Lineups and setup

City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 under Enzo Maresca. Gianluigi Donnarumma started in goal behind a back four headlined by Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol. Phil Foden and Savinho worked the flanks, with Omar Marmoush leading the line. Rodri was missing with a back issue, so the midfield mix leaned on Mateo Kovačić and Tijjani Reijnders.

Diego Simeone used a 4-4-2 for Atlético. Jan Oblak started before being replaced by Salvi Esquivel on 63 minutes. Koke captained the midfield next to Morten Hjulmand, and Carlos Martín and Ademola Lookman offered width. The back line was rotated heavily after the hour, with José María Giménez, Javier Boñar and Arnau Solà entering.

The first-half flow hinted at what came later. City had 53% possession and out-shot Atlético 7-4 before the interval. They also won more duels and completed more dribbles in that period. Yet Atlético capitalized from a dead ball. While Corners finished 3-5 against City overall, a single delivery swung the early balance.

First half: Atlético strike from a set piece

Atlético went in 1-0 up thanks to a clean set-piece routine on 43 minutes. Hjulmand delivered from short range into the area, and Domínguez met it with a right-foot finish. Donnarumma had little to do before that, with Atlético posting just one shot on target in the opening half. But the visitors made City pay for one lapse in the box.

City’s approach had shape and territory. They completed 261 accurate passes to Atlético’s 213 in the first half and entered the final third 28 times to 23. They also led dribbles 6/9 to 2/5 and won both aerial duels. Kovačić and Reijnders kept the ball moving, with Foden finding pockets between the lines.

Even so, City created just one big chance before the break and missed it. Atléti’s back four cleared 10 balls and made key blocks to survive longer attacks. The friendly setting allowed both teams to rotate ideas, but Atlético’s compactness and a timely set piece put them on top at the whistle.

Second half: City turn the screw

The match changed with City’s right side. Rico Lewis came on at half-time and added control, producing a key pass and three tackles while helping City build quicker. The equalizer arrived on 57 minutes. Semenyo drew coverage wide right and slipped a neat assist for Marmoush, who finished with his left from close range.

Two minutes later, the same combination hit again. Gvardiol’s long diagonal found Semenyo, who drove into the box and squared for Marmoush to tap in with his right. City had flipped the score, and their pressure held. By full-time, shots on target read 9-3 in City’s favor, and they recorded 31 touches in the Atlético box to 19.

Late on, Maresca’s bench sealed it. Mubama came on and created a big chance, then set up Aït-Nouri in added time. The left-back took the pass on his stride and finished low to make it 3-1. City won 73% of their tackles in the second half, closed lanes with four interceptions, and conceded only two shots on target after the break.

What the numbers say

City edged possession 54% to 46% and completed more passes, 514 to 442, with 474 accurate to Atlético’s 385. Final third entries were close at 53-48, but City were cleaner once they arrived, completing 85% of their phase actions there versus Atlético’s 81%. Interceptions skewed 6-2 to City, which helped sustain pressure and set repeat attacks.

Chance quality told the story. City created six big chances and scored three of them, while Atlético managed just one big chance all game. City did miss three big chances too, so the score could have grown. Expected Goals data was not tracked for this friendly, but on-target efforts were clear: 9-3 to City.

Atlético’s goalkeepers were busy. Oblak made three saves before his substitution, and Esquivel added three more. Donnarumma finished with two saves and a calm 21 of 24 passing. Defensively, City cleared 19 balls and won 52% of duels, even while losing the aerial count overall, 2 of 6 to Atlético’s 4 of 6. Discipline stayed clean with one yellow each, to Hjulmand on 55 and Gvardiol on 89.

MVP: Antoine Semenyo’s creative burst

Antoine Semenyo took Player of the Match with a Sofascore Rating of 8.6 and the game’s clearest attacking imprint. He played only 63 minutes but delivered two assists, two big chances created and two key passes. He completed 13 of 16 passes, sent in three crosses, and won six duels during City’s best spell. His touches were efficient too, with 41 overall and 12 accurate passes in the Atlético half.

Semenyo’s timing and decision-making set Marmoush up twice in two minutes, which swung the match. He carried the ball 10 times for a total of 84.4 meters, with 35.9 meters of progressive carries, helping City advance quickly into the final third. His pressing also drew fouls and second balls, giving City continued field position.

Other top performers deserve a nod. Omar Marmoush scored twice from his only two shots on target and posted a 7.7. Rayan Aït-Nouri came on late and still scored, also earning a 7.7. Rúben Dias anchored the build-up with 61 of 61 passing and five clearances, landing a 7.3. But for creative impact and the decisive moment, Semenyo’s 8.6 stood tallest on Sofascore.

City’s defensive platform and midfield control

Beyond the goals, City’s platform was sturdy. They won 73% of their tackles and made six interceptions, which limited Atlético’s counters. Dias and Gvardiol combined for nine clearances and three blocks, while Matheus Nunes completed 76 of 78 passes from the back line, plus a shot on target and an accurate cross.

In midfield, City stacked steady metrics. Kovačić went 55 of 57 in passing and progressed play with five accurate long balls. Reijnders added two shots on target, three crosses, and one big chance missed, staying involved across phases. Foden backed the press with two tackles won and two key passes, while Savinho carried for over 110 progressive meters and drew three fouls despite some heavy traffic.

Atlético had bright cameos after changes. Pablo Barrios produced three key passes in 27 minutes and completed 26 of 28 passes. Kang-in Lee and Arnau Ortiz were lively, combining for three shots off target and one on target across the final half hour. But the visitors’ single big chance and one error leading to a goal left too much to chase once City found stride.

A useful workout in Seoul

For a Club Friendly, this was a focused test. City had to respond to a set-piece setback and did so with pace and control. Atlético took their moment before the break and rotated widely, but their keepers were worked hard. The 3-1 scoreline aligned with shots on target, big chances, and final-third control.

Fans tracking form and fitness can dive deeper on Sofascore, where match pages package live momentum, player heat maps and every Sofascore Rating. This one said a lot about City’s options on the flanks and about Atlético’s depth. It also said Semenyo is in rhythm, which tends to end well for the players around him.