Real Madrid against Manchester City

What a game all of a sudden! Both teams are still going for it too.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Di Maria finds Benzema on the edge of the box. The forward turns and shoots low into the corner of the net.

It looks like Alonso may have got a touch on Kolarov's freekick in steered it into the far corner.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Kolarov's freekick beats everyone and goes in at the far post

Kolarov to whip in freekick from the right....

Tevez takes another corner and once again it is headed clear by Ronaldo at the near post.

Tevez delivers a poor corner and Ronaldo heads clear. Tevez gets it back and takes a tumble in the box under a challenge from Modric. No penalty.

Ronaldo tees-up Modric on the edge of the box and the little Croatian shoots. Hart is equal to it.

Alonso fires in a shot from distance, but there is no deflection on this one and it's straight at Hart in the City goal.

Di Maria whips in a cross and Nastasic does well to deny Ozil a free header at the near post.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> In all the excitement I missed that Khedira had been subbed off for Modric.

In the aftermath of the goal Zabaleta wastes a good chance for City.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Marcelo cuts inside from the left and curls in a shot from the edge of the box that is deflected on its way past Hart.

Back to the action and Toure is causing all sorts of trouble for Madrid. He beats the defence but shoots into the sidenetting.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Mancini responds by putting Zabeleta on for Maicon.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Mourinho makes a change and replaces Higuain with Benzema.

Tevez has Dzeko free on the right but passes to Kolarov on the left instead. The winger has to shoot from a tight angle and Casillas saves easily.

Varane heads over from a corner going close for Real Madrid.

A smash and grab for City. But it just goes to show what you can do if you don't shoot from 25-yards all the time (are you reading this Madrid?).

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Toure races forward and gets his final ball right for once - setting up Dzeko, who slots the ball past Casillas.

Clichy suddenly thinks he is playing FIFA 2012 and rusehs out of defence to wint the ball into the centre circle and then races forward. Amazing!

Marcelo shifts the ball onto his left foot and fires in a blistering shot from outside the box. This ones goes close but is inches over the bar.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Essien's night is over. He's replaced by Ozil.

Maicon misjudges a header and the ball falls to Ronaldo, but Nastasic covers well for his City team-mate.

Dzeko is flagged offside.

Ozil is getting ready to come on for Real Madrid.

Ronaldo heads the City freekick clear and then Tevez shoots high and wide from 25-yards out.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> That's Silva's last contribution. He's replaced by Dzeko.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Varane takes down Silva on the left of the box. A good chance for a set piece from City....

Guess what? Yes, it's another shot from distance by Real Madrid. This time it's Marcelo who shoots narrowly wide and not Di Maria.

Dortmund have just missed a penalty against Ajax so there is still no goals in the 'Group of Death'

Di Maria. Long-range shot. Misses.

Marcello fires a brilliant low cross across the face of goal but Clichy is the one who gets his foot to the ball first and clears.

Nastasic makes a mess of a backpass to Hart, who has to race off his line to hoof the ball clear moments before Di Maria latches onto it.

Toure drives forward and his long-range shot is deflected for a corner. Which comes to nothing.

Alonso hits the freekick long towards Pepe, who is well marshalled by the City defence.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Javi Garcia gets booked for a perfect tackle on Khedria.

Alonso plays a pass two-thirds the length of the pitch for Di Maria and only a great bit of tracking back and an outstretched boot from Kolarov cuts it out.

Toure chips the ball out wide to Maicon but it sails over his head and out for throw.

Kolarov has a chance to race clear on the left flank but he takes the touch of a defender filling in on the wing and the ball goes out for a goalkick.

Ronaldo and Alonso probe the City defence. The ball drops to Di Maria, who, surprise surprise, shoots from long-range and misses.

Right. Joe Hart has had his stinging palms under the cold water tap at the break and the second half is now underway.

<b>HT</b> Stat: Ronaldo has had more shots, 7, than eight of the other 15 teams competing in the Champions League tonight. (opta)

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0918/joehart20120918_275x155.jpg"><br>Joe Hart makes one of many saves

<b>HT</b> Real Madrid dominated the first 30 minutes and should have scored, but City eventually got to grips with them and limited Ronaldo and Di Maria to long-shots.

<b>HT</b> Well City will probably be happy at the break as they have kept the game scoreless and have something to build on.

That's it! The ref blows for half-time and City have held on.

Di Maria blasts in another long-range shot for Real. And it's another failure for Real.

Tevez is hauled down by Pepe as City threaten to break. Freekick.

Tevez attempts a one-two with Silva but the return pass never reaches him. The striker has had very little service tonight.

