The clash between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid was captivating from the moment the main referee blew the starting whistle. Both teams demonstrated their eagerness to secure a win by continuously pushing forward into the opponent’s territory during attacking moves.
The first half was tense, featuring a fast pace and unusual fiery spirit, unlike the typical nature of pre-season club friendlies. Nevertheless, neither side managed to find the cutting edge to breach the opponent’s defense during this period.
The second half witnessed a more open game, with goals flowing continuously. At the beginning, Atletico’s representatives from Spain, Memphis Depay, and Yannick Carrasco, found the net in the 66th and 74th minutes respectively, giving their team the lead.
Player Ratings:
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Julian Alvarez: 7.3
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Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Rodri, Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, and Sergio Gomez all received an average rating of 6.9 for an off-day performance. Particularly, Erling Haaland had a disastrous day, almost disappearing from the heat map of the match.
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Goalkeeper Ederson: 6.6
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John Stones: 6.8
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Captain Ruben Dias scored a headed goal to reduce the deficit for Manchester City, earning a rating of 7.0, similar to Bernardo Silva’s performance.
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Jack Grealish had an outstanding and passionate performance on the left wing, earning the highest rating for Manchester City at 7.5.
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Joao Cancelo came on as a substitute but failed to leave a lasting impression, receiving a rating of 6.7.
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Stefan Orteta and Rico Lewis both received a rating of 6.4.
The defeat raises concerns for Manchester City, especially with key players like Erling Haaland failing to perform up to par. Despite some exceptional performances from substitutes, the team must address the shortcomings to ensure a strong start to the upcoming season.
