Manchester City secured a 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in a friendly match held in Seoul, South Korea. The win marked City’s third and final game during their pre-season tour in Asia, concluding with a strong second-half performance.
The match saw Atletico Madrid take the lead just before half-time. A corner from Koke was not fully cleared by Manchester City, allowing Morten Hjulmand to set up 16-year-old Jorge Dominguez, who scored past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Despite falling behind, Manchester City showcased a tactical evolution under their manager, particularly in the second half. The team’s emphasis on direct wing play was evident, with Antoine Semenyo playing a key role in breaking down Atletico Madrid‘s defence.
Second-Half Turnaround Led by Semenyo and Marmoush
The equaliser for Manchester City came in the 57th minute. Antoine Semenyo demonstrated individual skill by keeping the ball in play near the touchline before driving into the penalty area. His low cross was converted by Omar Marmoush, levelling the score.
Just two minutes later, the duo combined again in a similar fashion. Semenyo delivered another low cross from the left flank, which Marmoush comfortably finished, giving Manchester City the lead.
The match, played at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, drew a crowd of over 50,000 spectators. A notable moment for the home crowd was the introduction of Atletico Madrid‘s South Korea international, Lee Kang-in, in the second half. Lee Kang-in had an opportunity to equalise but sent his shot wide of the post.
Atletico Madrid struggled to contain Manchester City‘s sustained pressure, particularly after the hour mark when numerous substitutions disrupted their rhythm. Jan Oblak, Atletico Madrid‘s goalkeeper, was kept busy throughout the game, making saves including one from Tijjani Reijnders early in the match.
Ait-Nouri Seals Victory in Injury Time
Manchester City solidified their win in injury time when Rayan Ait-Nouri scored the team’s third goal. He raced onto a through ball from Divin Mubama and struck the ball low and hard into the bottom corner, sealing the 3-1 victory.
This result concludes Manchester City‘s successful Asian tour. Prior to their win against Atletico Madrid, they had drawn 1-1 with Inter Milan in Hong Kong on 1 August, a match they subsequently lost 3-1 on penalties. They also secured a 3-1 victory against a K League All-Stars team in Seoul on Wednesday.
The team’s next fixture is scheduled for Sunday, 16 August. Manchester City will face reigning Premier League champions Arsenal in the Community Shield. This match will take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and is expected to provide game time for players who participated in the later stages of the World Cup, including Erling Haaland, Rodri, Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, and Elliot Anderson, who did not travel to Asia for the pre-season tour.
The victory against Atletico Madrid highlighted Manchester City‘s dominance in possession and chance creation. The tactical approach under their manager, focusing on utilising width with players like Savinho and Semenyo, was evident throughout their matches in Asia.
Savinho, in particular, showed early promise in the match, with a curling effort that narrowly missed the post. Despite City‘s overall control, Atletico Madrid did create some moments, with Obed Vargas forcing a save from Donnarumma after Koke dispossessed Kovacic.
The pre-season tour has allowed the team to refine its strategies and integrate new tactical elements. The upcoming Community Shield match against Arsenal will be their next competitive outing.
Source: bbc.co.uk