City look like they want the half-time whistle now.

Di Maria cuts inside from the right flank. The City defence opens up and the winger curls a shot from about 30-yards out that goes just wide of the far post.

Di Maria loops a cross to the back post. Higuain beats Kompany to the ball but his effort on goal is wide of the target from about 5-yards out. He should have scored.

Toure has finally got himself into the game and is making a big difference. If only he could find that final pass.

Real are struggling to breakthrough City's defence as easily as before and the visitors are now looking dangerous on the counter.

Toure brushes aside about three Real players and has three of his own side streaming forward with him. But once again the big man plays a poor pass, this time for Silva, and a great chance goes begging.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> It's Kolarov that comes on for Nasri, not Dzeko.

While we wait for the substitution Marcelo's deflected cross loops into the arms of Hart.

Nasri limps over to the sideline. It looks like Dzeko will come on.

City play keep ball but when it goes out to Nasri he puts the ball out of play and looks injured.

City work the ball up the pitch well but then Maicon hits his cross over everybody. A poor end to a good attack.

Tevez holds off a tough challenge from Pepe to keep the ball for his side.

Silva battles away in front of his defence and wins the ball. Toure drives forward but his through-ball for Nasri is just a touch too heavy. Signs of life from City though.

There are now a few signs that City may have weathered the storm a bit.

Maicon charges down Higuain's attempted cross and then Essien blazes over the bar from 25-yards out.

Real Madrid's tactics at the moment seem to be "pass it around a bit and then give it to Ronaldo"

Ronaldo does his Gareth Bale impression and skins Maicon, but his cross is a poor one and Kompany heads clear.

Real are on the ball again, probing and testing the City defence... until Ronaldo attempts a ridiculous shot.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0918/cristianoronaldovincentkompanybattle20120918_275x155.jpg"><br>Vincent Kompany attempts to stop Cristiano Ronaldo

The Bernabeu crowd can sense a goal is coming.

..the ball drop to Ronaldo, who shoots from distance and Khedira diverts it over the bar from close-range.

Higuain breaks the offside trap . His first touch is not good enough and allows Hart to come out and make a block....

Kompany races across to cover Ronaldo and then Garcia harries Essien in midfield.

City feeding on scraps at the moment. But it's still 0-0.

Arbeloa breaks down the right flank, cuts inside Clichy and fires a shot straight at Joe Hart in the City goal.

It's Real's turn to play keep-ball.

Clichy concedes a corner. Di Maria takes it but Ronaldo fouls Nastasic and the danger has passed.

City are happy to keep possession at the back for a short spell. Once the ball is pumped forward they lose it.

Toure is really struggling to get into this game for City. He is usualy one of their star performers.

Di Maria plays a throughball for Khedira. Hart races off his line to claim the ball at the German's feet. Real are knocking on the door.

Ronaldo stings the hands of Hart once again.

Di Maria cuts inside and takes on three City players. He beats two, but the third is Garcia and he makes a good tackle in the box.

Pepe gives the ball an old-fashioned hoof down the pitch.

Ronaldo cuts inside and leaves Kompany for dead. Hart makes a great save to push the forward's low shot past the far post.

Silva chases a long-pass down the flank. Pepe reads the danger for Real and races across to make a good interception.

Clichy takes a throw for Man City deep in Real's half, but there is now way through and the ball goes back to Kompany at centre-back.

Maicon heads clears at the back post for Man City with Higuain lurking on his shoulder.

Alonso pings a long pass forward to Arbeloa, but the pass is overhit and the rightback, who was well forward, can't catch it.

Madrid enjoy much of the early possession, without doing too much with it.

We are underway at the Bernabeu.

The teams are out on the pitch, the fans have found their voices and the Champions League anthem will blare out for the first time in Group stages.

The Man City fans are making themselves heard at the Bernabeu with a rendition of Blue Moon

It looks like Madrid will line-up in a 4-2-3-1 with Essien central to the '3', and Man City in a 4-1-4-1 with David Silva out wide (an possibly wasted?) on the right wing. Nasri on the left.

Higuain starts up top for Real Madrid with an unhappy/happy Ronaldo and Di Maria in support. It's a big night for Madrid after their poor results in La Liga.

Former Atletico striker Aguero has to make do with a place on the bench on his return to Madrid as Tevez starts up front for City, who have packed the midfield.

Real Madrid have <a href="http://es.pn/OvQWvO" target="_blank">an obsession with the European Cup</a> and their quest for No.10 begins against Man City, writes Nicholas Rigg

UEFA and various news wires are all reporting a different starting XI for Man City so while we wait for confirmation here's something to read...

