Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says his side need "bravery and courage" if they are to beat Manchester City on Wednesday and reach the Champions League final.

The holders head into the match at Etihad Stadium on level terms after the 1-1 draw in the first leg of the semi-final, but Ancelotti said on Tuesday the tie is "not just about quality".

"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," said the Italian, who is the only man to win four Champions Leagues as a manager.

"It is not just about quality, it is about personality and mentality.

"In transition they are really strong and dangerous, but the first leg was not a game of transition and I don't think it will be tomorrow.

"Everything counts in a game like tomorrow. You need bravery and courage. Individual quality can't show if you are not brave enough. You need a strong character in these games."

Ancelotti, who has won the competition twice with AC Milan and twice with Real, is expecting a strong start from City's star players, but he is relishing the prospect of fighting back if needed.

He added: "We have to apply ourselves to whatever the game demands. It might be a rigorous start, but it might be something different.

"It is not just about [Erling] Haaland. You have to appraise everyone. You can't forget about [Bernardo] Silva, [Kevin] De Bruyne. If they have to score, score early - then we have more chance to come back."

Manchester City seem to have a "mental block" in the Champions League, says Chris Sutton, as they try to win it for the first time.

City face Real Madrid in the semi-final for the second year in a row. Last year they lost 6-5 on aggregate. This time it's 1-1 after the first leg in Spain.

"My feeling always has been this is the one Pep Guardiola was brought in for, the Champions League," said Sutton, who is co-commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live tonight.

"They’ve been absolutely brilliant but this is the one they really want. They’ve found an incredible way in the last five or six years of getting themselves into good positions in the Champions League and messing it up.

"Tonight is going to be really interesting. Madrid are masters of finding a way to win this competition. It's very difficult to call.

"City will play the way they always play, I just wonder whether in this competition if there is a psychological situation here, a bit of a mental block they don’t have in other competitions.

"They had the game won in Madrid last year before Rodrygo. Pep tinkered too much in the final against Chelsea without a holding midfielder.

"Every season you think City will win it and every year they cruise through their group stages, get to a good position and you think this will be their year. I think they will win it it. But based on the last six seasons under Pep, who knows?"

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have been eliminated in two of their previous three Champions League semi-final ties, with both coming against Real Madrid (2015-16 and 2021-22).

Should they fail to progress here, it would be the first time that a team have been eliminated by the same side in the semi-finals in consecutive Champions League campaigns.

If you need a reminder of last year's absolute barnstormer of a semi-final between the two sides, you can read about it here via our report on the night.

It was a hard game to forget, with City two goals ahead on aggregate going into the 90th minute after Riyad Mahrez's strike had added to their 4-3 first-leg win.

Cue Rodrygo, who struck in added time to take the tie to extra time, during which a Karim Benzema penalty won it.

If the pain of that can't fuel City tonight, nothing will!

Semra Hunter
La Liga TV presenter

I think it's entirely possible that we'll see different versions of Real Madrid across the 90 minutes tonight, much like we did at the Bernabeu. They were happy to sit back, absorb the pressure but when they got the rare opportunity to go forward they took it.

That's the thing with Real Madrid, they almost always finish off them opportunities when they get them. They are probably the most effective counter attacking side in Europe.

Will they take a little bit more risk? Potentially. I think both teams need to take more risks than they did in the first game. But I still think it will be a chess match, I still think it will be quite tight.

Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on The Football News Show

Man City can always surprise. We've seen a slightly different set up against Arsenal, going more direct, going in behind but it's whether that space is going to be there.

I think Real Madrid shocked City a bit with the way they sat off and waited and that might have caused City to think what do we do now?

Erling Haaland was a little bit quiet but there wasn't space there so Pep Guardiola will try and create that, get players in different spaces on the ball. That's fascinating because Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid know what's going to come their way.

European football journalist Mina Rzouki: "I do feel like this is a little bit of déjà vu. We always get to this stage and we always say ‘Man City are the best’, all the betting is on them, everyone is putting their money on them.

"Every year we get told that this is the best version of them – maybe this year it is now they have Haaland, who adds that extra bit of unpredictability up front.

"We want the best teams playing the best football, but vertical teams seem to be the best at combatting Man City; teams that just know how to defend and hit on the counter can still win in Europe."

Shay Given
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

I was looking at whether Riyad Mahrez would start tonight because Real Madrid have Eduardo Camavinga at left-back when he is a midfielder.

Mahrez played well against Everton. Bernardo Silva is a different kind of player of course but I would have loved to see Mahrez start and go up against Camavinga at left-back.

Mahrez could have been an option because I think in the big games he really ups his game and there was maybe a weakness there. Bernardo Silva is an excellent player, don't get me wrong but I would love to see Mahrez get at Camavinga and see what he is like as a defender.

Chris Sutton
Former Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I am a little bit surprised that Antonio Rudiger drops to the bench after his performance in Madrid. Let's be honest, Haaland barely got a kick.

But having said that, they've replaced him with Eder Militao who has been the go to centre-back for Carlo Ancelotti this season and they are very similar in terms of their attributes.

Militao is really physically strong and quick, similar to Rudiger so that was a decision for Ancelotti but I get why he has picked Militao ahead of him.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

Big atmosphere building inside Etihad Stadium. And the Madrid camp is certainly in the mood judging by the animation and roars from one commentator here who sounded like he was practising his goal celebration.

Manchester City and their fans will hope he has to save that one for another day.

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester

With Manchester City there are certainties: possession-based football, a relentless hunt for trophies, and goals - plenty of them.

