UCL: Monaco knocks Manchester City out, Atletico Madrid through to the last eight

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Monaco players celebrate after their win against Manchester City on Wednesday. Image Source: UCL

Internet Desk: Pep Guardiola’s torrid time in Manchester City continues, as French club Monaco shocked the Premier league giants with an annihilating 3-1 victory last night to knock them out of the UEFA Champions League. On the flip side, Spanish force Atletico dé Madrid are through to the last eight stage of the competition after a resilient defensive performance by the Madrid outfit again German club Bayer Leverkusen. Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak played a heroic role between the sticks to prevent his team conceding a goal.

Midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko’s thumping header sent Monaco through as the home side beat Man City 3-1 on Wednesday to progress on the away goals rules.

City fought back from 2-0 down and was momentarily in control after midfielder Leroy Sane’s 71st-minute goal. But six minutes later Bakayoko rose imperiously to meet Thomas Lemar’s curling free kick and restore the two-goal margin Monaco needed as the contest finished 6-6 on aggregate.

Trailing 5-3 from the first leg of their Round of 16 match, Monaco made the perfect start. Confirming his reputation as a rising star of European football, 18-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe scored from close range in the eighth minute for his 11th goal in 11 games.

Brazilian midfielder Fabinho made it 2-0 in the 29th with a crisp shot from near the penalty spot after excellent work by left back Benjamin Mendy.

Three weeks ago, City had rallied from 3-2 down with three goals in the last 20 minutes and Pep Guardiola’s side needed another comeback on the French Riviera.

In the other game, Oblak came up big every time Leverkusen got close to his goal, proving crucial for Atletico as it protected its 4-2 first-leg victory in the Round of 16.

Oblak made three spectacular consecutive saves midway through the second half to end Leverkusen’s hopes of overturning the defeat in Germany.

Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno also played well to keep Atletico from capitalizing on its chances.

Leverkusen was trying to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since it lost to Real Madrid in the 2002 final. The German club was eliminated by Atletico at this same stage in a penalty shootout two seasons ago, when Oblak also thrived with an important penalty save.

The goalkeeper made amazing back-to-back saves on Wednesday after a mistake by Atletico defender Jose Gimenez led to a dangerous breakaway for Leverkusen in the 68th minute.

Oblak first stopped Julian Brandt’s attempt in a one-on-one, then immediately threw himself in front of the goal to keep Kevin Volland from scoring from the rebound, and again outstretched his arms to block Volland’s other attempt from close range.

The German club still had another chance in the same move, but the shot by Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez missed wide of the far post as Oblak watched.​

The draw for the quarter-finals will be held on Friday.