REAL MADRID-MAN CITY
Real Madrid - Manchchester City semi-final second leg live feed
A Fernando own goal was enough for Madrid to seal a 1-0 aggregate win over Man City and book their place in the Champions League final.
Real Madrid will face city rivals Atlético in this year's Champions League final after a Fernando own goal handed Los Blancos a 1-0 aggregate victory in their last-four tie with Manchester City.
The clash in Milan on 28 May will be a repeat of the tournament's 2014 showpiece occasion in Lisbon, when a last-gasp Sergio Ramos header helped Real defeat their capital neighbours 4-1 after extra time.
City were dealt a major blow just ten minutes into Wednesday night's semi-final second leg at the Bernabéu, when captain Vincent Kompany was forced off injured.
And they missed the Belgian, as the hosts dominated a meek City team for much of the encounter and, after Cristiano Ronaldo had sent a header off target, took a deserved lead with 20 minutes on the clock.
Dani Carvajal slipped in Gareth Bale on the right-hand side of the box, and the ex-Spurs man's cross took a touch off Fernando and beat keeper Joe Hart's despairing dive to find its way in off the far post.
Real then had the ball in the net again a quarter of an hour later, but saw Ramos' close-range effort ruled out for offside.
Despite having been second best throughout the initial 45, City could have gone in level when Kevin De Bruyne fed Fernandinho in a great shooting position on the edge of the box. However, the midfielder dragged his attempt onto the outside of the post and wide.
Madrid remained the better side after the break, but were unable to kill off the semi-final tie, coming closest as Luka Modric spurned a wonderful one-on-one chance from Bale's dinked pass before the Welshman himself headed against the bar.
In between that pair of openings, Hart remained alive to twice save from Cristiano.
And with City, who had generated scant attacking danger in the second period, still just the one away goal from stealing a final berth against the run of play, Real had to endure an unduly nervous finish to the night.
Never more so than when the hitherto anonymous Sergio Agüero fired a dipping drive just over Keylor Navas' bar in the 89th minute of the regulation 90, momentarily leaving Real hearts in mouths.
But the final whistle spelled the end for City - who just did not do enough to earn a first-ever final place - and sparked celebrations for Real, who go to the San Siro bidding to lift 'La Undécima': an unprecedented eleventh continental crown.
Here's how the action unfolded:
FT: Peeep peeep! It's all over! Despite a nervous finish, Real win on the night and over the two legs, and deserve to be through to Milan - where they face a re-match of the 2014 final against city rivals Atlético Madrid. Los Blancos were the better side for the overwhelming majority of the evening, and really should have saved themselves those jittery last few minutes. As for City, they just did not demonstrate sufficient purpose or conviction, or pose enough of a threat going forward - failing to get a shot on target - and only seemed to show the belief that they might actually be able to win the tie when time was running out on them. Hope you've enjoyed reading. Bye!
Min 95 | Real are finishing on the attack, as first James misses his kick in the area before Cristiano sees a shot blocked and out for a corner.
Min 93 | Madrid break, and if Kovacic had got his pass right James was in! But he didn't, and he wasn't. Otamendi is then in the book for a foul on Cristiano, and Real earn themselves a welcome corner from the resulting free-kick. But City break... Only to give it right back to the hosts. That is surely that.
Min 91 | Four minutes of added time, and Real are rather looking forward to the final whistle now.
Min 90 | Keylor races out to clear a renewed City attack - and pulls up injured! No subs left for Real... Hold on, it looks like he can soldier on for the last few minutes. He doesn't look right, though.
Min 89 | Uffff! Agüero has Real hearts in mouths as he receives on the corner of the 18-yard area, looks up and sends a vicious, dipping effort just over Navas' bar! He's done zip for the last 89 minutes, but that could have been his moment.
Min 88 | Final change for Real and it's Croat for Croat, Modric making his way off the field to loud appreciation from the home support, and Mateo Kovacic coming on.
Min 86 | Bale tries to drive between Otamendi and Fernandinho on the left, tumbles to the floor and is told to get up, much to his - and the rest of the Bernabéu's - indignation. Zidane prowls the touchline, looking a mite edgy. He did say going out would be a 'disaster', after all.
Min 83 | The nerves are starting to creep in among the home faithful as City begin to show a little more attacking purpose. Sterling is halfed on the left by Vázquez, who earns a yellow card and gives De Bruyne a chance to fire it into the box from the left. The Belgian attempts to catch Navas out at his near post, but finds the side-netting.
Min 80 | De Bruyne finds Sterling on the left with a terrific cross-field ball, and the former Liverpool player has a chance to deliver something for the hitherto anonymous Agüero, but Marcelo blocks and wins the throw-in. Wasted oppportunity for City, who just need one moment of magic to send Real out against the run of play.
