City stars cautiously optimistic after Madrid draw
Manchester City drew Real Madrid in the Champions League last four, with several of their players cautiously optimistic about progressing.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GMwYoA5iXf9dRcgoMZJTbK.jpg)
Pablo Zabaleta believes keeping a clean sheet in the home leg of Manchester City's Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid could be crucial, while Raheem Sterling wants his side to put on a show for the world to see.
City's stuttering Premier League campaign stands in contrast to their impressive progress in Europe, where Manuel Pellegrini has guided his men to within touching distance of the final in his farewell campaign.
It is Zinedine Zidane's Madrid who now stand in their way after Friday's draw in Nyon and Zabaleta is wary of taking on such decorated opposition.
"Real Madrid is one of those teams who have been playing in [the Champions League] for so many years," he said in an interview posted on the club's Twitter account.
"They won the most trophies in the Champions League. It's going to be really exciting so I'm looking forward to it.
"We need the same support from the fans like in the last game. I think they've been great at the Etihad, so especially playing the first game at home it means we have to get a good result, try to play well and not concede goals, because that will be key for the second leg."
Madrid progressed past Wolfsburg courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo's second-leg hat-trick, but Kevin De Bruyne – who scored in both matches of City's 3-2 aggregate triumph over Paris Saint-Germain – warned they are far from a one-man team.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"I don't think there was a possibility to have an easy team," he said. "It's a nice draw. I don't think Real is only Ronaldo, he's obviously the main man over there, but we'll see what happens."
Sterling, meanwhile, hopes the two games will be a showcase for City ahead of Pep Guardiola's arrival for the next campaign.
He said: "It's time to really show the world what we can do and go out there and give a good performance against Real Madrid."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack