Good evening and welcome to Nigerianeye's live commentary of the Champions League semi-final first leg between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad.
Man City have reached this stage of this competition for the first time in their history and it is actually their first European semi-final of any kind since 1971, when they faced Schalke 04 in the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Real Madrid, however, are in the last four of this competition for a record 27th time and they are going in search of an 11th European Cup this season.
The two teams last clashed in the group stage of the 2012-13 competition - Real Madrid recorded a 3-2 victory in Madrid, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw in this particular stadium.
BREAKING! Ronaldo has seemingly failed a late fitness test and will not start tonight!
OFFICIAL LINE-UP
MANCHESTER CITY: Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Kompany, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Navas, De Bruyne, Silva; Aguero
REAL MADRID: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Vasquez
The referee brings the second period to a close at the Etihad with the score level at 0-0. Real Madrid certainly improved in the second half, but neither really did enough to deserve to win. Thanks for joining Nigerianeye for the action. Until next time!
90 min+4 FULL-TIME: Man City 0-0 Real Madrid
90 min+3 SAVE! Navas tips a De Bruyne free kick over the crossbar!
90 min+2 BOOKING! Carvajal (Real Madrid) is booked for a late challenge on De Bruyne.
90 min+2 Pepe and Kompany have been the two best players on the pitch tonight.
90 min+1 Sterling goes through for Man City, but Pepe is across to make the challenge!
90 min REAL MADRID SUB! Isco replaces Kroos for the away side.
89 min De Bruyne attempts to slide in Sterling, but the pass is too strong and Navas is out to claim.
88 min Real Madrid are preparing to introduce Isco in place of Kroos here.
86 min Man City are struggling to make their mark at the moment as Real Madrid continue to look the most likely. It is very open, however, and players like Aguero only need one chance to find the net!
84 min Man City are fortunate - they should be behind after a really strong Real Madrid spell.
82 min SAVE! Oh my word what a save! Real Madrid just had to score as the ball fell to Pepe inside the box, but Hart was on hand to make a wonderful close-range stop! Good grief!
82 min... Bale strikes the resulting free kick, but his effort is straight into the wall.
81 min Real Madrid have a free kick just outside the box as Marcelo is felled by Fernando...
80 min SAVE! Hart gets down to keep out Casemiro from another Kroos corner!
79 min Little over 10 minutes of the second period remaining and Real Madrid continue to look the more likely to find a breakthrough here. Man City almost seem to have run out of ideas in this second period.
77 min MAN CITY SUB! Sterling replaces Navas for the home side.
75 min CLOSE! Bale curls a super strike just wide of Hart's post!
73 min Modric hammers one over the crossbar as Real Madrid start to create openings here.
72 min CROSSBAR! Carvajal finds Jese with a super cross into the Man City box, but the Spaniard's header hits the crossbar and drops behind! Best chance of the match by some distance!
72 min De Bruyne looks to feed Aguero inside the Real Madrid box, but Modric is across to make the clearance and the visitors can break forward with Bale, who has space to attack down the left.
70 min You just get the feeling that there is a goal in this match and it would have a massive say on the tie overall. Real Madrid are starting to press players forward and an away goal would be huge here.
67 min Kroos fires a low strike wide of Hart's post as we remain all square here.
66 min Navas and Fernandinho both go for the ball in a wide area as Man City threaten to break through, but the former is penalised for a shoulder on Casemiro and the referee blows for a free-kick.
64 min Jese looks to release Vasquez with a through pass, but Kompany comes across to deal with the situation and gets a huge cheer from the home supporters. Still goalless with 64 on the clock.
62 min Marcelo lines one up outside the Man City box, but his strike hits Sagna. Decent spell of possession for the visitors though as they start to move the ball quicker in the final third of the field here.
60 min Solid defending from Pepe as the Real Madrid centre-back comes across to confront De Bruyne, who had found space down the right. Moments later, Aguero finds himself inside the Real Madrid box, but the striker is penalised for a tug on Carvajal, who was a tough fortunate to get away with that!
58 min Neither manager would be too disappointed if this game finished 0-0, which is the bottom line. Real Madrid would be the favourites in the second leg, but an away goal for Man City would place them in a strong position. We are still waiting for this game to really ignite with 58 minutes on the clock.
55 min Man City are forced to concede a corner after Kroos had delivered a wicked free kick into the home side's box. Bit of pressure from Real Madrid as this second period starts to gather pace. The resulting corner is met by Ramos, but his header is straight into the arms of the waiting Hart.
54 min Better from Real Madrid as Modric delivers a super ball into Marcelo, who attempts to find Jese at the near post, but Kompany is on hand to make the clearance. Slick move from the visitors.
52 min Poor from Kroos as the Real Madrid midfielder fails to beat the first man from a corner and then stands in an offside position when the ball is recycled. Real Madrid have been so lacklustre here!
50 min It does appear that both teams will be more open in this second period, which is good news for us! You just get the feeling that one goal tonight would have a major say on the tie as a whole.
48 min PENALTY SHOUT! Bale goes down inside the box under a challenge from Otamendi, but the referee is not interested. Bale actually caught his own legs and it was the correct call!
47 min SHOT! Much better from the home side as Fernandinho feeds Aguero outside the Real Madrid box and the Argentine settles himself before firing a powerful strike just over the target!
