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Joe Harts second-half heroics saved Manchester City in the first leg but Real Madrid have a formidable home record in Europe. With the Champions League semi-final in the balance, we look at Citys reasons for hope - and caution... We couldnt have wished for more at this stage, said Manchester Citys Vincent Kompany after last weeks Champions League semi-final first-leg 0-0 draw with Real Madrid at the Etihad.Los Blancos might have failed to score an away goal but City still face a huge task to knockout the 2014 winners. Vincent Kompany (left) was happy with Man Citys first-leg performance Here, we look at some key reason why Manchester City should be cheerful - and fearful - ahead of next Wednesdays decider...Hart the HeroWhere better to start than Joe Hart, whose second-half heroics single-handedly kept Citys hopes alive in the first leg. Make no mistake, if he hadnt prevented Pepe from netting late on, Manchester Citys chances of making the final would have suffered a serious blow before they had even stepped foot on their plane to Madrid. Joe Hart makes a great save to deny Pepe late on at the Etihad He is surely one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and is capable of making the kind of reaction save that will keep City in any match. The mark of a great goalkeeper is being able to pull out a world-class stop after a long period of inactivity, and he did exactly that on Tuesday night.Despite being a spectator for much of the tie, Hart was there when he was called upon, and he will be vital in the second leg too. Harts incredible reactions kept Real Madrid from scoring in the dying moments Ronaldo ready? Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo looked relaxed in the dug-out Cristiano Ronaldos absence from the first leg was announced as he sat in the away dugout at the Etihad, wearing CR7-branded shoes and shiny gold headphones. While he appeared relaxed, Zinedine Zidane may have felt slightly differently knowing his star man was missing Madrids biggest game of the season so far.In fact, Real Madrid have won just 43 per cent of their Champions League matches without him since 2009/10, while his inclusion in their starting XI has yielded a 71 per cent win rate. Worryingly for City, his return for the second leg seems to be on track. Ronaldo key for Madrid Ronaldo has scored/assisted 77% of Real Madrid’s goals in this season’s Champions League (20 out of 26). The prolific Portugal international had been out with a hamstring injury since April 20 but the 31-year-old joined his team-mates for training on Sunday - and Zidane says he is 100 per cent for Wednesdays clash. Ronaldo is the top scorer in this seasons Champions League with 16 goals from 10 appearances and his return for the second leg would obviously be a huge boost for Real.But Sky Sports Guillem Balague is not convinced he will take to the Bernabeu turf in mint condition.If you followed Ronaldos training session on Tuesday, he didnt shoot once with his right leg so he doesnt seem to be 100 per cent, no matter what Zidane says, Balague told Sky Sports News HQ on Tuesday. Of course he will start, though - hell probably be with Bale and Jese up front. Guillem Balague doesnt think Cristiano Ronaldo is 100 per cent fit ahead of Real Madrids Champions League 2nd leg semi-final against Manchester City. Clean-sheet kings Manchester Citys defence will have to hold firm at the Bernabeu Manchester Citys backline may have come unstuck against Southampton on Sunday, conceding four goals in a heavy defeat, but Manuel Pellegrini had made three changes to the four-man defence he fielded against Real Madrid. The City boss will hope the return of Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Vincent Kompany will help his side shut out the Spanish side again. Citys record run Manchester City are currently unbeaten in six Champions League matches; their longest run ever in the competition (W3 D3). City have kept clean sheets in three consecutive home Champions League matches, after managing just one in the previous 17. Now, after silencing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and PSG in the second-leg of their quarter-final tie, they must do the same at the Bernabeu to boost their chances of reaching the final. Second-leg success Karim Benzema has scored plenty of goals this season and could be vital in the second leg Manchester City fans will head to the Bernabeu on May 4 thinking they got their own way in the first leg, but was it all part of Real Madrids masterplan? The Spanish giants have won a remarkable seven of eight European ties in the second leg after drawing 0-0 in the first.A goalless draw was good for City because one away goal in the second leg leaves Madrid needing two to progress, but Real Madrid will be expected to get on the scoresheet in front of their own fans. Manuel Pellegrini believes his Manchester City side have the personality and footballing ability to beat Real Madrid Odds against Man City? Just 31 per cent of teams who have drawn 0-0 at home in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie have progressed to the next round (9 out of 29). The last team to do so were Atlético Madrid in the 2014 semi-finals (vs Chelsea). Despite a recent improvement, the English club have only kept a clean sheet away from home in the Champions League twice since 2011. Coupled with Real Madrids utterly ridiculous European home form, Pellegrini and his players are in for one hell of a ride - Real Madrid have failed to score at home in the Champions League just once in the last seven years.Not-so-super Sergio Sergio Aguero has been on form in the Premier League, but not in Europe If Man City are to progress, they are likely to need top scorer Sergio Aguero to deliver.In the Premier League this season, Aguero has thrived, scoring 23 goals. But on the European stage, he has struggled. The 27-year-old has now gone 432 minutes without a single shot on target in the Champions League. Reals strong defence Real Madrid have played five matches at home in the Champions League this season, keeping a clean sheet in all of them. Aguero has netted just twice in the Champions League this term. The former Atletico Madrid man will be desperate to net against his old rivals on May 4. Now is the time to make it count - Manchester City will be relying on him.Will Manchester City reach the Champions League final? Have your say by leaving a comment below if youre reading on skysports.com or tweet us @SkyFootball... Also See: Real Madrid v Man City preview Charlies European predictions Hart: City can do it Missed chance for City? Fake Lakers Jerseys .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. Cheap Lakers Jerseys . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. Los Angeles Lakers Pro Shop . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. Lakers Jerseys China . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.Wrapping up the semifinals of TSN.cas 2013 Play of the Year Showdown is another strong match featuring talented Sabres forward Cody Hodgson against the skillful Pavel Datsyuk of the Red Wings. One of these two plays will make it to the finals and battle for the 2013 POY title. In the quarterfinals of the 2013 POY Showdown, Datsyuk barely edged out Eric Fehr, squeaking through with 50.17 per cent of the votes. On the other end of the match-up, Jake Allen was able to easily dust Alexander Semin, taking home 76.70 per cent of the votes. Hodgson shows off some fancy stick-work, clever thinking and great hands with his POY candiidate.dddddddddddd Hodgson cruises with the puck from the neutral zone to the net, dodging player after player, and making his opponents looks like pylons in a skating drill. This POY entry by Datsyuk showcases his hands, vision and perseverance. He starts by throwing a solid hit in his own defensive zone and retrieving the loose puck, and by the time this play is over, Datsyuk makes every single Nashville player on the ice look silly. You can watch the highlights and make your decision here (http://poy.tsn.ca). Every vote counts so watch all the plays and take part in the TSN.ca Play of the Year Showdown. ' ' '