The two Manchester City players at risk of suspension for the Champions League semi-finals

Manchester City travel to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

The Sky Blues are 1-0 up from the first leg, thanks to Kevin De Bruyne’s well-taken finish at the Etihad last week.

But for the reverse fixture, Pep Guardiola’s men could be in for some rough treatment from Atletico and their players, who are renowned for drawing fouls and bookings from the opposition, while often provoking players into on-field spats.

Just ask Jack Grealish. The former Aston Villa man was fouled five times after he came on in the 68th minute during the first leg, while three Atletico players picked up yellow cards for fouls on him and he was baited into a confrontation with Angel Correa.

Diego Simeone’s men will almost certainly deploy similar tactics at the Wanda Metropolitano, and Guardiola warned his players last week that they must keep their cool in Madrid.

“We have to control our emotions and do what we have to do,” the City manager said after the first leg. “There are things we are not good at.

“There will be a referee there and we will have to do our game, prepare tactically and mentally for the game in an incredible stadium.”

Two players in particular Guardiola will hope can remain calm and not get drawn into fouls, are Joao Cancelo and Kevin De Bruyne.

The pair are both one booking away from a suspension, and a yellow card on Wednesday would result in them missing the first leg of any potential semi-final.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus will miss the trip to Madrid after he picked up a third European booking of the campaign in last week’s first leg.

As for Atletico, they have eight players who are a booking away from missing the semi-final first leg, with Reinildo, Hector Herrera, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Marcos Llorente, Rodrigo De Paul, Correa, Joao Felix and Luis Suarez all treading a suspension tightrope.

After the quarter-final stage, bookings are reset and there is no longer a risk of players missing games due to the number of yellow cards amassed throughout the campaign.

“All yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals. They are not carried forward to the semi-finals,” UEFA state on their website.