Manchester City 0 Real Madrid 0 Johnny On The Spot & Stats Link

Johnny Baguette

Johnny Baguette

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Johnny On The Spot:

#SOLID. Not given a prayer media-wide ahead of this eagerly anticipated clash, Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City more than held their own against an illustrious Real Madrid side who were unable to exert close to full control of an intriguing encounter until the last quarter of the game, such had been City's intensity and bite in the tackle which was backed by a sensationally raucous Etihad crowd...You would have to be a naiive happy clapping BBC or BT pundit to declare this game as having been dull just because it wasn't riddled with Premier League chaos and a rain of goals. I thought City to a man were outstanding and I wholeheartedly agree with Vincent Kompany. This is a dangerous 0-0. If written off City can bag a goal in Madrid where the pressure will be all upon Real to finish the job, then anything can happen. We have had a good look at them now minus Ladyboy Riverdancer and have just registered a 5th clean sheet in an 8 match unbeaten run. There is plenty to run at and this remains game on....It will be less easy for the anti-City brigade to criticise the flawless Blues tonight. Much has been made of City not registering a shot on target until the dying moments but it took around an hour for Real to test the brilliant Joe Hart. City were robust and solid throughout with every man right at it. The loss of the string pulling and hamstring pulled David Silva was a blow, yet had City been able to muster the same collective high pressing throughout the game regardless, then Real would not have been afforded a sniff...My Men of The Match are Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany who typified The Blues competitive edge throughout. I further agree with Hart's assertion that we have a brilliant squad who are coming to fruition...Much as Real are expert at the dark arts of conning referees, a final word goes out to my fellow UEFA conspiracy theorists. It should again be noted that doubts over the organisation again hot balling the two most fancied sides remaining in the Champions League last four apart for the 8th season running and granting them both home ties in the second leg were backed up tonight by more elite club protectorate refereeing by Mr. Cakir who allowed numerous bad Real fouls and dives to go unpunished whilst pegging a countering City back repeatedly when bearing down on Ramos and Pepe. His influence on this result should not be set aside...That said, well played City. 17 years ago this week we lost 1-2 at home to Wycombe Wanderers in the English football third tier and we won't ever forget it... We're not really here but we have come of age in Europe now and the mantra for next week's second instalment remains never say never...

Stats Courtesy Sky Sports - All Rights Reserved
 
Manuel Pellegrini:

"We played a very intense game and defended well. We tried to create until David Silva got injured 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. When we had the ball, we could not make the difference. We could not score.

"This season we have played very well away. Now we go to the Bernabeu with the same attitude as playing at home. Real Madrid must attack a little bit more. You cannot take too much from the first leg, we can see from the second leg who will go through.

"David Silva has a hamstring injury and will not be fit in one week."
 
I thought the two Fs were excellent, and Otamendi justified his selection.
That's a pretty fair report on the game, and it's all to play for in the second leg. That's all we could ask for.
A good night, I enjoyed it.
 
Good to hear you enjoyed ColitK, apart from a win you can't ask for more.
Nothing to lose away from home and I reckon we will go ok!

Good report JB.
 
A dangerous 0-0 is a very good description of how things stand.

A superb performance by the unfancied 'guest' team in the semi finals which, sadly, I don't think it will get the credit it deserves by the ranks of media hacks. They, who never pick a losing team, will doubtless be complaining that City didn't win by a hatful - in fact I have already herd a BBC journo on the R5Live morning programme commenting that he fell asleep and was 'only woken by the Joe Hart saves'. The fact that the guy has to get up at stupid o'clock to broadcast didn't get factored into why he might just be a bit weary at nearly 10pm failed to get mentioned.

A mature, solid performance with everyone doing their part. The loss of Silva was a blow and he will be missed but remember - last time we played this mob at their place we took a 1-2 lead and, but for some inexperienced errors in the last few minpnutes, could have come away with a fantastic result.

Game on
 
What was evident City need to sharpen up their passing and be quicker in their movement, too many times when we had the ball, was to lose it to a sloppy pass.

On the other hand RM players weren't afraid to try and con the ref, e.g. Ramos for one one going down like a sack of spuds, which replays shows Sagna no-where near him. Cynical fouls e.g. Carvajal on Kevin De Bruyne.

The loss of David Silva is a blow, but I don't think he is 100% fit and this has not been a good season for our playmaker.

Can we do it there in Spain, why not!

before the start of the game yesterday, the spectacular silver and blue flags that spelt out city was magnificent, well done City :001:
 
Fernando's performance last night was his best for the Club, but neither could find that killer pass that Yaya Toure has in his bag, a big question is would Yaya play even if fit?
 
Yaya will play in Madrid that is nailed on. For all his efforts playing through kicked to death ankle injuries I would give Spanish Dave the rest of the season off to give him a proper shot at Euro 2016 if he wants the break.
 
The 5 at the back will be the same, but I would play the 2 ferns, Yaya plus Kol at left midfield to bolster our defence a tad more with Navas taking a rest on the bench, Red Kev on the right has plenty of pace. I say this to counter the lady boy, who will probably play. Benzema probably not. The team v Saints should be interesting.
 
Buzz Lightyear - 27/4/2016 07:40

Fernando's performance last night was his best for the Club, but neither could find that killer pass that Yaya Toure has in his bag, a big question is would Yaya play even if fit?
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I have to agree with you that this was his best game in a City shirt. Fernando is a player that I have felt was not quite City quality, but with more game time he is starting to show what he can do breaking up play.
 
It would've been great to have had the option of bringing on Yaya for the last 20 last night when the game became stretched.

But even if fit I wouldn't start him in Madrid. The system we started with last night had them rattled, so I think our best bet is to go same again with Sterling on the left in place of Silva. Bringing Yaya in upsets the balance, it pushes Kev wide where he's not nearly as effective and stunts our pressing game as the big man just doesn't have it in him and you need everyone on it to play that type of game.

Get at that Casemiro when he's in possession, he's their Fernando, great at breaking things up but not all that comfortable when he's pressed in possession.
 
JK I think you are right about the saints but we still need those 3 points and cannot sacrifice the game like we did against Chelsea in the FA Cup.

BTW Good luck to the Youngsters tonight in the 2nd Leg opf the FA Cup, poised at 1-1, where away goals do not count as double.
 
Photos from last night. I was sat two seats away.

https://twitter.com/MikeNumber5/status/725083356354994176

https://twitter.com/MikeNumber5/status/725219928006098944
 
johnkelv - 27/4/2016 09:58

The 5 at the back will be the same, but I would play the 2 ferns, Yaya plus Kol at left midfield to bolster our defence a tad more with Navas taking a rest on the bench, Red Kev on the right has plenty of pace. I say this to counter the lady boy, who will probably play. Benzema probably not. The team v Saints should be interesting.
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AK13 at left midfield could be interesting - as you say it would be both attacking but also offer cover against Ronaldo. Maybe save £49m for later in the match when his pace could prove useful should the game become stretched.

 
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