Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

Manchester City's players have their names announced as they disembark their team coach and, unsurprisingly, a huge cheer for striker Erling Haaland, who greets the supporters with a beaming smile. The picture of confidence.

Semra Hunter
La Liga TV presenter

I definitely think they [Real Madrid] have plenty of attacking power to do damage to City's back line. Maybe all the focus is going to be on trying to shut down Vinicius Jr, but we can't forget that Benzema is the highest scoring Real Madrid player against City, with six goals against them.

Rodrygo is also hitting form at the right time as he did last season. He's incredibly decisive. Not only does he score goals, but he also provides lot of assists. He now has more mobility and freedom to come inside if he wants to and play off Benzema as a second striker, or he can stay out wide.

I think Rodrygo is more difficult to keep at bay, and in that sense I think it makes him more dangerous than Vinicius or Benzema.

Anon: I fancy an exciting 2-2 draw with Madrid winning the shootout. Expecting a great game.

Simon: City should be favourites, but has there ever been a bigger 'bogeyman' in sport in any competition as Real Madrid in the Champions League?!

Ryan: This is a proper European tie isn’t it? Ancelotti and Pep. Rudi and Haaland. Camavinga and Gundogan. Dias and Benzema. Feels like it’s personal.. which is edging towards poisonous, alas.

Manchester City name the same starting XI that drew 1-1 at Real Madrid in the first leg.

That means Kevin de Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, who were all on the bench for Sunday's 3-0 win against Everton, return to the first XI.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Phillips, Laporte, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis.

Image source, .

Antonio Rudiger, despite a good job of marking Erling Haaland in last week's first leg, starts on the bench for Real Madrid.

Eder Militao, suspended for the first leg, comes in at Rudiger's expense.

Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Camavinga, Valverde, Kroos, Modric, Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius.

Subs: Lunin, Vallejo, Nacho, Hazard, Asensio, Odriozola, Lucas, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Rudiger, Mendy, Mariano

Image source, .

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Does Kevin de Bruyne still need a 'legacy' moment in the Champions League?

There have been quite a few Manchester City players down the years who have never got the credit they deserved - and I include Sergio Aguero in that.

De Bruyne is outstanding, but maybe the fact City have never won the biggest trophy is the reason why. Steven Gerrard never won the Premier League, but he delivered a superb performance in the Champions League comeback against AC Milan.

I don’t think it is just about De Bruyne. I feel many City players – and maybe the club as a whole - need to have a European Cup triumph on their CV.

Image source, Getty Images

Does Kevin de Bruyne get the credit he deserves?

That is the question asked by a feature currently up on the BBC Sport site, which you can find by clicking here.

Some notable quotes from our Euro Leagues punditry team on the subject include...

Journalist James Horncastle: "I think De Bruyne still needs a defining moment on this stage.

"As big as City are in the Premier League and as much as Pep Guardiola brings the world's attention on City, they are not a legacy club.

"It is harder for a City player to create consensus around football journalists. A lot of time the genius and style of play is associated with Guardiola."

Journalist Julien Laurens: "City needed De Bruyne to step up in the second half because he was quite neutral in the first half.

"He just popped up in a moment that maybe could take his team to another final.

"Real Madrid were set up to prevent De Bruyne from having a big impact on the game. Yet he stays in the game because at some point he knows something will come to him.

"Mentally you have to be very strong to stay in your game until that moment and I think his celebration showed it. He ran to the corner where the City fans were and he clearly exploded. This is what big players do."

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker shares the reason behind his hug with Vinicius Jr after their 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, saying he "didn't want to be a meme" after the Brazilian tried to perform a rainbow flick kick over him...

Image source, Getty Images

In case you need any reminding, here is what happened in the first leg of this contest...

As m'colleague Emlyn Begley wrote on the night:

Kevin de Bruyne's screamer earned Manchester City a Champions League semi-final first-leg draw at Real Madrid to keep their dream of the Treble on track.

City know any win next Wednesday at home against Madrid will send them to only their second Champions League final, against either Inter Milan or AC Milan.

Pep Guardiola's side dominated the early stages at a nervy Bernabeu, with Thibaut Courtois denying De Bruyne, Rodri and Erling Haaland twice.

