
Thousands of Real Madrid fans flocked to greet the team coach as it pulled into Santiago Bernabeu ahead of the Champions League semifinal second leg against Manchester City.

Real, which has won the competition a record 10 times, was huge favorite to progress to the final after claiming a goalless draw in the first leg last week.

Real's fans ensured a raucous welcome for both sets of players with the prize a date with Atletico Madrid in Milan on May 28.

Manuel Pellegrini, once of Real Madrid but now of Manchester City, greeted his counterpart Zinedine Zidane before kick off. Pellegrini will leave City at the end of the season with Pep Guardiola replacing him.

City's evening got off to the worst possible start when captain Vincent Kompany was forced off with injury. The defender limped off after just 10 minutes.

With City struggling to adjust to the loss of Kompany, Real Madrid struck when Gareth Bale fired home with the help of a deflection to give the home side a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.

Bale's strike, which was credited an an own-goal, gave Real the advantage at the interval with City's only real chance coming through Fernandinho's fierce drive.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed the first leg of the tie through injury, returned to the side and had a number of opportunities to extend his side's lead.

Joe Hart, the City goalkeeper, made a number of impressive saves to deny Ronaldo as well as Luka Modric as Real pushed for a second goal.

City did try to find an equalizer in the dying stages but rarely looked like troubling Real's defense. Star striker Sergio Aguero went close late on with a rasping drive from 25-yards.