Evening all! Sports Mole's live Champions League coverage continues from the Spanish capital as Real Madrid welcome Manchester City for the second leg of their semi-final. The pair played out a goalless draw in the first leg last week, leaving this last-four clash delicately poised tonight! Should be a good one!

Kickoff is not actually for another two hours – well just under. However, we will have all of the build-up and indeed the team news, which is expected to land in the next hour. Both managers have had injury concerns in the build-up and it will be fascinating to see who has made it and who has not. A certain Cristiano Ronaldo should return for Real Madrid, but Karim Benzema is OUT for the home team.

There was not an awful lot to choose between the two teams in Manchester last week, but Real Madrid came on strong in the second period and on another night, would have secured a first-leg advantage. Man City stopper Joe Hart made some super saves late on, however, to keep the score goalless. It is simple for Man City – any score draw or win would see them make their first ever Champions League final.

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Unsurprisingly, Man City against Real Madrid is not a fixture that has been too prominent in European football. In fact, before last week, the pair had actually only met on two previous occasions and both of those fixtures came in the group stage of the 2012-13 Champions League. In Madrid, Real Madrid twice came from behind to secure a 3-2 victory courtesy of a late strike from a certain Ronaldo.

The winner of tonight's semi-final will take on Atletico Madrid in the final of the competition on May 28 in Milan. Atletico lost 2-1 at Bayern Munich in the second leg of their semi-final last night, but went through on away goals following a 1-0 victory in Madrid last week. It is Atletico's second Champions League final in three years and they might well have the chance to get some revenge on Real Madrid!

Real Madrid's grounds manager Paul Burgess has just tweeted and the Bernabeu pitch looks in excellent shape for tonight's match. The "finishing touches" are currently taking place here...

Finishing touches &the pitch is ready @ChampionsLeague ,we host Man City, nights like tonight is what it's all about pic.twitter.com/q3CytieH96 — Paul Burgess (@paul_pburgess) 4 May 2016

In truth, the contrast in European Cup semi-final experience between these two teams could not be more extreme. Indeed, this is Man City's first ever semi-final in this competition, but Real Madrid are in the last-four stage for a record 27th time. Los Blancos have won 13 and lost 13 of their previous semi-finals and have reached this stage of the Champions League for the sixth successive season.

Real Madrid have actually only won one of their last six Champions League semi-finals and that was against Bayern Munich in the 2013-14 season, when they went on to lift a 10th title following victory over city rivals Atletico in the final. The Spanish outfit are also unbeaten in their last nine games against English sides in the Champions League – recording six wins in the process. Indeed, the last British team to knock them out of the Champions League was Liverpool in the 2008-09 round of 16.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were, at the very start, expected to make the semi-finals this season, but they were supposed to be joined by the holders Barcelona and one other. Instead, Atletico dumped Barcelona out of the competition in the quarter-finals and Man City beat Paris Saint-Germain. Man City were always going to draw a monster in the final four and although they avoided Pep Guardiola's Bayern, 10-time winners Real Madrid were the team waiting for Manuel Pellegrini's side.

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Real Madrid absolutely breezed through the group stages of this season's competition – winning five of their six fixtures to finish on 16 points. They were three points ahead of second-place PSG in Group D, with Shakhtar Donetsk dropping into the Europa League and Malmo eliminated from European competition. Incredibly, Real Madrid scored 19 times in their six group matches and only conceded three times.

A tricky last-16 tie pitted Real Madrid against Roma, but Los Blancos made light work of the Italian outfit – winning both legs 2-0 to continue their excellent record in the competition. Then came drama, then came a serious threat from Wolfsburg, who were supposed to roll over in the quarter-finals. It was supposed to be a comfortable progression for Zinedine Zidane's side, but they were given a big scare!

Indeed, Wolfsburg recorded a shock 2-0 victory in the first leg of their quarter-final to leave Real Madrid with much to do in the return, but Ronaldo – who else – hit a hat-trick at the Bernabeu to secure a 3-2 aggregate win. As mentioned, Los Blancos have actually lost five of their last six Champions League semi-finals, however, which is an incredible record for the 10-time winners.

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That said, at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid have been very strong in this season's Champions League. They have won all five of their home games this term – including an 8-0 victory over Malmo in the group stages, which is the joint-biggest victory in 24 years of the Champions League. They have scored 18 Champions League goals in the Spanish capital this season and conceded zero.