But there is one massive uncertainty. The future of their captain, Ilkay Gundogan.

The longest-serving player under Pep Guardiola has racked up 300 games in a sky blue shirt. By mid-June he might have that up to 306. But could it be 306 and out?

His contract runs out in the summer and there's not much clarity on rumours on whether he's staying or going.

If he is going, he's going out in style. Two goals in each of his last two games have seen City push to the top of the Premier and move clear of Arsenal. Just 12 months ago, another brace from him helped with the title in dramatic circumstances against Aston Villa.

He's 32-years-old and he's showing that he's still got a lot more to give.

But Gundogan isn't about the goals. He's the calm head in midfield with the eye for a killer pass. He knows when to speed it up, he knows when to slow it down and he knows where everyone is on that pitch at any given time.

The fans want him to stay, and so do the players.

Rico Lewis knows the value in his ability: "He can play in the six, the eight, he can play in the 10," he told BBC Radio Manchester. "He's such a vital player for the squad. It would be shame to see him leave."

He's the captain of a side that select five captains each season. A captain isn't just a leader on the pitch either.

"He's helped the young guys, he's a humble guy," said Aymeric Laporte. "When I arrived he’s one of the guys who made the relationship between the players."

Gundogan makes sure that all the players become a tight unit.

"I hope for him the best. We hope he’ll stay next year," Laporte added.

I'll leave you with what Pep Guardiola told me after the win over Leeds in which Gundogan scored twice: "It's not necessary for today to know what we want for next season."

It even sounds like the City manager wants him to stay.

Image source, Getty Images

A look at Ilkay Gundogan's stats reveal he offers Manchester City a certain consistency in midfield.

When BBC Sport ran through stats such as minutes per goal, chances created, tackles won or successful passes, Gundogan rarely topped the list of City's midfielders but often floated around the top spots.

In comparing him with Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Kalvin Phillips, he sits second for the number of minutes each takes to score a goal on average in the Premier League this season.

He seems to keep a continuity in his role. Rodri tops the list for passes completed in City's midfield on 2,625 but Gundogan is next best, on 1,275.

Interestingly, Gundogan outperforms Bernardo Silva in several metrics, including minutes per goal (Silva - 529 minutes) and passes into the final third, with Gundogan making 169 in the Premier League this season to Silva's 108.

Countless plaudits point to the variety of roles Gundogan has filled but the balance in his stats point to a player who can bring a mix of qualities to midfield.

Will that balance potentially make him harder to replace?

Everything City in one place – bookmark the page or if you’re using the app hit the bell icon for club notifications

Ryan: My sporting obsession is for Chelsea to be up there after all these years, with a world-class squad as well. Surely a matter of time before we’re in another CL final. We’ve been faffing for too long…

Manchester City face the "ultimate test" tonight in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid, says Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

City and 14-time champions Real drew 1-1 at the Bernabeu last week, making the tie at the Etihad a straight shootout for the final against Inter Milan on 10 June.

"Being at home gives City a little advantage, no doubt about that," the Bosnia international told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"If you’re Man City you could draw up a scenario this is as good as it gets – finely poised, in front of your own fans, 90 minutes away from getting into the Champions League final.

"The problem is facing the reigning champions who won’t be phased. They’ve played in much more difficult scenaros so they can overcome these challenges. It’s the ultimate test. It's really a 50-50 game for me.

"I’m really curious to see how Man City approach this game. They have the extra dimension with the ability to go direct. I wonder if they’ll test Real and go over the top rather than through the block."

Begovic, who has been in England since joining Portsmouth in 2003, said: "Being over here in England I’d love to see City win. Thibaut [Courtois, Real Madrid goalkeeper] is my friend so I hope he doesn’t hear but it’d be nice for Man City to get through for something different."

Listen to Football Daily on BBC Sounds

Shay Given
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

There are so many battles all over the pitch but Kyle Walker and Vinicius Junior is probably the one that stands out. You could see them hugging each other and laughing at the end of the game.

It was such a good one v one battle. Walker is probably the quickest thing in the Premier League and Vinicius Junior is probably the quickest thing in world football, attacking as well so it's a special one v one there.

Luka Modric is still the gift that keeps on giving, what a special player he is even at his age.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Who could the matchwinner when Manchester City and Real Madrid meet later?

The way this season has gone, few would go against Erling Haaland. He has proved time and again he has the knack of being in the right place at the right time - or bulldozing his way there if needed - and then had the execution.

These are the nights on which the Norwegian will be judged, though. These are the games he was bought to make a difference in.

Karim Benzema has been there and done it. Haaland still has to.

But I think it would be very dangerous to feel you have Haaland's measure. At Everton on Sunday, he was being kept quiet and he scored a goal from nothing to turn what had been a close game into a one-sided stroll.

Much may depend on how Polish referee Szymon Marciniak controls the game.

He was in charge of the World Cup final, so the game itself won’t be a problem. But what physicality he is prepared to put up with when Antonio Rudiger and Haaland clash – as they inevitably will – could have a big bearing on whether the former Chelsea defender comes out on top.

Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on The Football News Show

It depend how brave they are with their set up, whether they go with an extra attacker in the wider area, do they open it up a bit more?

The counter attack is something that Pep Guardiola was concerned about away from home and often is.

Antonio Rudiger against Erling Haaland is a great battle. Haaland didn't come into it so much but of all players, he's not bothered if he doesn't touch the ball for long periods, he's probably the only one I've seen like that who knows his chance and opportunity will come.

He's not really phased by it, he was enjoying that challenge.