Lay of the land as Man City emerge from 11-day Liverpool and Champions League reckoning

When the draw was made for the FA Cup semi-finals four weeks ago, plenty of Manchester City fans winced when they realised the consequences for their fixture schedule.

The Blues were drawn against Liverpool, completing a set of four daunting fixtures that would take place in the space of just 11 days. It was billed as a week-and-a-half that would define City's season, given that the four encounters spanned three different competitions.

The reckoning started at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, April 5 with the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, before Premier League title rivals Liverpool visited five days later. Three days after that came the second leg of the Atletico tie, before Pep Guardiola's side jetted back to the UK for the showpiece fixture at Wembley.

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Of those games, City won one, drew two and lost one; not the greatest outcome on paper. But where exactly do those results leave City?

Champions League

Atletico Madrid were always going to prove extremely tough opponents to break down, but ultimately City found a way. A moment of genius from Phil Foden and Kevin de Bruyne proved the difference in the first leg, before City had to scrap their way to the semi-finals in the second.

In terms of their hopes of winning the competition for the first time, progression to the last four is the most important thing. There the Blues will face Real Madrid, a very different kind of challenge but one City will be favourites to overcome.

The fiery match in Madrid did take its toll on City though. A second half of desperate defending and chasing shadows no doubt took a physical and mental toll on City's regular