Man City vs Real Madrid LIVE: Result and reaction as brilliant City cruise into Champions League final

Potent attacking forces

Both sides will need to be wary of each other’s attacking weapons. For City the partnership between the prolific Erling Haaland and the irrepressible Kevin De Bruyne is key. When the pair are in tune – and they often are – few can handle them.

With the likes of Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva adding to the supply lines, there is little opportunity to switch off when playing them.

Yet Real boast a fearsome front line themselves in Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and the exciting young Brazilian talents of Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior.

Evenly-matched sides

The tie is evenly poised after last week’s 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu. Man City proved they can dominate in terms of possession but Real were sharp on the counter.

Home advantage favours City but Real’s pedigree and history, with 14 European titles to their name, often comes to the fore. These aspects could cancel each other out, leaving neither side with a distinct edge over the other.

The outcome is in the balance and could go either way.

Real Madrid shrugged off a delay at the airport to arrive at the Etihad Stadium in relaxed mood ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City.

The European champions had to wait for more than half an hour in the arrivals hall at Manchester Airport on Tuesday after their team bus was unable to collect them on time.

Yet Carlo Ancelotti’s squad were soon transported to the stadium where they trained ahead of Wednesday’s clash, which will begin on a knife edge after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Bernabeu last week.

“My plan is the same as always: to try to get the best out of our team both individually and collectively.” said the Real Madrid boss, Carlo Ancelotti, when asked how he was preparing for tonight’s game.

“This is going to be a match that will demand a lot from us and we can perform better than we did in the first leg. That’s what we’ll try to do tomorrow. Courage and personality are extremely important factors in this type of game. I want to see my team read the game well. “This is my fourth year at this club. I’ve enjoyed my time and I enjoy every day. It’s my legacy to coach this team and these players and try to get the best out of the squad. We’re very close to doing something significant and we’re well up for it. We know it’s really hard, but the challenges push us to perform at our best.”

Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, said he is "full of hope" that his side can overcome Manchester City to reach the Champions League final for the sixth time in 10 years.

"We are close to doing something important. We are full of hope, motivated. It is going to be tough tomorrow but sometimes we get the most out of ourselves in difficult situations," said the Italian.

"The plan is the same as ever, to try and get as much out of the players [as possible]. I think we can do better than we did in the first leg, but I think they do too.

"Today, I am calm and full of hope. Matchday is the day when the worries come in. You think things through, whether [Erling] Haaland is going to score, or [Kevin] De Bruyne is going to hurt you. It is about managing your head.

"The match is unpredictable. If you think you are the best team in the world, it doesn’t mean you are 100% sure to win. It is not just about quality, it is about personality and mentality."

Pep Guardiola names an unchanged team to the one that earned a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu in the first leg. Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish all start.

Carlo Ancelotti meanwhile has made just one change. Eder Militao starts ahead of Antonio Rudiger in central defence.

Pep Guardiola has named his team to face Real Madrid. Here’s the starting XI:

Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Akanji; Rodri, Gundogan; De Bruyne, Silva, Grealish; Haaland

The winners of tonight’s match will face Inter Milan in Istanbul on Saturday, 10th June, in the Champions League final after the Italian side beat rivals AC Milan 3-0 on aggregate yesterday.

It is the first time in 13 years that Inter have been in the European showpiece but they won the title in 2010 on that previous appearance.

Pep Guardiola has claimed his legacy at Manchester City is “exceptional” whether or not he wins the Champions League.

The Catalan needs one more victory to secure a fifth Premier League trophy in six seasons and became the first manager to do a domestic treble in 2018-19, as well as setting a top-flight points record of 100 the previous year.

But this is his seventh attempt to win the Champions League with City, who lost the 2021 final and host Real Madrid on Wednesday after drawing 1-1 in the first leg of their semi-final in what Guardiola accepted is one of the most significant games of his reign.

Guardiola believes his side do not need to do anything incredible to beat Carlo Ancelotti’s side but feels he will be remembered more for the quality of football his side have played.

Pep Guardiola says his career will not be defined by whether or not Manchester City can win the Champions League.

Claiming Europe’s top prize has been Guardiola’s aim since he arrived in Manchester and although his team have come close they are yet to lift the trophy.

"I have been here many times," he said. "My legacy is exceptional already. I have told the players to enjoy the moment - we are incredibly lucky to be here.

"It’s in our hands, it depends on us, we don’t have to do something exceptional - just win one game to reach the final.

"I have an incredible feeling about them. Whatever happens - thank you so much to them for bringing me and the City fans here again."