Joe Harts second-half heroics saved Manchester City in the first leg but Real Madrid have a formidable home record in Europe. Ryan Switzer Raiders Jersey . 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? Oakland Raiders Jerseys . "Its embarrassing what were doing here," leading scorer Phil Kessel said Wednesday. The most recent failed season came with even more pain than the six that preceded it. There was no hint of an impending implosion when the Leafs came roaring out of the all-star break with back-to-back games against Pittsburgh -- a 5-4 shootout loss followed by a 1-0 win the next night. Brandon Parker Jersey . The announcement was made by the hall on Friday, March 14. She joins Switzerlands Denise Biellmann as this years inductees to the Hall, based in Colorado Springs, CO. http://www.raidersshopfootball.com/Authentic_Rashaan_Melvin_Raiders_Jersey/ .com Tour title, closing with a 6-under 64 for a four-stroke victory. The 22-year-old former North Texas player finished at 12-under 268 at Panama Golf Club and earned $112,500 to jump from seventh to second on the money list with $171,500.(SportsNetwork.com) - For a while the Pittsburgh Penguins seemed unfazed by the rash of injuries and illnesses which have beset the club so far this season. However, the hobbled Penguins will try to halt their longest losing streak in nearly three years when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. Pittsburgh has lost four straight, including the last three in regulation, to post the franchises longest losing streak since a six-game slide from Dec. 29, 2011-Jan. 11, 2012. The Pens have scored a total of seven goals during the 0-3-1 stretch and only managed one goal over the last two outings. Help could be on the way for the Penguins tonight, however, with the potential return of a few players who have recently missed time. Forwards Craig Adams and Beau Bennett and defenseman Christian Ehrhoff are all questionable for tonight after practicing with the team on Tuesday. Adams (undisclosed) and Ehrhoff (lower body) have each missed the last five games, while Bennett has sat out the last 15 tilts with a lower-body issue. Backup goaltender Thomas Greiss, who is one of several Pittsburgh players to contract the mumps this season, also expects to suit up for tonights game after Jeff Zatkoff was sent down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL on Tuesday morning. Defenseman Paul Martin also skated at Tuesdays practice, but he wont play tonight. I dont know what everyones timeline is, but its nice to see guys back in practice, Pens captain Sidney Crosby told his teams website. But regardless of how many guys and when, you still have to make sure youre playing the right way so when guys do come back, its an easier adjustment for them and youre on the right track. Crosby scored the lone goal for Pittsburgh in its most recent outing, a 3-1 setback Monday in New Jersey. His 11th marker of the season gavee the Pens a 1-0 lead with 5:23 left in the first, but the Devils took control of the game with a two-goal second period. Cornellius Carradine Jersey. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 24-of-27 shots and is expected to start again tonight. He is 12-8-2 with a 2.71 goals against average in his career against the Hurricanes. Carolina, which is second from the bottom in the overall NHL standings, is hoping to take advantage of the Penguins recent struggles tonight when the Hurricanes aim to close December with just their fourth victory of the month. The Canes are 3-9-1 in December and have lost two straight and 10 of their last 12 games. The clubs latest setback came Monday against visiting Montreal, which notched a 3-1 win to spoil the season debut of Jordan Staal. Staal, a former Penguins centerman, played in his first game of the season and was credited with an assist on his brother Erics power-play goal early in the third period. However, that was all the offense Carolina could muster, as the Hurricanes were held to less than two goals for the ninth time in 12 games. Cam Ward only made 16 saves to take the loss in a game that saw the Hurricanes hold a 29-19 edge in shots. We had our chances, we just couldnt put them home, Carolina forward Riley Nash said. Ward, who is 13-6-3 with a 2.38 GAA in his career against Pittsburgh, will start again tonight. Pittsburgh is beginning a four-game homestand tonight, and although the club boasts a 13-5-1 record at Consol Energy Center this season, the Pens have lost their last two home games against Carolina. The home skid includes a 4-2 Hurricanes victory in the Steel City on Nov. 28. That triumph is one of just four road wins this season for Carolina, which is 4-14-2 as the guest. The Pens have won six of the past eight overall meetings against the Panthers. Wholesale NFL T-shirts Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping NFL Jerseys Wholesale China NFL Gear Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Cheap NFL Hoodies Camo China NFL Jerseys ' ' '