Min 77 | Kroos and Marcelo are both down on the turf as Lucas Vázquez takes on his man on the right, cuts inside and gets a shot away - but it's blocked. Good positive play from the Real youth product. The German was sprawling on the grass after a challenge by Fernandinho, and he didn't like it one bit.
Min 73 | A goal would still send City through - despite being second best throughout tonight - but to get one of those they'll need to carve out something approaching danger in the Real half.
Min 72 | Second caution of the night as Fernando hauls down Modric and can have very few complaints as Mr Skomina gets out his book.
Min 69 | Third and final substitution for the guests, who bring on wunderkind Kelechi Iheanacho, fresh from his two-goal salvo at the weekend. Sterling then has a chance to cross, but appears to slip as he does so and Ramos comfortably heads clear. City have created absolutely sweet Fanny Adams going forward in this second period.
Min 67 | Second change for the hosts, with James Rodríguez replacing Isco. Warm applause for the man making way.
Min 64 | Bale off the bar! The resulting corner sees the Welshman rise the highest, but it bounces back off the woodwork! And that moment is followed by comedy from Cristiano, as Pepe feeds it back into the centre and the ex-Man Utd man, seeing that he's offside, plops the ball into the net with his hand! He escapes punishment as the ball was dead, though.
Min 63 | You lucky boy, Mangala. The France defender slips as he blocks Modric's through-ball and Ronaldo is onto it like a shot. He gets it out of his feet and fires towards goal, but Clichy gets a foot to it to take the sting off it and send it out for a corner.
Min 61 | Second sub for City as Touré comes off after a less than sterling display - for Sterling. He'll play on the left, with De Bruyne coming into the middle behind Agüero.
Min 58 | Vázquez feeds Cristiano to cross, but it's cut out. A minute later, it's then slipped into Cristiano to pull the trigger first-time just inside the area - but his low strike is right at Hart. Real are not finding it difficult to get themselves into shooting positions here.
Min 55 | First substitution for Real as Jesé makes way for Lucas Vázquez. That change seems to have Vázquez taking up station on the right, Cristiano moving into the middle and Bale sliding to the left.
Min 54 | Carvajal crosses, Ronaldo rises to head... But Hart gathers. Another very presentable chance there - just couldn't generate enough power to get it back across the England goalkeeper..
Min 52 | What an opportunity for Modric! Bale cuts in from the right flank and dinks a ball over the top for the Croatia international as the City defence all move up and turn to the assistant referee for a flag, which doesn't come. Modric, clearly thinking he's off, is denied by Hart as he attempts to place it into the corner from six yards... And when he realises he was onside, he's a picture of utter dejection.
Min 51 | Now Jesé has a sight of goal, but sends his strike over Hart's bar on the run!
Min 50 | Bale finds Cristiano peeling off the shoulder of his marker with a lovely diagonal pass, but the Portuguese can only scuff it straight at Hart. Again, shame. De Bruyne then has a chance to shoot on the turn for City , but also scuffs his effort inside the area.
Min 48 | Ooooh, shame. Touré wafts a pass towards the right that is intercepted by Jesé, who sets off like a traction engine down the wing, hurdling Nicolas Otamendi and getting himself into a great position to pull it back into the box. But after his express-train exertions to get there, he seems exhausted and can only trundle it into Hart's arms.
Min 46 | Real are immediately on the attack, Carvajal volleying a cross towards Cristiano, who's offside. Bale's apparent fitness issue at the back end of the first half looks, for now, to have been a false alarm.
Peeep! The teams are back out on the billiard table that is the Bernabéu turf, and we're underway!
HT: Real Madrid 1-0 Man City. The hosts have been well on top and thoroughly deserve their lead. Man City have been second best so far in Madrid and really could have done without losing inspirational captain Vincent Kompany to an early injury - but for now their task remains the same as before kick-off: get that all-important away goal and they, not Real, are going to Milan. Fernandinho might have done just that late in the opening period, but sent his effort inches wide.
Min 47 | Jesé wins a corner, Kroos delivers and it's back out for another corner. The former Bayern Munich man's second kick is also dealt with, and that is that. Half time at the Bernabéu.
Min 45 | Two minutes added on at the end of the first half. Bale looks like he's struggling...
Min 44 | Chance for City! De Bruyne feeds Fernandinho running towards the left-hand edge of the box, the Brazilian gets it out of his feet and fires it low to Navas' near post - and it's off the outside of the woodwork! Best opening thus far for the away side.
Min 43 | Bale is certainly in the mood, and needs no second invitation to have a dig from range as he drives into space in the City half. Hart clutches his low effort, though.
Min 41 | Corner for City, a chance to grab a priceless away goal just before the break - but De Bruyne sends it right into Navas' arms. Yaya Touré (has he been on the field the whole time?) then locates Gael Clichy in a threatening position on the left of the box, but the Frenchman fumbles about a bit before the chance is lost.
Min 40 | Real attack yet again and Marcelo's dangerous cross travels all the way across the box!
