MAN CITY 0, REAL MADRID 0
Manchester City escaped with a goalless draw to keep alive their hopes of a first-ever place in the final of the Champions League.
The semi-final against Real Madrid remains alive after City survived a second-half onslaught from the Spaniards. Just think what might have happened had Cristiano Ronaldo not been ruled out through injury.
Jese was denied by the crossbar while City keeper Joe Hart made brave saves to deny Casemiro and Pepe as Real did everything but find the net.
And it was a night when City were always on the back as opposed to the front foot as the statistics underlined.
Real, 10 times European champions, had 13 goal attempts to City’s three with three on target to City’s one that was deep into stoppage time.
The corner count was also 6-3 in City’s favour and Real enjoyed 55-per-cent of possession.
City can therefore take heart that they remain alive as captain Vincent Kompany proved: “0-0 is a very dangerous scoreline.
“From the moment we manage to score in Madrid, it will be very different. It’s hard to keep a clean sheet against such an attacking team. We can be proud of what we have achieved in the first leg.”
And Hart added: “We’ve set it up for a good old fashioned rumble at the Bernabeu.”
City manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “We played a very intense game and defended well. We tried to create until David Silva got injured and then we lost the ball too much. If you cannot win then a 0-0 draw is good.
“We knew they were going to play a slow game and that is why we pressed as a team. We had a lot of possession, but did not create clear chances. They kept it tight, but it was always our intent to win.
“This season we have played very well away and now we go to the Benabeu with the same attitude as playing at home. Real Madrid must attack a little bit more.
“I don’t think they are favourites. We have had good results away to Paris St Germain, Dynamo Kiev and Sevilla so we will see who plays better.”
“You cannot take too much from the first leg. We can see from the second leg who will go through.”
Real manager Zinedine Zidane was slightly disappointed not to have won explaining his side create chances to be victorious.
And he denied Pellegrini’s claim that Real came not to lose saying his side always go out to win.
City were without the injured Yaya Toure and made five changes from the side that started against Stoke on Saturday as big hitters Kompany and Kevin De Bruyne were among those returning.
Real, playing their sixth Champions League semi final in a row and their 27th European semi final, and City played out a cagey cat-and-mouse opening half in which neither side had a goal attempt on target.
It was an altogether different story in the second period which was far more open with City clearly missing the influence of David Silva who limped off just before the break with a thigh strain.
Sergio Aguero had City’s first serious chance soon after the restart, but fired just over.
Then it was Real who took control creating a succession of chances.
Sergio Ramos could only direct a Sergio Ramos header at Hart from a corner by Toni Kroos who also fired a shot narrowly wide.
Substitute Jese then headed against the crossbar from a Dani Carvajal cross, Luca Modric shot just over and Gareth Bale cut inside before curling a low shot wide.
Hart then twice came to City’s rescue in quick succession making vital saves with his boot to keep out Casemiro’s header and then a point-blank effort from Pepe who was free in front of goal only four yards out.
City’s only on-target goal attempt came in the 93rd minute when De Bruyne’s free kick was turned over the bar by keeper Keylor Navas.