The stage... The smell.. Makes ya wanna play again! #Madrid #UCL pic.twitter.com/itnYDzw0xI — Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) 4 May 2016

Los Blancos are also unbeaten in their last four home games against Premier League visitors and they have not been beaten by English opposition since the 2008-09 round of 16 second leg, when they lost 4-0 against Liverpool – their heaviest ever Champions League defeat. Overall, Real Madrid's record in two-legged ties against English opposition is won seven and lost four.

At home, Real Madrid have won seven of their 14 meetings with English opposition in Europe and have only lost one of their last 29 home games in the Champions League, which is some record! Man City have given themselves a real chance after drawing 0-0 last week, but Real Madrid in the Spanish capital are a completely different animal. Incredibly, Real Madrid have also won all but one of the 23 previous UEFA competition ties where they earned a first-leg draw away from home. The exception to that rule came back in 1991, when they crashed out of the European Champion Clubs' Cup to Spartak Moscow in the quarter-finals.

All of Real Madrid's focus tonight will be on European matters, but they kept their La Liga title challenge alive at the weekend with a 1-0 victory at Real Sociedad. It was Gareth Bale that popped up with a second-half winner to ensure that Zinedine Zidane's side stayed in the race with two games left.

As it stands, Real Madrid remain third in La Liga, but they are just one point off the leaders Barcelona and indeed a point off second-place Atletico. This weekend, Zidane's team will welcome Valencia to the Bernabeu, before ending their season away to Deportivo La Coruna. They have to win both games and hope that Barcelona and Atletico both drop points. Very exciting race in Spain!

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BREAKING TEAM NEWS! Cristiano Ronaldo returns to the Real Madrid XI tonight, while Jese Rodriguez and Isco both start for the Spanish giants. As for Man City, David Silva is out with a hamstring problem, but Yaya Toure has shaken off a muscular injury to start. Full teams to follow here...

TEAMS:

REAL: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Jese, Ronaldo

CITY: Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando; Navas, Toure, De Bruyne; Aguero

As you can see, Ronaldo is present in the Real Madrid XI. The Portuguese missed the first leg last week with a thigh problem, but he returns to the team tonight. Just how fit he is in another question, but the 31-year-old starts for the home side. Karim Benzema and Casemiro miss out through hamstring and hip injuries respectively, allowing Jese Rodriguez and Isco spots in the selection.

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As for Man City, David Silva is out with a hamstring problem, but Yaya Toure has overcome a muscular injury to start. Kevin de Bruyne, Vincent Kompany and Fernando all return to the team, while Jesus Navas keeps his spot in a wide position. Kelechi Iheanacho's double against Southampton at the weekend is not enough to hand him a start, with Sergio Aguero the lone forward.

So there we have it. The team news is now in and we are just about 45 minutes from kickoff on this warm evening in Madrid. I have spoken in-depth about 10-time winners Real Madrid, but what about Man City? Well what about them? Let me run through their facts and figures ahead of what is the biggest game in their history. It must also be said that the atmosphere is really building at the Bernabeu!

Man City were drawn into a difficult group alongside last season's finalists Juventus, Europa League winners Sevilla and tricky German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach. Pellegrini's side lost two of their six Group D fixtures, but qualified in first position after beating Gladbach 4-2 in the final round of fixtures. Italian champions Juventus took second spot with 11 points, while it was Spanish outfit Sevilla who dropped into the Europa League, where they have reached the semi-finals once again.

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In truth, Man City were handed a favourable draw in the first knockout round and they beat Dynamo Kiev 3-1 on aggregate to advance into the quarter-finals, where PSG were waiting. The French champions had impressively beaten Chelsea in the last round, but Man City picked up a 2-2 draw in France, before winning 1-0 at the Etihad to book a surprise spot in the semi-finals for the first time.

Man City's last two Champions League campaigns finished in the round of 16, when they were beaten by Barcelona on both occasions. Overall, Man City have faced Spanish opposition on 15 times in European competition – winning five and suffering seven defeats. They are very inexperienced at this stage, but have already beaten some very good teams to earn a spot in the semi-finals.

Man City might have never reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, but their head coach Pellegrini took Villarreal to the final four in the 2005-06 season, before losing out to Arsenal. Pellegrini will leave the Etihad at the end of this season and while the chance to win another Premier League title is gone, delivering the Champions League would be the perfect way to depart.

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The English side have won three of their five away games in the Champions League this season, but they did lose 1-0 at Juventus in their penultimate group match. Man City's away record against Spanish opposition is won two, drawn one and lost five, but they have won on two of their last four trips to Spain.

Man City have lost all five of their previous UEFA competition ties where they drew the first leg at home, including one where the score was 0-0 – against Turkish giants Fenerbahce in the 1968 European Cup. The fact that they stopped Real Madrid scoring an away goal last week was a big positive, but all Real Madrid have to do tonight is win and they are well used to that here!

