UEFA Champions League 2020-21 pre-quarters: Real Madrid, Manchester City march on to the quarters

The 2020-21 UEFA Champions League is undergoing the final leg of its pre-quarter stage, as a couple of matches were held on Tuesday. While there were no real upsets, a couple of good teams were knocked out. It was Real Madrid and Manchester City who marched on to the quarters.

<p>The second leg of the UEFA Champions League 2020-21 saw a couple of matches being held on Tuesday. Record champion Real Madrid sealed its place in the quarters after beating Italian giant Atalanta 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu.</p>

The second leg of the UEFA Champions League 2020-21 saw a couple of matches being held on Tuesday. Record champion Real Madrid sealed its place in the quarters after beating Italian giant Atalanta 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu.

<p>While Madrid led from the opening away leg 1-0, it became an easy task at home. It was Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos who put the side ahead at 34th and 60th, respectively. Simultaneously, Marco Asensio scored the winner in the 84th, despite Atalanta pulling one back a minute later.</p>

While Madrid led from the opening away leg 1-0, it became an easy task at home. It was Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos who put the side ahead at 34th and 60th, respectively. Simultaneously, Marco Asensio scored the winner in the 84th, despite Atalanta pulling one back a minute later.

<p>“The goal was to advance and we came out playing with the ambition to try to win the match. We controlled the game and had chances to score even more,” Ramos was quoted as saying after the match.</p>

“The goal was to advance and we came out playing with the ambition to try to win the match. We controlled the game and had chances to score even more,” Ramos was quoted as saying after the match.

<p>Meanwhile, English giant Manchester City made its job simple against German giant Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Etihad Stadium. It already had a 2-0 lead from the away leg.</p>

Meanwhile, English giant Manchester City made its job simple against German giant Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Etihad Stadium. It already had a 2-0 lead from the away leg.

<p>Kevin de Bruyne extended the lead to three at the 12th minute, while Iikay Gundogan fired in the fourth and the eventual winner at 18th. Although Mönchengladbach managed to hold City thereon, it wasn’t enough to put anything past the City goalkeeper, Ederson.</p>

Kevin de Bruyne extended the lead to three at the 12th minute, while Iikay Gundogan fired in the fourth and the eventual winner at 18th. Although Mönchengladbach managed to hold City thereon, it wasn’t enough to put anything past the City goalkeeper, Ederson.

<p>“Since the first day I arrived here, five years ago, they told me you have to win the Champions League. So, it’s always on our shoulders,” said City coach Pep Guardiola.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“I’m not thinking to get to the semifinals. I’m thinking to do a good first game and, after that, the second game. That’s the only thing. When you are thinking about what you are going to win, you forget what you have to do,” he concluded.</p>

“Since the first day I arrived here, five years ago, they told me you have to win the Champions League. So, it’s always on our shoulders,” said City coach Pep Guardiola.

“I’m not thinking to get to the semifinals. I’m thinking to do a good first game and, after that, the second game. That’s the only thing. When you are thinking about what you are going to win, you forget what you have to do,” he concluded.