Barcelona full-back Dani Alves says that if he were a club president he would like to buy Cristiano Ronaldo, while the Brazilian also praised the abilities of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho - though questioned his handling of Kaka. <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1162774/dani-alves:-i%27d-sign-cristiano-ronaldo-in-a-heartbeat?cc=5739" target="_blank">Read here</a>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0903/cristianoronaldoinpain20120902_275x155.jpg"><br>Ronaldo is 'sad' but will he perform?

Join us for the biggest game tonight as Man City travel to Madrid to face Jose Mourinho and Real. Kick off is at 1945 BST.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Mancini responds by putting Zabeleta on for Maicon.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Mourinho makes a change and replaces Higuain with Benzema.

Tevez has Dzeko free on the right but passes to Kolarov on the left instead. The winger has to shoot from a tight angle and Casillas saves easily.

Varane heads over from a corner going close for Real Madrid.

A smash and grab for City. But it just goes to show what you can do if you don't shoot from 25-yards all the time (are you reading this Madrid?).

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Toure races forward and gets his final ball right for once - setting up Dzeko, who slots the ball past Casillas.

Clichy suddenly thinks he is playing FIFA 2012 and rusehs out of defence to wint the ball into the centre circle and then races forward. Amazing!

Marcelo shifts the ball onto his left foot and fires in a blistering shot from outside the box. This ones goes close but is inches over the bar.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Essien's night is over. He's replaced by Ozil.

Maicon misjudges a header and the ball falls to Ronaldo, but Nastasic covers well for his City team-mate.

Dzeko is flagged offside.

Ozil is getting ready to come on for Real Madrid.

Ronaldo heads the City freekick clear and then Tevez shoots high and wide from 25-yards out.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> That's Silva's last contribution. He's replaced by Dzeko.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Varane takes down Silva on the left of the box. A good chance for a set piece from City....

Guess what? Yes, it's another shot from distance by Real Madrid. This time it's Marcelo who shoots narrowly wide and not Di Maria.

Dortmund have just missed a penalty against Ajax so there is still no goals in the 'Group of Death'

Di Maria. Long-range shot. Misses.

Marcello fires a brilliant low cross across the face of goal but Clichy is the one who gets his foot to the ball first and clears.

Nastasic makes a mess of a backpass to Hart, who has to race off his line to hoof the ball clear moments before Di Maria latches onto it.

Toure drives forward and his long-range shot is deflected for a corner. Which comes to nothing.

Alonso hits the freekick long towards Pepe, who is well marshalled by the City defence.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Javi Garcia gets booked for a perfect tackle on Khedria.

Alonso plays a pass two-thirds the length of the pitch for Di Maria and only a great bit of tracking back and an outstretched boot from Kolarov cuts it out.

Toure chips the ball out wide to Maicon but it sails over his head and out for throw.

Kolarov has a chance to race clear on the left flank but he takes the touch of a defender filling in on the wing and the ball goes out for a goalkick.

Ronaldo and Alonso probe the City defence. The ball drops to Di Maria, who, surprise surprise, shoots from long-range and misses.

Right. Joe Hart has had his stinging palms under the cold water tap at the break and the second half is now underway.

<b>HT</b> Stat: Ronaldo has had more shots, 7, than eight of the other 15 teams competing in the Champions League tonight. (opta)

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0918/joehart20120918_275x155.jpg"><br>Joe Hart makes one of many saves

<b>HT</b> Real Madrid dominated the first 30 minutes and should have scored, but City eventually got to grips with them and limited Ronaldo and Di Maria to long-shots.

<b>HT</b> Well City will probably be happy at the break as they have kept the game scoreless and have something to build on.

That's it! The ref blows for half-time and City have held on.

Di Maria blasts in another long-range shot for Real. And it's another failure for Real.

Tevez is hauled down by Pepe as City threaten to break. Freekick.

Tevez attempts a one-two with Silva but the return pass never reaches him. The striker has had very little service tonight.

City look like they want the half-time whistle now.

Di Maria cuts inside from the right flank. The City defence opens up and the winger curls a shot from about 30-yards out that goes just wide of the far post.

Di Maria loops a cross to the back post. Higuain beats Kompany to the ball but his effort on goal is wide of the target from about 5-yards out. He should have scored.

Toure has finally got himself into the game and is making a big difference. If only he could find that final pass.

Real are struggling to breakthrough City's defence as easily as before and the visitors are now looking dangerous on the counter.

Toure brushes aside about three Real players and has three of his own side streaming forward with him. But once again the big man plays a poor pass, this time for Silva, and a great chance goes begging.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> It's Kolarov that comes on for Nasri, not Dzeko.