While Real Madrid have won their last 10 La Liga matches to drag themselves back into the title race, Man City face a battle to finish in the top four of the Premier League this season. They have had to watch Leicester City win the title and will enter tonight's match off the back of a disappointing 4-2 defeat at Southampton on Sunday afternoon. It was a very different XI though!

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The defeat at St Mary's left them in fourth spot in the table – only four points above fifth-place Manchester United, who have a game in hand. Despite reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, elimination tonight and failure to make the top four would be seen as a poor campaign.

It is not as if Man City have a nice match to come this weekend, meanwhile, as they prepare to host Arsenal, who now have their eyes on a top-two finish, on Sunday afternoon. Both teams have tough fixtures to come, however, and tonight's focus will be purely on European matters. Kickoff is getting very close at the Bernabeu and Zidane has been talking to the media ahead of a 'must-win' match.

Real Madrid boss Zidane told reporters: "It will be a disaster if we don't go through. This will be a tougher game than the first leg because we know it will all be decided. They have good players, especially up front, but we'll play our football as always. We need to be patient and calm."

Real Madrid have also, of course, been boosted by the return of a certain Ronaldo tonight. The Portuguese has 16 goals in the Champions League this season, which is one short of the record for a single campaign, which he set during the 2013-14 campaign. There is talk that the 31-year-old will be allowed to leave the Bernabeu this summer, but he has 47 goals in 44 games this season and 360 in 344 appearances for the Spanish giants in total. Oh, there is also the small matter of his 78 goals in 73 Champions League games for Real Madrid. The man is an absolute machine and I fancy him to have a big say tonight!

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PREDICTION! I have to back Real Madrid tonight. For me, Man City needed to win last week to stand a chance of progressing and I am finding it very difficult to imagine Real Madrid not winning this match. Man City will be dangerous on the counter-attack, but I fancy a 2-0 home win tonight.

Just a reminder of the two teams for tonight's match...

REAL: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Jese, Ronaldo

CITY: Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando; Navas, Toure, De Bruyne; Aguero

16 - Cristiano Ronaldo has scored twice as many goals (16) as Man City's starting XI (8) in the Champions League this season. Lethal. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 4 May 2016

KICKOFF! Here we go then - the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. The time for talking is over. We are level at 0-0 in the tie and a spot in the final of the 2016 Champions League is on offer! It is the away side that kick things off inside the Bernabeu...

... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. As expected, Real Madrid are enjoying early possession as they move the ball from left to right. Man City will be more than happy to sit in and play on the counter-attack, especially while the score is still goalless.

Jese is playing through the middle for the home side tonight, with Bale on the right and Ronaldo on the left. Not too much to report in terms of attacking football in the opening four minutes - it is all a little bit nervy. Man City have their first chance to break with Navas, but his cross fails to find a teammate.

Just a reminder that tonight's winner will face Atletico Madrid in the final of the competition on May 28. Will it be a repeat of the 2014 final between the two Madrid giants? The home side have the chance to threaten with a corner from the left, but Hart manages to collect after Pepe made contact.

Aguero has the chance to face-up to Pepe, but the Real Madrid centre-back is on hand to make the challenge. Eventually the ball is fed into De Bruyne, but Carvajal is across to close down the space.

Man City have a problem here as Kompany hits the deck and stays there...

... the replays do not look great. That could be the end of Kompany's night. You have to feel for the big Belgian, who has had so many injury problems and is such a big player for this football club.

MAN CITY SUB! Mangala replaces Kompany for the away side.

Man City have to regroup after losing their skipper, who has just been unable to shake off a whole host of muscular problems this season. Mangala has the speed and physique to deal with Real Madrid's attack, but there are serious question marks over the Frenchman's positional work.

CHANCE! First sight of goal for the home side as Carvajal delivers onto the head of Ronaldo from a wide position, but the attacker's effort was always too high. Let-off for Man City there!

Man City are struggling to keep the ball at the moment as the home side continue to make ground in the final third. Kompany's injury seems to have harmed the visitors and that is no real surprise.

Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the last few moments, but Real Madrid are the team on the front foot as they continue to attack down the left. Ronaldo has been moving pretty well in the opening 18 minutes and has, so far, come the closest to making the breakthrough here.

Marcelo looks to release Ronaldo down the left, but the Portuguese and stayed and Man City can build from the back. Moments before, Modric was unfortunate not to win a free kick outside the box following a late challenge from Fernando. Still goalless with 20 minutes on the clock at the Bernabeu.

