Manchester City V Real Madrid: Zinedine Zidane, Manuel Pellegrini React to Leg 1
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane thinks his team still has a 50 percent chance to qualify for the final of the UEFA Champions League after Tuesday’s scoreless draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
As shared by Tom Williams of Agence France-Presse, Zidane doesn’t think Tuesday’s result changed anything:
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City manager Manuel Pellegrini also doesn’t think Real are now favourites, per the tournament’s official Twitter account:
Los Blancos and City played out a drab and cagey first leg, as neither team were willing to take any real chances with their eyes on the second leg on May 4. Both teams had a couple of opportunities, and Pepe could have handed Los Blancos the away-goal advantage if not for a great save from Joe Hart.
The fans at the Etihad Stadium voiced their displeasure with the lack of action on several occasions, but the low pace of Tuesday’s clash shouldn’t come as a major surprise. Teams often play a little more carefully in the first leg before opening up in the return.
Pellegrini thought his team clearly played to win and displayed more attacking intent than the visitors, per NBC Sport’s Joe Prince-Wright:
Per City’s official Twitter account, he said his squad lacked creativity:
He also urged his players not to look forward to the return leg too much and stay focused on the upcoming Premier League match against Southampton:
The injury bug hit both teams, as David Silva was forced to leave the pitch during the first half and Karim Benzema only lasted 45 minutes as well.
Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t even start the match, as an injury ruled him out, and Zidane is unsure whether he or Benzema will be available for the return leg, per Mark Ogden of the Independent:
Real Madrid have the Spanish title race to worry about as well, as they chase Barcelona by a single point in the standings with three matches left to play. City can no longer win the title, and their main domestic goal is securing Champions League football for next season.
While Zidane told reporters his team “deserved more” than a draw at the Etihad, the result still puts the Spanish giants in the driver’s seat. Los Blancos have an excellent record at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, where they’ve won all of their Champions League matches this season.
City will be glad they didn’t concede a vital away goal, but, per ESPN FC’s Dermot Corrigan, not a single away team has managed to score at the Bernabeu in the Champions League this campaign.
The City defence did well to keep Real away from their goal, but Los Blancos are a different beast at home. Ronaldo and Benzema might be fit in time to play in the second leg, but even without the two forwards, Real have to be the favourites moving forward.