But Vinicius Jr scored with Real's only chance of the first half, a 25-yard thunderbolt which flew past Ederson following a brilliant run by Eduardo Camavinga.

Just as Real began to dominate a period of the second half, City found a way back with De Bruyne fizzing a shot from a similar distance into the bottom corner.

Aurelien Tchouameni almost gave Real, looking to extend their record tally to 15 European crowns, the lead again with another strike from range but it was well saved by Ederson.

You can read all of Emlyn's report here.

Semra Hunter
La Liga TV presenter on The Football News Show

In the case of Real Madrid, there's always expectations that they have to win the Champions League and if they don't, you can see casualties in the form of the manager.

If they lose by a tight margin, they lose by a goal and get eliminated he may be able to keep his job. If, for whatever reason, they get absolutely pummelled then Carlo Ancelotti could lose his job. Not only because they got eliminated from the Champions League, but in the way they do so. They also didn't retain the league title. It's a really big game for both teams.

Tonight, Real are playing an English team for a sixth Champions League knockout tie in a row. Prior to this semi-final, they beat Liverpool in last year's final after knocking out Chelsea and City. This season they have beaten both Liverpool and Chelsea.

Their manager Carlo Ancelotti has won the competition four times - twice each with AC Milan and Real Madrid - and is confident his reigning European champions will rise to the occasion once again on Wednesday.

"We are close to doing something important. We are full of hope, motivated. It is going to be tough tomorrow but sometimes we get the most out of ourselves in difficult situations," Ancelotti said.

"The plan is the same as ever, to try and get as much out of the players [as possible]. I think we can do better than we did in the first leg, but I think they do too.

"Today, I am calm and full of hope. Matchday is the day when the worries come in. You think things through, whether [Erling] Haaland is going to score, or [Kevin] De Bruyne is going to hurt you. It is about managing your head.

"The match is unpredictable. If you think you are the best team in the world, it doesn't mean you are 100% sure to win. It is not just about quality, it is about personality and mentality."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is still "developing and learning" with Erling Haaland in his team - and City are "strong favourites" to win the Champions League, says Matt Upson.

If City beat Real Madrid tonight they will be in their second Champions League final in three years.

Haaland has scored a club-record 52 goals this season after the club barely used a striker last season.

"Even though he’s one of the best, you don’t stop developing and learning. I think Pep has had an interesting season," ex-England defender Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"I think he’s played around with this Man City team this season and enjoyed it. He’s got an outlet.

"You used to know what you were going to get from them in every game, they had their style, the way they controlled possession but they go about things a bit different now. He might mix it up game to game.

"In the middle of the season they’d have moments where they played diferently. They have the ability to go direct. He’s got an extremely physical centre forward in Haaland which adds a different dynamic.

"I think he’s having a lot of fun, and he’s trying different things. They can be a joy to watch at times. They’ve been strong favourites from the start. I think they’ve got a slightly different factor this season."

When asked who would win tonight, Upson said: "Man City, all the way for me."

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Manchester City are one win away from the Premier League title - which would be their fifth in six years - and face Manchester United in the FA Cup final. They are looking to match United's league, cup and Champions League Treble of 1999.

Guardiola, who won the Treble with Barcelona in 2008-09, got City to the Champions League final two years ago where they lost to Chelsea.

"I said when I signed the contract seven years ago, they didn't tell me to win the Champions League. All the people said the reason why they brought me here with my staff was to do the best possible," said Pep Guardiola before tonight's game.

"But of course, we cannot deny we have won all the titles except this one. Of course we want it. It is another opportunity from two seasons ago when we lost the final against Chelsea, against Madrid the season before. Of course we want it with all the desire.

"People say we are close enough, I think we are far away.

"It's a dream come true to be here. Nobody in the future can guarantee we will be here. Nobody can assure us. So once we are there, let's go. With our people, I am pretty sure will do it."

Ideozu-Frank Sampson: My sporting obsession and City's are the same. Also KDB's, winning the UCL is almost equivalent to winning the World Cup for him!

You can send them to us on Twitter using the hashtag #bbcfootball or on text using 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply).

