1) No sign of stage fright from Pellegrini’s men
This was Manchester City's first European Cup semi-final and Real Madrid's 27th yet there was no suggestion of Manuel Pellegrini's men suffering stage fright. As this first leg neared the end Real pressed as might be expected from such a gilded side and Joe Hart made one superb save from Pepe that brought cries of "England's No1" from the grateful home support. Yet the topsy-turvy nature of this encounter was shown by the goalkeeper's stop being quickly turned into a lightening counterattack as Kelechi Iheanacho flew forward and just failed to get in behind the back-pedalling defence. Before kick-off Pellegrini said City were arriving in optimum physical and mental shape and hitting top form, having beaten Stoke City 4-0 here at the weekend. It showed as they made Real scrap and left them in no doubt next week's return at the Bernabéu should be a dogfight and some spectacle.
2) Reassuring Kompany can guide City to the final
In the buildup the captain was in calm yet forthright mood preferring to talk of "comebacks" rather than the 14 calf injuries that have plagued his time at the club. Quite rightly he pointed to the character this shows and an ability to continue performing at a high level. This match was about carrying these words into action against a Real line led by Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, whose first thought is to try and blitz all opposition. Kompany impressed. After giving away Real's opening corner, his timing was smooth – Benzema was disposed with ease by a quick thrust of a boot – and his positioning masterful, killing the threat of one Bale cross with a neat intercept. Given this was only his second start since returning from a knee injury and given the quality of opposition, Kompany showed why he remains the key man in defence. If he is fit for next week's decisive leg City's hopes of progressing will be enhanced.
3) Zidane is a serene presence
The 43-year-old came into this match as a baby in the elite coach stakes, as this was only the 22nd time he was taking charge of the side. So here was a chance to learn a little more of what kind of No1 the France World Cup winner, who took over from Rafael Benítez, is and may be as his career develops. When asked about this, the man with one of football’s more famous foreheads offered the following self-analysis: “I’m calm before and after a game but during it I can be more animated.” This was the essence of Zidane on Zidane. Yet while he prowled the technical area throughout the contest he was hardly a whirling dervish of demonstrative actions. Instead he was a calm figure, quietly urging his men on, content to clap and gesture only occasionally but as the match entered its final 15 minutes and was still goalless might he have made more changes to affect it?
4) De Bruyne is now City’s main man
As this season has gone on, Kevin De Bruyne has become the side's focus, whether operating from a wide attacking berth or as the side's No10: the two positions the 24-year-old switched between after David Silva was forced off near the break. Wherever he operates, the man with 15 goals for City can probe, as when slotting in Jesús Navas early on, and ghost into scoring positions, as when he surged beyond Pepe to draw the first yellow card of the semi-final. De Bruyne has taken over from Silva as chief maestro, the latter currently a peripheral figure who appears in need of a long rest. The Belgium forward is more dynamic and direct: the City player whom Real needed to get hold of but could not. Whether cannonballing a shot at Keylor Navas or chasing down Sergio Ramos when the visiting captain hoped to build from the back, De Bruyne again showed why he is now pivotal to this side.
5) Ronaldo turns up but he is missed where it matters
The saga of whether the Portuguese would play turned to whether Manchester City might take advantage of his absence once the team sheets fell and CR7 was not in the 18. Having the limelight stolen from him is anathema to him, so before the kick-off the former Manchester United darling produced a sideshow by wandering around the benches, gold-plated earphones around his neck, attracting a bank of photographers and TV cameras. As the game unfolded Ronaldo was missed. The contest was intriguing but required the man who can strut, preen and dazzle his way to goal to decorate a first leg that required his particular kind of stardust. City's task was to make his injury count but Sergio Agüero was too often starved of chances, not being found often enough by team-mates. If the Portuguese is back for next week's return, expect Ronaldo to make sure he is again the main event.
(Guardian service)
