Man City eliminate Atletico in brawl-marred clash to advance to semifinals

MADRID: Manchester City secured the goalless draw they needed to edge out Atletico Madrid and advance to the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday but the match was marred by a mass brawl late in the game that continued to rage in the tunnel after full time.

Police were seen in the tunnel at the Wanda Metropolitano as video footage showed heated arguments breaking out between the players, including Atletico's Stefan Savic and City's Jack Grealish, with staff trying to keep the players apart.

"I didn't see it," said Diego Simeone. "I was on the pitch applauding the fans. By the time I went inside there was nobody there."

Pep Guardiola was asked about the behavior of Atletico's players. "Nothing to say," he said.

The trouble began on the pitch, as Atletico defender Felipe sparked a huge brawl in the corner after a taking a wild swipe at City's Phil Foden.

Felipe was sent off but not before a crowd of players, substitutes and staff swarmed in.

"We knew it was not an easy place to come, it is a hostile environment, it was a difficult night all round and how we defended and controlled ourselves over the two legs was incredible," City defender John Stones told BT Sport.

In the end, Kevin De Bruyne's first-leg strike last week at the Etihad Stadium proved enough for City to claim a 1-0 victory on aggregate in Madrid, although the Belgian had to go off with an injury which, if significant, would be a hammer blow to their hopes of winning the treble.

Kyle Walker also hobbled off in the second half.

City will now face Real Madrid, with Liverpool up against Villarreal in the other semifinal to complete an all Spanish-English lineup in the last four.

Simeone was widely criticized for Atletico's negative tactics in the