While we wait for the substitution Marcelo's deflected cross loops into the arms of Hart.

Nasri limps over to the sideline. It looks like Dzeko will come on.

City play keep ball but when it goes out to Nasri he puts the ball out of play and looks injured.

City work the ball up the pitch well but then Maicon hits his cross over everybody. A poor end to a good attack.

Tevez holds off a tough challenge from Pepe to keep the ball for his side.

Silva battles away in front of his defence and wins the ball. Toure drives forward but his through-ball for Nasri is just a touch too heavy. Signs of life from City though.

There are now a few signs that City may have weathered the storm a bit.

Maicon charges down Higuain's attempted cross and then Essien blazes over the bar from 25-yards out.

Real Madrid's tactics at the moment seem to be "pass it around a bit and then give it to Ronaldo"

Ronaldo does his Gareth Bale impression and skins Maicon, but his cross is a poor one and Kompany heads clear.

Real are on the ball again, probing and testing the City defence... until Ronaldo attempts a ridiculous shot.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0918/cristianoronaldovincentkompanybattle20120918_275x155.jpg"><br>Vincent Kompany attempts to stop Cristiano Ronaldo

The Bernabeu crowd can sense a goal is coming.

..the ball drop to Ronaldo, who shoots from distance and Khedira diverts it over the bar from close-range.

Higuain breaks the offside trap . His first touch is not good enough and allows Hart to come out and make a block....

Kompany races across to cover Ronaldo and then Garcia harries Essien in midfield.

City feeding on scraps at the moment. But it's still 0-0.

Arbeloa breaks down the right flank, cuts inside Clichy and fires a shot straight at Joe Hart in the City goal.

It's Real's turn to play keep-ball.

Clichy concedes a corner. Di Maria takes it but Ronaldo fouls Nastasic and the danger has passed.

City are happy to keep possession at the back for a short spell. Once the ball is pumped forward they lose it.

Toure is really struggling to get into this game for City. He is usualy one of their star performers.

Di Maria plays a throughball for Khedira. Hart races off his line to claim the ball at the German's feet. Real are knocking on the door.

Ronaldo stings the hands of Hart once again.

Di Maria cuts inside and takes on three City players. He beats two, but the third is Garcia and he makes a good tackle in the box.

Pepe gives the ball an old-fashioned hoof down the pitch.

Ronaldo cuts inside and leaves Kompany for dead. Hart makes a great save to push the forward's low shot past the far post.

Silva chases a long-pass down the flank. Pepe reads the danger for Real and races across to make a good interception.

Clichy takes a throw for Man City deep in Real's half, but there is now way through and the ball goes back to Kompany at centre-back.

Maicon heads clears at the back post for Man City with Higuain lurking on his shoulder.

Alonso pings a long pass forward to Arbeloa, but the pass is overhit and the rightback, who was well forward, can't catch it.

Madrid enjoy much of the early possession, without doing too much with it.

We are underway at the Bernabeu.

The teams are out on the pitch, the fans have found their voices and the Champions League anthem will blare out for the first time in Group stages.

The Man City fans are making themselves heard at the Bernabeu with a rendition of Blue Moon

It looks like Madrid will line-up in a 4-2-3-1 with Essien central to the '3', and Man City in a 4-1-4-1 with David Silva out wide (an possibly wasted?) on the right wing. Nasri on the left.

Higuain starts up top for Real Madrid with an unhappy/happy Ronaldo and Di Maria in support. It's a big night for Madrid after their poor results in La Liga.

Former Atletico striker Aguero has to make do with a place on the bench on his return to Madrid as Tevez starts up front for City, who have packed the midfield.

Real Madrid have <a href="http://es.pn/OvQWvO" target="_blank">an obsession with the European Cup</a> and their quest for No.10 begins against Man City, writes Nicholas Rigg

UEFA and various news wires are all reporting a different starting XI for Man City so while we wait for confirmation here's something to read...

Barcelona full-back Dani Alves says that if he were a club president he would like to buy Cristiano Ronaldo, while the Brazilian also praised the abilities of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho - though questioned his handling of Kaka. <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1162774/dani-alves:-i%27d-sign-cristiano-ronaldo-in-a-heartbeat?cc=5739" target="_blank">Read here</a>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0903/cristianoronaldoinpain20120902_275x155.jpg"><br>Ronaldo is 'sad' but will he perform?

Join us for the biggest game tonight as Man City travel to Madrid to face Jose Mourinho and Real. Kick off is at 1945 BST.