Breakthrough! Real Madrid take the lead in the 20th minute as Carvajal slides a super pass into Bale and the Welshman's right-footed strike finds the top corner via a slight deflection! It had been coming!

Half-chance for the visitors, but Fernando heads a De Bruyne corner over the target.

Isco sets up Ronaldo on the edge of the Man City box as the home side threaten once again, but the 31-year-old's effort was always too high. Man City really need to find a way to settle here.

Sagna chops Ronaldo to the deck and Real Madrid have a free kick in a wide position here...

... Kroos delivers towards Ramos, but Hart manages to punch clear. Just a reminder that any score draw would see Man City through so the visitors are still well in this semi-final at the Bernabeu.

Man City are really struggling to keep hold of the ball here, but De Bruyne looks dangerous when he is given space to turn in the final third. The visitors manage to enjoy a spell of possession in the final third of the field, but De Bruyne cannot control a pass from Toure and Marcelo is across.

BOOKING! De Bruyne (Man City) is booked for a late challenge on Marcelo.

We have not seen an awful lot from Aguero in the opening 32 minutes and credit must be given to Ramos and Pepe, who have been first to everything for the home side here. Ramos is first to Aguero in the most recent attack, however, and Man City win a free kick in the opposition half!

Half-chance for the away side as Navas delivers a super ball into the Real Madrid box, but Carvajal is across to clear ahead of Aguero, who looked to be favourite to tap home from close range.

The referee brings the play back as Fernandinho dives into Kroos and the Brazilian is fortunate to escape a yellow card. Man City just need to keep their heads in the latter stages of the first period.

GOAL DISALLOWED! Real Madrid have the ball in the back of the net as Ramos converts from close range, but Ramos and Pepe were both in offside positions. Let-off for the away side there!

Possession for the home side as we approach the final five minutes of the first period. As it stands, Man City are still very much in this semi-final, but a second goal would make it much more difficult. Marcelo breaks down the left for Real Madrid, but his cross is too strong for those in the middle.

Man City manage to force a corner after Carvajal blocks a Clichy cross. The resulting set piece is delivered by De Bruyne, but Navas comes a long way to take the pressure off his defensive unit.

Toure releases Clichy with a super pass, but the left-back cannot take the ball in his path and Carvajal is across to force the Frenchman back inside. It has been a decent few minutes for Man City, but they are really struggling to make their mark in the final third of the field tonight.

Hart is down to keep out a strike from Bale, which had direction and power.

POST! So close! Wonderful chance for Man City as De Bruyne slides a super pass into Fernandinho, who attempts to find the bottom corner, but his effort strikes the post!

We are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the first period.

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Real Madrid leading 1-0 courtesy of a Fernando own-goal in the 20th minute. Bale was initially credited with the strike, but UEFA have changed the call to a Fernando effort in the last couple of minutes! Man City have work to do and they will have to turn the game around without influential captain Kompany, who limped off!

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STATS! Real Madrid have controlled the possession with 57%, while they have had four attempts, but just one of those was on target. Man City, meanwhile, have thus far been unable to test Navas in the home side's goal. Just the one yellow card to report and that came for Man City midfielder De Bruyne, who chopped Brazilian Marcelo to the deck in the 30th minute tonight.

BENCH WATCH! I would be surprised if Zidane was thinking about changes at this point, but the Frenchman has an embarrassment of riches on his bench tonight, with the likes of Kovacic, Vasquez and James Rodriguez all available. Man City, as mentioned, have already been forced into one change - Mangala for Kompany - but Bony, Delph, Sterling and Iheanacho are all available for the visitors.

KICKOFF! Here we go then - both sets of players rejoin us on the pitch for the second period. Can Man City get the goal that they need? We shall find out! Real Madrid resume the action here...

... no changes for either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers, certainly Pellegrini, will have alterations in mind for the second period here.

Fast start from the home side and Kroos finds Carvajal with a super cross, but the right-back's ball into Ronaldo finds the attacker in an offside position. Wonderful stuff from Kroos there!

At 1-0, Man City will always be in this semi-final. One goal for the visitors at this stage would leave them ahead in the tie, which makes this second leg so fascinating. Jese skips away from Otamendi in a wide position and attempts to find Ronaldo with a low cross, but Hart claims the ball.

Super work from Bale as the Welshman picks out Ronaldo with a wonderful pass, but the Portuguese scuffs the ball straight into the arms of Hart. Not like him from that position!

CLOSE! Jese fires over the crossbar from inside the Man City box.

SAVE! Modric beats the offside trap to collect a Bale pass and face-up to Hart, but the Man City stopper makes a brilliant close-range save. The Man City defence just stopped there!

Real Madrid are dangerous each time that they break forward, but Man City have goals in them and continue to move the ball in the final third. I would be very surprised if we had seen the last of the goals with more than 35 minutes of this second leg to play. It is turning into a super game here.

SAVE! Hart keeps out a Ronaldo header as the pressure builds on Man City!

REAL MADRID SUB! Lucas Vasquez replaces Jese in Real Madrid's first change.

We are entering the stage of the match where Pellegrini will be thinking about attacking changes. The Man City boss has the likes of Sterling, Bony and Iheanacho on his bench tonight and the latter in particular has been in excellent form in recent weeks. Little over 30 minutes to play in Madrid.

SAVE! Hart gets down to keep out Ronaldo once again after the attacker had been released inside the Man City box. At the moment, Hart is keeping his team in this semi-final!

Ronaldo fouls Otamendi and Man City have the chance to make their second change of this game.

MAN CITY SUB! Raheem Sterling replaces Toure for the away side.

Man City have been second best tonight, but one goal at this stage puts them into the Champions League final. Real Madrid need a second in order to be comfortable at this stage of the contest!

Mangala slips and presents Ronaldo with a shooting chance, but Clichy is across to make the block and the ball just bounces away from Hart. The home side have the chance to threaten from a corner.

CROSSBAR! Real Madrid come close to scoring a second as Bale meets a corner from Kroos, but his effort comes off the crossbar! Moments later, Ronaldo actually handles the ball into the back of the net, but the offside flag had been raised. Might well have picked up a booking there!

Man City continue to live a charmed life, but they are still very much in this semi-final!

Vasquez is able to step away from Clichy in a wide position, but Bale cannot collect on the opposite side and Man City survive once again. James Rodriguez is about to enter the field for the home side.

REAL MADRID SUB! James Rodriguez replaces Isco in Real's second change.

You just get the feeling that there is going to be a late sting in the tail here and it would be some story if Man City managed to equalise and indeed make the final after a disappointing performance tonight. Still no attacking movement on the Man City bench, which is a real surprise at this stage.

MAN CITY SUB! Just as I say that, Iheanacho appears! He replaces Navas.

BOOKING! Fernando (Man City) is booked for a late challenge on Modric.

Man City just need one goal! One goal, as it stands, sends them into the Champions League final. But it must be said that Real Madrid are very, very comfortable with 74 minutes on the clock here.

You can just sense the tension inside the stadium as Man City start to enjoy more of the possession in the final third. Real Madrid really need a second goal to be comfortable, but the visitors are coming on strong and we could be in for a wonderful final 15 minutes. All hands to the pump here!

Fernandinho gets himself involved with Marcelo after a late challenge and some of the players have their handbags out! De Bruyne is actually called over first and he seems very confused indeed.

It is all very tense at the moment as Real Madrid lose possession in the final third once again. Ronaldo is still out there for the home side, but he does not look a 100% fit at the moment.

Real Madrid have gone all Atletico Madrid as they continue to drop deep and play on the counter-attack. That is fine, but Man City only need one piece of magic from one of their star players and it would be the Premier League side making the Champions League final. Still 1-0 Real Madrid here.

BOOKING! Vasquez (Real Madrid) is booked for a late challenge on Sterling.

It is the Man City fans that can be heard in these final moments, but the home supporters are very quiet indeed. This semi-final should be over, but Man City are very much still in the argument!

De Bruyne fires the ball into the side-netting from the resulting free kick.

Bale is hacked to the ground by Fernandinho, but the referee says no foul. Crikey!

Little over two minutes of normal time remaining and Man City need to equalise here!

REAL MADRID SUB! Kovacic replaces Modric for the home side.

CLOSE! Goodness me! Aguero unleashes one from distance and the ball kisses the top of the netting as it drops just over! Where on earth did that come from!

Brilliant goalkeeping from Navas as the Costa Rican comes out and clears after Pepe had gone walkabouts at the back. The stopper is currently down receiving some treatment though!

FOUR additional minutes to be played here!

Navas is back on his feet and Man City have possession of the ball.

Man City have possession in the Real Madrid half, but Pepe is up to head clear of his own box.

Hart beats James to the ball as Man City survive a dangerous counter-attack!

BOOKING! Otamendi (Man City) is booked for a late challenge on Ronaldo.

Time is ticking on here and the home supporters are in full voice.

Possession football from the home side here!

Ronaldo has one blocked behind for a corner after James passed up a good chance!

So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close and Real Madrid have booked their spot in the 2016 Champions League final, where they will meet Atletico Madrid! What a match that promises to be! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Until next time!