Manchester City can beat Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, Vincent Kompany insists

Vincent Kompany believes there are a “million more disappointing results” than Manchester City’s goalless draw with Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday night.

Real were without Cristiano Ronaldo, due to a thigh problem, with Karim Benzema forced off at half-time having been recently troubled by a hamstring injury. In the circumstances, the stalemate was viewed by some as a missed opportunity by City to take advantage of Zinedane Zidane’s weakened side ahead of the second leg at the Bernabéu next Wednesday.

However, Kompany pointed to how City did not concede an away goal, as well as how well they have generally performed away from home in Europe this year, with victories recorded at Borussia Mönchengladbach, Sevilla and Dynamo Kyiv.

“There are about a million more disappointing results,” the City captain said. “We have a really good away record in the Champions League: 0-0, if it was an away game for me [City], I would not feel comfortable; if you don’t score then not conceding is always a good thing. In a wider perspective it is 180 minutes we are playing for this tie. I wouldn’t expect us not to score for 180 minutes. If we can score at the Bernabéu I would be very surprised not to be playing for a place in the final until the end of the game

“We are still an offensive team. We are always looking to score goals. If we don’t manage to score a goal [in Madrid] what claims can we make for going to the final? So I expect us to score a goal, and if we do the game is going to be really interesting.”

Commenting on how the first leg unfolded on Tuesday, Kompany said: “Both teams had a game-plan. I didn’t expect to see both teams over-commit in the first half of this tie. That is basically what happened. There were only two strikers on the pitch. They were defending really well and we had to defend really well.

“I thought we struggled with one or two set-pieces and Joe Hart did great. At this level you are expected to have a top goalkeeper behind you and he did his job like he always does.

“Real Madrid were well organised and disciplined, probably playing as they have done in the big games this season. But we matched them in that sense. I will still be surprised if it remains 0-0 at the Bernabéu.”

City are unlikely to be without David Silva for the return due a hamstring injury he sustained just before half-time at the Etihad Stadium.

(The Guardian)