Man City to Face Atletico Madrid in South Korea Friendly
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Manchester City will face Atletico Madrid in a high-profile preseason friendly on neutral ground in South Korea, with kickoff scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m. local time . The match represents the second leg of City's Asian tour, having already acclimatized to local conditions with an earlier friendly in the country .
Key Points
- Manchester City began their Asian preseason tour with a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan in Hong Kong last Saturday, losing on penalties despite dominating play and creating numerous chances .
- City defeated a K League All-Star team 3-1 in their most recent friendly, scoring three first-half goals and showing improved attacking quality as players gain match fitness .
- New manager Enzo Maresca's tactical system is gradually taking shape, with the team's performances expected to improve further as the preseason progresses .
- Atletico Madrid have a poor recent record against English Premier League opponents, with one draw and three defeats in their last four matches, including a 2-1 loss to Manchester United in Sweden after taking the lead .
- Atletico are missing five key players for their Asian tour: Argentina World Cup finalists Julian Alvarez, Angel Correa, Thiago Almada, Nahuel Molina, and Norwegian striker Alexander Sorloth .
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong football fans who watched City play Inter Milan at Hong Kong Stadium last weekend, this match offers a chance to assess how the team develops under Maresca before the new Premier League season begins. The absence of several Atletico stars may provide City with an opportunity to build attacking confidence and momentum heading into competitive fixtures.
For Hong Kong football fans who watched City play Inter Milan at Hong Kong Stadium last weekend, this match offers a chance to assess how the team develops under Maresca before the new Premier League season begins. The absence of several Atletico stars may provide City with an opportunity to build attacking confidence and momentum heading into competitive fixtures.