Manchester City reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time after a 0-0 draw with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday at the Etihad.
But it was a bittersweet evening for the English team following of injuries to starting centre backs Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi.
City won 3-1 on aggregate in the last 16, with the damage done in the first leg in Kiev three weeks ago.
Both injuries sustained inside the first 23 minutes of Tuesday’s match were the major incidents in a soporific match in Manchester as City advanced with the minimum of concern but without impressing, either.
Kiev, seeking a first Champions League quarter-final berth since 1999, barely threatened until the final minutes, while Jesus Navas struck the post with City’s best chance.
City’s Abu Dhabi owners have had tangible reward for their influx of cash since 2008 in the shape of five domestic trophies, including two Premier League titles. Yet progress beyond the last 16 in five seasons in the Champions League has eluded them until now.
City will be hoping to avoid the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona should the Spanish champion advance, as expected, on Wednesday as likely the only English club in Friday’s draw for the last eight.
But Coach Manuel Pellegrini will have more pressing matters to deal with before then, with a pivotal Manchester derby in the Premier League looming on Sunday.
Aside from possibly Sergio Aguero, Kompany was the last person Pellegrini would have wanted to see come off injured given his importance to the team and the experience he brings to the defence.
In the day’s other game, a sudden-death penalty from Juanfran sent Atletico Madrid through to the quarter-final at the expense of PSV Eindhoven.
The two sides played out 90 minutes without a goal during the first leg in Eindhoven last month and a further 120 goalless minutes in the Spanish capital, meaning that a penalty shootout was required to determine who progressed to the last eight of the tournament.
Following seven successful penalties apiece, PSV substitute Luciano Narsingh rattled the crossbar and veteran Atletico defender Juanfran stepped up to send the Vicente Calderon wild in celebration.
Barcelona host Arsenal while Juventus are visitors to Bayern Munich in the final round of 16 matches on Wednesday.
The quarter-final draw will be held in Nyon, France on Friday.
