Manchester City and Real Madrid played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
The home side shaded the first 45 minutes, but had to survive a strong finish from Real Madrid, who will now enter next week's second leg at the Bernabeu as the favourites to make another European final.
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Cristiano Ronaldo failed a late fitness test for Real Madrid, with a thigh problem preventing the Portuguese from featuring on his return to Manchester. Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, however, both overcame knocks to start.
Ronaldo's absence meant that there was a start for Lucas Vazquez in the final third, while Dani Carvajal was picked ahead of Danilo at right-back and Casemiro continued in a three-man midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
As for the home side, Vincent Kompany, despite his recent injury problems, skippered the team from centre-back, while Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy came in for Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov in the two full-back positions.
Further forward, Kevin De Bruyne returned after sitting out the win over Stoke City at the weekend, while Jesus Navas and David Silva supported Sergio Aguero, who led the attack once again.
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It was Man City that made the brighter start to proceedings in the north of England, with Fernando and Fernandinho helping the home side win the midfield battle against a Real Madrid side that were a little untidy in possession of the ball.
The clock hit 20 minutes and neither side had come close to working the opposition goalkeeper, but Real Madrid were starting to make ground in a wide position as Bale and Vazquez saw more of the ball in dangerous positions.
A rash challenge from Pepe in the 24th minute brought the Real Madrid centre-back a yellow card and presented Man City with a free kick in a very dangerous position, but it came to nothing as Kompany felled Casemiro inside the box.
Man City threatened during a five-minute spell in the build-up to the half-hour mark, and De Bruyne had a powerful strike blocked by Carvajal as Real Madrid continued to concede possession in dangerous positions.
Bale decided to try his luck for the visitors 10 minutes before the interval after finding a yard of space, but the Welshman's long-range strike deflected into the arms of Joe Hart, who had a very comfortable opening 35 minutes.
De Bruyne was the player making things happen for Man City in the final third, but Real Madrid's defensive shape made it very difficult for the Belgian to release Aguero, who had a very quiet first half of action.
The biggest cheer of the half came in the 40th minute when Kelechi Iheanacho was introduced for the home side, but it was a big blow for Man City as Silva limped off the pitch with a hamstring problem.
Real Madrid had a half-chance late in the first period when Pepe found Benzema inside the Man City box, but the Frenchman could only fire over the crossbar as the two teams headed down the tunnel level at 0-0.
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The visitors made one change at the interval, with Jese Rodriguez replacing Benzema, who was clearly struggling with a recent knee injury in the opening half of action. It was Jese that went through the middle for Los Blancos, allowing Bale and Vazquez to keep their positions in a wide area.
Aguero's first sight of goal came in the 47th minute when Fernandinho fed the Argentine outside the Real Madrid box, but the former Atletico Madrid striker's effort flew over Keylor Navas's crossbar.
Sergio Ramos had a free header in the 54th minute during a spell of Real Madrid pressure, but the Spanish international could only head a Kroos corner straight into the arms of the waiting Hart.
Real Madrid were more attacking in the second period as they started to move the ball from left to right in the final third, but the 65th minute passed and still neither side had created a clear opening at the Etihad. Kroos released one from outside the box in the 66th minute, but his effort was always wide of the post.
Jese had the game's first outstanding chance 20 minutes from time when he met a Carvajal cross inside the Man City box, but the Spaniard's header hit the top of the crossbar and dropped behind. Modric then had a go from distance as the visitors came close once again 15 minutes from time, but his effort cleared the target, before Bale curled one wide of Hart's post as the pressure built.
Casemiro was next to come close for Los Blancos 10 minutes from time after meeting a corner from Kroos, but the Brazilian could not beat Hart between the home side's sticks.
Real Madrid had another wonderful chance in the 82nd minute when Pepe found himself unmarked inside the Man City box, but the Portuguese could not beat Hart, who made a sensational close-range save.
Man City, who came close with a late De Bruyne free kick, appeared to run out of legs in the latter stages as they continued to concede possession, but Hart's heroics in the latter stages kept the score at 0-0 and left the tie delicately poised ahead of the return leg next week.
Matt Law