Min 39 | "Come on City! Come on City" shout the travelling faithful. I could think of choicer things to say to them at the moment.
Min 35 | Fernandinho blocks off Kroos and it's a free-kick for Real to swing in. The German is over it, and swings it in to the far post, where Pepe nudges it down and Ramos buries it! But it's ruled out for offside! Close shave for City, who could probably do with the half-time whistle.
Min 32 | Agüero is down and clutching his face as if hit by a well-trained sniper up in the Bernabéu gods... Ramos' arm did catch him as they tussled for the ball, but it was by his side and there was zero intent. There was a lovely piece of sizzling samba skill from Marcelo to skin Fernandinho earlier, by the way.
MIn 30 | De Bruyne is the first man into the book after pulling down Marcelo.
Min 27 | Real are calling for a penalty as Jesé's attempted cross looks to bounce of Mangala's arm, but there's nothing doing. His hand was right by his side and it would have been harsh, to be fair.
Min 26 | Cristiano takes on Bacary Sagna on the left flank, bamboozles the Frenchman with a little stepover and wins a threatening free-kick. It comes to nothing, however, as Hart punches clear.
Min 24 | Cristiano Ronaldo shoots over! City then break dangerously and Navas has a chance to cross down the other end, but it's too close to Keylor.
Min 22 | City look to respond immediately as Fernando sends a header over. The visitors have been massively second best so far, but in truth their task hasn't changed a whole lot. They needed a goal before, and one now would still send them through.
Min 20 | Goaaaaaal! Real Madrid take the lead and it's that man Gareth Bale with his first Champions League goal of the season! Carvajal slips the Welshman in on the right of the area, and his shot takes a touch off Fernando before flying in off the far post with Joe Hart helpess! You can't say it hasn't been coming.
Min 18 | Luka Modric scuttles forward, drops a shoulder and looks ready to shoot from the edge of the box, but is muscled off it by a combination of Fernandinho and Fernando. The Croat pleads for a free-kick, but the referee is very much unmoved. Real dominating.
Min 15 | You always know you're watching the business end of the Champions League when they're playing in daylight. As for the actual match, Carvajal has an inviting chance to cross for Real, but his delivery is skewiff.
Min 13 | The Bernabéu applauds as Real attack twice, win it back quickly twice, and go again for a third time as Carvajal receives on the right and pings in a cross towards Cristiano - but his header is off target. The Portuguese yelps in frustration.
Min 12 | Fernandinho appears to have Navas scampering through on the right, but the flag is up.
Min 10 | Big blow for City as captain fantastic Vincent Kompany goes down after playing a pass in the middle of the park - and can't continue! Eliaquim Mangala is on in his stead.
Min 7 | Danger for the Real defence for just a moment as Navas feeds Sergio Agüero, whose instant control sees him face to face with Pepe on the edge of the area, but rather than pull the trigger the Argentine feeds Kevin De Brune. The Belgian looks to feed it back to Agüero, but Carvajal is there.
Min 5 | Good thrusting run from Isco, who looks to slip it into Jesé running into the left-hand side of the box, but City get it out for a corner, which comes to nought.
Min 3 | First real forward incursion as Dani Carvajal looks to link up with Jesé, who was offside. Jesús Navas then crosses for City, Keylor Navas punching clear.
Min 2 | Confirmation that, as expected, Jesé Rodríguez is playing through the middle, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale either side of him.
Peeeep! We are underway at the Bernabéu. Real bidding to make it to their 14th European Cup final, Man City out to get to their very first.
Two mins to go | "Hagámoslo Real" ('Let's do this Real') reads the banner in the stands.
Three mins to go | The teams are out and that wonderful anthem is blaring. Cristiano Ronaldo looks well chuffed to be allowed back out to play with his Real chums.
Real Madrid XI: Navas, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Modric, Kroos, Isco, Bale, Jesé, Cristiano.
Man City XI: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Touré, Navas, De Bruyne, Agüero.
The San Siro stadium Milan on May 28 will host the showpiece of the 2015/16 Champions League. We know that Atletico Madrid will be there as finalists after their stubborn backs-to-the wall defensive approach against Bayern Munich was enough to see them make the final on the away goals rule.
Who joins them in the Italian city will be resolved tonight at the Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid take on Manchester City (kick-off 20:45 CET) following a 0-0 last Tuesday at the Etihad Stadium.
Real Madrid come into the game as favourites but Zidane has to contend with key injuries to Casemiro and French striker Karim Benzema. Despite being declared 100% fit, there will also be major focus on how Cristiano Ronaldo holds up over the duration of the game after missing last week's first leg at the last minute as the player from Madeira failed a last minute fitness test in Manchester.
Manuel Pellegrini rested many key players last weekend as Southampton ran out 4-2 winners and will be without key play-maker David Silva. The good news for the 10,000 travelling City fans is the expected return of Yaya Toure as the English side hope to make club history in securing their first ever Champions League final.