Real eyeing win and clean sheet in City first leg - Marcelo

Real Madrid defender Marcelo was in upbeat mood as he looked ahead to Los Blancos' Champions League semi-final against Manchester City.

Madrid go into the last four of Europe's premier club competition bidding for their eleventh continental crown, having also hauled themselves back into contention for the Spanish championship, winning their last eight in the league to lie one point behind rivals Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.

"We're in the Champions League semi-finals and are fighting for the La Liga title," Marcelo said in an interview published on the club's official website as Real prepare for the first leg at the Etihad Stadium.

"We're in fine form. We're going to go out to win on Tuesday, just as we always do. We going to try and not concede, because that'll be important ahead of the second game".

He continued: "It's a massive game and it's one that everyone will be watching. These are the Champions League semi-finals and they're incredible. For sure in the days leading up to the game you feel the butterflies in your stomach and you're on edge for the whole week, but that helps me focus even more on what I'm going to do".

And the full-back spoke effusively about 'special' Real boss Zinedine Zidane, noting: "He's special because not so long ago he was an idol. The players respect him as a coach, they see him as a recent idol and that's superb."