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his "legacy is exceptional" as he prepares for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid.

Treble-chasing City, who have never been European champions, drew 1-1 at the Bernabeu in last Tuesday's first leg.

Guardiola has won two Champions Leagues as a manager, with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011.

"I have been here many times," he said.

"My legacy is exceptional already. I have told the players to enjoy the moment - we are incredibly lucky to be here.

"It's in our hands, it depends on us, we don't have to do something exceptional - just win one game to reach the final.

"I have an incredible feeling about them. Whatever happens - thank you so much to them for bringing me and the City fans here again."

Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on The Football News Show

It's the game we've been waiting for, it's something that has been hanging over Manchester City - the Champions League.

Of all opponents, Real Madrid. It doesn't get any better at the Etihad. It going to be a full house as expected, great anticipation. The players will be looking forward to this so much, coming up against the best. It's that medal that they want.

Pep Guardiola, what is he going to do? He's mentioned about a few changes and it's just going to be an amazing game.

The pressure is on Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. What they have done already has been amazing. They want to win it for certain and I think globally it is the next step for the football club to make them even bigger and better and continue on that journey.

It's about winning trophies overall. It's a fascinating game, they need a bit of luck tonight. City are favourites against Real Madrid. City are favourites, I think that tells you everything.

The Real Madrid squad had to wait “around 40 minutes” outside Manchester Terminal 2 on arrival yesterday, after some confusion over where they were being picked up.

Image source, Zen Pix

Image source, Zen Pix

Image source, Zen Pix

Image source, Zen Pix

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

What a night this promises to be as Manchester City try to reach their second Champions League final and win the trophy that has always agonisingly eluded this outstanding side.

City fans are already gathering in large numbers outside Etihad Stadium on a fine night, with conditions are perfect.

They are heading in the direction of the Colin Bell Stand to give Pep Guariola and his players a rousing welcome when they arrive on the team coach.

In opposition, with this semi-final delicately balanced at 1-1, are holders Real Madrid under coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has seen it all and done it all.

Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti - who was a pretty useful player in his day - did not hesitate when asked last night who he would prefer to face in the final.

"I would like to avoid Real Madrid because the competition seems made for them," he said.

There you go, Pep. Get that pinned up on the dressing room wall.

The Nerazzurri finished second to Bayern Munich in a group which also contained Barcelona, before going on to beat Portuguese clubs Porto and Benfica and prevailing in the first Milan derby in European competition for 20 years.

"In the next few days we will realise what we did," manager Simone Inzaghi said.

"For us it was a dream but we have always believed in it.

"It was an extraordinary path and winning a derby in the semi-final like this brings great satisfaction.

"Madrid and City are two of the best teams in Europe."

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Before we get stuck right into all things City v Real, let's have a little recap of what went down last night in Milan...

In short, and utilising the fine words of our match reporter Harry Poole, Inter Milan reached the Champions League final for the first time in 13 years as Lautaro Martinez's goal sealed victory over fierce rivals AC Milan at San Siro.

Heavily backed at a feverish San Siro as the designated home team, Inter were made to absorb early pressure as a determined start by Milan ensured the match began at a frenetic pace.

The talented Rafael Leao, absent for Milan in the first leg because of a thigh injury, displayed flashes of inspiration on his return but shot agonisingly wide of the far post after driving in from the left.

Inter asserted themselves as the first half progressed and the tie would have been effectively over before the interval had it not been for Mike Maignan's stunning reaction save from Edin Dzeko's close-range header.

Inter had starved Milan of encouragement in a largely uneventful second half, before Martinez squeezed the ball under Maignan and into the bottom corner with 16 minutes remaining to send the Inter fans into raptures.

The full-time whistle was greeted by a deafening noise as Inter's first shot at Champions League glory since their 2010 success was confirmed.

The Champions League is now the big one for Manchester City. It's the last remaining major club trophy they have yet to win - the one that will finally confirm their seat at the top table.

We're interested in hearing about the football/sporting achievements and goals you have been obsessed with in your lifetime?

Did you once make it your life's mission to do 100 keepy-ups? Is there a 5-a-side league you are determined to win? Will you not rest until you have been to every Football League ground?

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