Champions League: Real Madrid test awaits Manchester City

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany (third from left) trains with team mates in Manchester on Monday, the eve of their Champions League first leg semi-final against Real Madrid. (Photo: AFP )

Manchester City’s players face the game of their lives in Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid, captain Vincent Kompany said on Monday.

While City have reached this stage of the competition for the first time, having broken new ground by overcoming Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals, 10-time champions Madrid are making a record 27th semi-final appearance.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side will therefore start as underdogs at the Etihad Stadium, but Kompany knows that he and his team-mates will not want for motivation.

“We have great players in the team of course and when we talk about the maturity of the club at this level, the players are all players who can play at that level,” he told reporters at the City Football Academy in Manchester.

“To play against those top players, that’s what you want. There’s not a day in my life where I’m thinking these occasions are stressful or difficult.

“I want this for myself and at this level, all players want this for themselves. You have to play against those players as many times as we can and try and beat those teams.

“That’s what’s going to make history for this club.”

He added: “You get to the semi-finals, there’s nothing bad for you anymore. You just want to play.

“For every single player in the team, if you’re not hungry tomorrow, then you’ll never be hungry in football.”

City’s fans have been accused of showing a degree of indifference towards the Champions League, with the second leg of the quarter-final win over PSG the only home game that has been a sell-out in this season’s competition.

But with Cristiano Ronaldo and co expected to attract another bumper crowd to the Etihad, Kompany directly encouraged the club’s fans to create a crackling atmosphere.

Asked what role City’s supporters could play, he replied: “The biggest. Because we play against one of the greatest clubs of all time and our support will be able to make the difference.

“I have never seen a Manchester City team not turn up when the fans are up for it. It’s an appeal to them that they have to be as loud as they’ve ever been. Otherwise, what’s the point in buying your ticket to come in ” However, midfielder Yaya Toure is expected to miss the clash, Pellegrini revealed.

Ronaldo, Benzema in Madrid squad Real Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were both included in coach Zinedine Zidane’s squad for the clash despite fitness doubts.

Three-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo missed Saturday’s 3-2 win at Rayo Vallecano with a minor thigh injury, but is expected to start on his return to Manchester, where he spent six years with Manchester United between 2003 and 2009.

Benzema is a bigger doubt after limping off with a knee injury before half-time at Rayo.