<p>Champions League top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo was a frustrated spectator as his Real Madrid side played out a slow-burning 0-0 draw at Manchester City in Tuesday's semifinal first leg.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Injury prevented the Portuguese superstar from adding to his 16-goal tally and in his absence the visitors were unable to convert the handful of chances they created, with a sensational late Joe Hart save to deny Pepe the closest either side came to a goal at the Etihad Stadium.<br /><br />As an occasion, City's first semifinal appearance in the competition was a let-down, but by preventing Madrid from notching an away goal the tie’s underdogs safeguarded their hopes of reaching the final ahead of next week's return leg at the Bernabeu.<br /><br />City manager Manuel Pellegrini will be without David Silva for the second leg after he was forced off by a hamstring injury, while his Madrid counterpart Zinedine Zidane was left sweating on the fitness of Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, who went off at half-time.<br /><br />"We had the ball more in the second half, had a couple of chances. We're a little bit disappointed, because we possibly deserved more. Before this game it was 50-50. I think it's still the same, 50-50," said Zidane.<br /><br />City's semifinal arrival was an event seven and a half years in the making for the club's Emirati owners and there was a carefully stage-managed attempt to generate an atmosphere prior to kick-off, with fans given blue and silver foil flags and a flurry of streamers greeting the teams.<br /><br />The star attraction, alas, was on the bench, glowering in a grey Real Madrid anorak. Ronaldo took his place among the visiting officials after failing a pre-match fitness test on a thigh strain.<br /><br />City seemed determine not to let their guests settle into a rhythm and with Fernandinho setting the tempo for their pressing, they did exactly that.<br /><br />But with neither side able to create any chances, the most notable act of the first half was the departure of Silva after he injured himself in a sliding challenge on Gareth Bale that earned him a booking, which saw 19-year-old Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho join the fray.<br /><br />Benzema, a pre-match doubt with a knee problem, was replaced at half-time by Jese and despite the touchline exhortations of Zidane, who split his trousers for the second Champions League match running, his side could not make the breakthrough.<br /><br />When they belatedly hit the target, Sergio Ramos hanging in the air to meet Toni Kroos's corner from the right with a firm header, Hart saved comfortably.<br /><br />And when they conspired to beat Hart, Jese looping a header towards goal from Dani Carvajal's right-wing cross, the crossbar came to the England international's rescue.<br />Reuters</p>
<p>Champions League top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo was a frustrated spectator as his Real Madrid side played out a slow-burning 0-0 draw at Manchester City in Tuesday's semifinal first leg.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Injury prevented the Portuguese superstar from adding to his 16-goal tally and in his absence the visitors were unable to convert the handful of chances they created, with a sensational late Joe Hart save to deny Pepe the closest either side came to a goal at the Etihad Stadium.<br /><br />As an occasion, City's first semifinal appearance in the competition was a let-down, but by preventing Madrid from notching an away goal the tie’s underdogs safeguarded their hopes of reaching the final ahead of next week's return leg at the Bernabeu.<br /><br />City manager Manuel Pellegrini will be without David Silva for the second leg after he was forced off by a hamstring injury, while his Madrid counterpart Zinedine Zidane was left sweating on the fitness of Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, who went off at half-time.<br /><br />"We had the ball more in the second half, had a couple of chances. We're a little bit disappointed, because we possibly deserved more. Before this game it was 50-50. I think it's still the same, 50-50," said Zidane.<br /><br />City's semifinal arrival was an event seven and a half years in the making for the club's Emirati owners and there was a carefully stage-managed attempt to generate an atmosphere prior to kick-off, with fans given blue and silver foil flags and a flurry of streamers greeting the teams.<br /><br />The star attraction, alas, was on the bench, glowering in a grey Real Madrid anorak. Ronaldo took his place among the visiting officials after failing a pre-match fitness test on a thigh strain.<br /><br />City seemed determine not to let their guests settle into a rhythm and with Fernandinho setting the tempo for their pressing, they did exactly that.<br /><br />But with neither side able to create any chances, the most notable act of the first half was the departure of Silva after he injured himself in a sliding challenge on Gareth Bale that earned him a booking, which saw 19-year-old Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho join the fray.<br /><br />Benzema, a pre-match doubt with a knee problem, was replaced at half-time by Jese and despite the touchline exhortations of Zidane, who split his trousers for the second Champions League match running, his side could not make the breakthrough.<br /><br />When they belatedly hit the target, Sergio Ramos hanging in the air to meet Toni Kroos's corner from the right with a firm header, Hart saved comfortably.<br /><br />And when they conspired to beat Hart, Jese looping a header towards goal from Dani Carvajal's right-wing cross, the crossbar came to the England international's rescue.<br />Reuters</p>