi-finals at the expense of Manchester City. But I’m sure Diego Simeone, like any coach who tries to motivate, will remind his players that their opponents have bottled it up in the Champions League in the past. Against Tottenham. Against Lyon. In the final against Chelsea, when Pep Guardiola decided he did not need a deep midfielder. Atletico Madrid will try to stay stable and take the lead in the game with Manchester City Thus, Atletico will believe that there may be another side that will prevent City from pursuing the most coveted football prize. Jose Maria Gimenez’s fitness is the key, mind. When he and Stefan Savic are together in this defense, Atletico is a different team. If Jimenez is not ready to start, then this is a blow before he even kicks a ball for Simeone. Atletico will not go from finger to toe or gang-ho. They will try to do it smartly. Maybe with a 1-0 lead and even keep overtime and penalties. They would take it now if you offered it to them, I’m sure. It will be an intense 90 minutes, which we are guaranteed. Diego Simeone’s team will even try to endure for extra time and after a penalty, if they can
TALENTED FELIX CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
We could not see him much in the first match, as Atletico was in defense, playing 5-5-0 for big pieces.
But Joao Felix is a very talented striker. With confidence too. He did an interview a few months ago, in which he talked about his game, how he likes to be the second striker, even stating that winning the Golden Ball is a goal.
To do this, you have to play and play. Felix was out of the starting lineup for a while, but finally came back from Simeone and, here, the results improved.
Joao Felix could spark the attack for Atletico Madrid and make a difference
Atletico is better when the 22-year-old is in her team. Felix rested for their trip to Mallorca on Saturday and Luis Suarez was used alongside Antoine Griezmann. They ended up losing 1-0 to a team fighting for relegation in La Liga.
Atletico knows that it can not defend and loses time to escape from this marking in the Champions League. The dark arts alone will not do the trick here.
They have to score at least one goal and if they are to score, there is a good chance it will come from Felix.
Suarez has only been bitten off the bench these days. Felix is the one who can dip his fingernails in City, if he gets the nod.
Prediction: MAN CITY WILL WIN 3-1 (4-1 in total)
