Atletico Madrid beat Manchester City 2-1 in Seoul

It may have been billed as a preseason friendly, but there was nothing amicable about Manchester City 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Sunday.

Erling Haaland applauds the crowd at the end of a game between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Sunday. [NEWS1]

It may have been billed as a preseason friendly, but there was nothing amicable about Manchester City 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Sunday.

Meeting for an exhibition game as part of the Coupang Play Series, both teams clearly intended to treat the match as seriously as any midseason clash.

With City set to appear in the FA Community Shield final next week, Sunday’s game was the last tune-up match before things start to actually count.

Disaster almost struck two hours before kickoff in the form of a sudden downpour that left the pitch covered in pools of water, but the rain gradually subsided and the standing water drained in time for a 40-minute delayed start.

The heavy rain and wet seats did not stop the packed Seoul World Cup Stadium crowd, who followed the game with usual pantomime cheers that accompany any exhibition game here. Alongside any action on the pitch, the biggest cheers were peppered throughout the game whenever City manager Pep Guardiola or injured captain Kevin De Bruyne would appear on the big screen.

Kevin De Bruyne greets the crowd during a game between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Sunday. [NEWS1]

Both teams fielded some version of a full-strength squad in the first half, with Kyle Walker captaining a City team that included John Stones, Phil Foden, Rodri, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland. Atletico started regular captain Koke with a squad including Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Lemar, Rodrigo De Paul, and Alvaro Morato.

The game was fiery from the get go, with neither team willing to give an inch in the so-called friendly. Attempts on goal were plenty, although only a few looked truly threatening.

Premier League Golden Boot winner Haaland got the ball rolling with an attempt on goal in the sixth minute, although he did not have enough room to do any serious damage. Rodri looked to have scored in the 21st minute, but the goal was overturned due to a foul on the goalkeeper. Foden had another big chance in the 29th minute, sending the ball just wide of the post from across the box.

More of the action may have been in the Atletico half, but that does not mean the Spanish club was only on the defensive. Captain Griezmann and forward Morata made good pushes into the box, with Morata sending a good effort over the bar in the 28th minute.

The back and forth continues until half time, with neither team able to break through, leaving the score level at 0-0.

Both teams started the second half with almost unchanged squads, but an exhibition game is all about trying new things and that could not last forever. Guardiola broke first replacing eight players in one go in the 55th minute to field a much younger team of less-seen players.

The change gave Atletico the advantage as they continued to play their senior squad for a further five minutes. The Spanish side couldn’t capitalize, however, with City holding most of the possession until Diego Simeone forced a change in the 60th minute by having his entire squad walk off the pitch before the linesman raised his flag. The referee eventually allowed the mass substitution, leaving both sides with almost entirely changed teams for the final 30 minutes of the game.

With the top-billed players all benched it wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Atletico were first to draw blood in the 66th minute, with Memphis Depay firing a long shot from outside the box straight past Stefan Moreno and into the back of the City goal.

Atletico Madrid's Memphis Depay celebrates scoring the opening goal of a game against Manchester City at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Sunday. [NEWS1]

Memphis’ strike got a rousing cheer from the 64,000 Korean fans, despite the fact that nearly all of them were wearing City sky blue jerseys. The excitement reached fever pitch as the Atletico attack continues, with a wave quickly making its way around the entire stadium.

Depay nearly struck again six minutes later, sending a shot at Moreno and then firing his own deflection into the ground. The effort may not have affected the score, but it did go a long way to cementing the pro Atletico spirit in the stands.

Barely a minute later and the crowd were on their feet again as Atletico added No. 2 from the feet of Yannick Carrasco, taking an unexpectedly confident lead against the European champions.

The Citizens finally rallied in the 84th minute, as Ruben Dias — one of the only starting players still left on the pitch — headed in a solid set piece to take the score to 2-1.

City continued to push up the pitch, but with only one minute of added time on the clock it was too little, too late for the Premier League club and Atletico walked away with the 2-1 win.

The final result left Atletico with one win and one loss in Korea, having unexpectedly lost to Team K League — an untested squad of players who had never appeared together before — on Thursday, only to go on to beat the European treble champions a few days later.

City took the loss with good grace, with both Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne staying on the pitch to greet fans long after their teammates had headed down the tunnel. The loss will have come as a disappointment, but it ultimately fell at the feet of their B team, not their championship squad.

Sunday’s game wraps up the Seoul leg of the Coupang Play Series, with the final game between Paris Saint-Germain and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors set to be held in Busan on Thursday.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]