Lucas Vazquez is the wildcard in the Real Madrid line-up tonight and in these very early stages he is playing on the left of a front three, with Gareth Bale over on the right. 

Real are playing in navy blue tonight, not the famous all white. 

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Streamers before kick-off at the Etihad. But will Real Madrid be party poopers tonight?

Image source, BBC Sport

Under way!

Image source, Reuters

Vincent Kompany and Sergio Ramos meet in the middle and exchange pennants - always seems a strange tradition - and go through the motions of the coin toss.

I can easily see both men failing to finish this game. Calf injury and a red card respectively? 

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

He is not playing tonight but Cristiano Ronaldo still got booed when the big screens around the stadium briefly cut to him, in his tracksuit, in the tunnel.

It's not quite Argentina 1978 but 65 foil cannons go off and the ground is draped in glittery tape. The Champions League anthem is roundly booed.

The players look super relaxed. Particularly the Real Madrid lads - but then again this is the sixth semi-final in a row for them.

More handshakes in the tunnel then a Royal visit. Here we go!

Man City: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy, Fernandinho, Fernando, Jesus Navas, De Bruyne, Silva, Aguero. Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Sterling, Kolarov, Delph, Mangala, Iheanacho.

Real Madrid: Navas, Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Lucas, Benzema, Bale. Subs: Casilla, Varane, Rodriguez, Kovacic, Jese, Isco, Danilo.

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

This is a special night, for sure. The atmosphere and attendance at the Etihad has come under criticism often in the Champions League but the place is bouncing now.

The fans are waving flags and spelling out CITY in the stands. 

Robbie Savage
Ex-Wales midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

"Since Kevin de Bruyne has come back from injury, he has been very effective. Gareth Bale has been more consistent in a better league. De Bruyne started well and got injured but he is not quite up to the level of Bale just yet.

"Jesus Navas will stay on the right but I like De Bruyne in behind Sergio Aguero, he is a brilliant player."

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

The atmosphere building nicely here as we move closer to kick-off. After a loud chorus of Blue Moon, the sell-out (in the home areas) crowd have now started waving their flags. I hope they put them down when the game starts, otherwise I am not going to see much of it. A fantastic spectacle though.

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, speaking to BT Sport: "It is maybe the most important game that this club has played in its history. It is important not to miss this chance so we will try to play."

On Cristiano Ronaldo's absence: "He had some problems before the last game so it's not surprising. But Real Madrid have a very important squad, so because he is not playing doesn't mean we will have an easy game.

"Both teams normally play attacking football and I don't think Real Madrid will come here to defend. We need to not concede, but we will try to score so maybe it will be an open game."

When these sides last met, in the group stage of the 2012-13 season, the game finished 1-1 at the Etihad.

Karim Benzema put Real ahead before Sergio Aguero netted from the spot. A repeat performance would not be a disaster for the hosts but they will be ultra keen not to concede an away goal. 

Image source, BBC Sport

It's turned out to be a serene spring evening here in Manchester, with those 40,000 flags that have been left out for the home fans glittering in the sunshine. Some City fans are no doubt disappointed they will not get the chance to boo former Manchester United star and occasional pantomime villain Cristiano Ronaldo tonight, but at least they will be able to boo the Champions League anthem before kick-off as usual.

Just 15 minutes to go then until kick-off, who starts as favourites? 

Midfield could well be crucial. Luka Modric and Toni Kroos can keep the ball away for you for hours at a time...

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, Rex

That earlier stat about Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of red cards at Etihad Stadium is still relevant when you consider that Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir is in charge tonight -  Ronaldo might not be playing but plenty of other players are at risk.

Cakir reffed last year’s Champions League final but he has a history of sending off English-based players in big matches, including Steven Gerrard’s only red card for England, in 2012.

He also sent off City’s Mario Balotelli against Dynamo Kiev in 2011 and John Terry against Barcelona in 2012 (although most referees would have done to be fair) but the most contentious decision was here in Manchester in 2013.

Image source, Rex

Again Real Madrid were involved, and their last-16 Champions League tie with Manchester United was in the balance until Nani was shown a straight red for a seemingly accidental high tackle on Alvaro Arbeloa. 

So City’s players need to be careful, but it is not all bad news - Cakir has refereed United three times without them winning - maybe he is a City fan on the quiet?

Cristiano Ronaldo has told BT Sport's Owen Hargreaves that his thigh muscle is tight but 'if it was the final, he would have played.'

Surprising, perhaps. I would have thought that he would have played if he possibly could...

Robbie Savage
Ex-Wales midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

"Could you imagine Zinedine Zidane being your manager? It must be so inspiring. You can see how Gareth Bale has reacted to him.

"Look at some of England's best players who have gone on to become managers, they have been unsuccessful.

"Real were adrift in the league and are back in it, they were 2-0 down against Wolfsburg and Zidane galvanised them to victory.

"Bale has nothing to prove. He won the Champions League in his first season, scored goals last season and has 18 in 26 this season. I think he will be very good tonight. He will take the free-kicks with Cristiano Ronaldo out of the side, Manchester City's full-backs will be terrorised."