Man City Vs Real Madrid: 2016 champions league semi

Man City host Real Madrid in Champions League semi-finals on 26 April at the Etihad Stadium in the opening leg before playing the return game at the Bernabéu on 4 May. Real Madrid are in their 27th European Cup semi-final and Manchester City their first.

It's a semi final so it's going to be a very very difficult game. "The only thing that's positive is that Real Madrid are playing the second leg at home; that's positive but it's going to be a very difficult tie, a brutal tie", according to Zidane, the current coach.

According to Pellegrini, the coach of ManCity, "It is a difficult draw. It didn't matter which team we were paired with, I didn't have a preference. There is no greater motivation. The motivation to play the semi-final is always unbelievable. Winning the Champions League is always important but at Real Madrid you must win a trophy. They are playing in the semi-final and they still have a chance in the league."

Pellegrini had once coached Real Madrid in 2009 season and he understands them a bit, but its going to be a tough game, to say the least. Personally, am a C Ronaldo fan, and a Madridsta.
 May the best team win!

 Real Madrid scored two late goals to beat Manchester City on matchday one in 2012/13, Karim Benzema (87) and Cristiano Ronaldo (90) earning a 3-2 victory. Marcelo (76) scored the home side's first goal; Aleksandar Kolarov (85) got City's second.

• The game in Manchester finished 1-1, Sergio Agüero's 73rd-minute penalty cancelling out Benzema's tenth-minute opener.

• Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last eight games against English clubs, and have won their last three such matches. Their record at home to English clubs is W7 D5 L2; overall it is P32 W13 D9 L10 F47 A38.

• City have already beaten Spanish opposition this season, defeating Sevilla 2-1 (home) and 3-1 (away) in the group stage.

• That win in Seville was City's second in Spain, where their record is W2 D1 L6. Overall against Liga sides it is P15 W5 D3 L7 F25 A24.

• This is Madrid's 27th European Cup semi-final (W13 L13) and City's first.

• City manager Pellegrini was in charge of Madrid in 2009/10, being replaced by José Mourinho.

• Ronaldo played for City's local rivals Manchester United between 2003 and 2009, scoring 84 goals in 196 Premier League games. He won league titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and scored in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, when Sir Alex Ferguson's side beat Chelsea on penalties in Moscow. Ronaldo was also in the side beaten by Barcelona 12 months later.

• Ronaldo's record against City with United was W7 D1 L3. He scored four goals – all in United wins, including the only one in a 1-0 success at the City of Manchester Stadium in May 2007, but was sent off twice in away games: City's 4-1 win in March 2004 and a 1-0 United success in November 2008.

• Sergio Agüero failed to beat Real Madrid in five years at Atlético Madrid between 2006 and 2011, when he departed for City. His record was D3 L8, scoring three goals – all in Atlético defeats.