46 min... REAL MADRID SUB! Jese Rodriguez has replaced Benzema at the break.
46 min RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second 45 minutes. Will there be a breakthrough in this semi-final first leg? We shall see! Real Madrid resume the action...
The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. It has been more tactical than entertaining and we did not have a chance of any note in the opening 45 minutes. If it were a boxing match though, Man City would be leading the bout on points.
45 min+3 HALF-TIME: Man City 0-0 Real Madrid
45 min+2 We are into the second of two additional minutes at the end of the first period.
45 min+1 Pepe sets up Benzema inside the Man City box, but the French striker fires over the target!
45 min Decent spell for Real Madrid in the last couple of moments as they commit players forward, but Benzema cannot evade Sagna and Man City are back on the counter-attack. Still all square.
43 min Man City enjoy a period of possession outside the Real Madrid box, but they are still struggling to find a route through and another attack comes to an end when Kroos hits the ball at Iheanacho.
41 min MAN CITY SUB! Iheanacho replaces Silva, who limps off the field.
40 min Silva's hamstring has gone and he is going to have to be replaced here.
39 min Silva is holding his hamstring and might need to be replaced here!
38 min BOOKING! Silva (Man City) is booked for a late challenge on Bale.
38 min Pass, pass, pass from Man City as they continue to work the ball from left to right. It is not pretty from Real Madrid, but it is effective as they close the space outside their own box. Navas attempts to attack Marcelo down the right, but Kroos comes across and brings the Spaniard to the deck.
35 min Bale strikes one from distance, but his effort deflects straight into the arms of Hart.
34 min The best word to describe this first period would be 'cagey'. Man City have been the better team, but neither side has created a chance of note. Both goalkeepers have been very, very comfortable.
32 min Man City are certainly on top at the moment as they continue to move the ball in the final third, but their latest attack comes to an end when Sagna is late in a challenge with Ramos. Still goalless here.
30 min De Bruyne takes the ball away from Carvajal and looks to find Aguero, but Pepe is on hand to make the clearance as Real Madrid survive another dangerous moment. De Bruyne then strikes from outside the box and Modric makes the block. Poor from the visitors in the last couple of minutes.
27 min... Pepe clears another wicked delivery from De Bruyne, before Navas collects a weak header from Otamendi. Decent bit of pressure from the home side, but still no real chances in this semi-final.
26 min Man City have another free kick in a dangerous area as Ramos fells Fernandinho...
25 min Kompany climbs to meet the free kick from De Bruyne, but the Man City captain fouled Casemiro.
24 min BOOKING! Pepe (Real Madrid) is booked for a late challenge on De Bruyne.
24 min Real Madrid are not exactly known as a defensive side, but they have taken up a nice shape in the opening 24 minutes here and Man City are finding it increasingly difficult to work a route through.
22 min Half-chance for the away side as Bale runs away from Clichy before setting the ball back to Benzema, but Kompany is on hand to make the clearance. Man City just need to be careful here.
20 minWe are still waiting for the first chance of this match as both teams continue to cancel each other out. Real Madrid have clearly worked on a defensive shape and in fairness, they look solid at the . Man City are still hungry in midfield, however, as they continue to win back possession.
17 min Super stuff from Casemiro as the Brazilian covers Pepe and manages to challenge De Bruyne, who had run away from the Real Madrid centre-back. That is why Casemiro is a favourite under Zidane.
15 min Bale, under pressure, manages to deliver a brilliant cross into the Man City box, but Benzema cannot make contact and the home side manage to clear the danger. Man City are on the attack almost immediately and Silva looks to slide a pass into Aguero, but the ball is too strong for the Argentine.
13 min No chances to report in the opening 13 minutes, but Man City have certainly made the brighter start to proceedings as they continue to work the ball across the pitch. Good stuff from the hosts.
11 min Casemiro flies into Fernandinho, but the referee does not punish the Real Madrid midfielder with a booking, which is in keeping with the opening 11 minutes. The battle lines have been drawn - that is for sure. The hosts Man City are just about shading the midfield battle at the moment.
9 min Real Madrid have been guilty of conceding possession on a couple of occasions and Man City have the chance to threaten from the right, but there are no takers on Navas's delivery from a wide area.
7 min Possession football from Man City in the last couple of minutes and Navas attempts to slide a pass behind Pepe into Aguero, but the Real Madrid centre-back is on hand to make the challenge. Not much to report in terms of half-chances or the like, but both teams have showed their intent early on!
5 min Otamendi is a touch fortunate to escape a booking for a late challenge on Benzema there.
4 min Kroos delivers the first corner of the match into the Man City box, but Kompany is on hand to make the clearance. Bale attacks Clichy down the right moments later, but the left-back does well to stick with the Welshman and make the challenge. Pretty open four minutes at the Etihad tonight.
2 min... decent start from Man City, who are enjoying most of the early possession here. It will be fascinating to see just what approach Real Madrid take, especially in the opening 10, 15 minutes.
0 min KICKOFF! It must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. Real Madrid are without Ronaldo, but they still have a whole host of wonderful players. Let's just hope that this game lives up to expectations! It is the home side that get the first 45 minutes underway here...
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