Killer instinct and learning lessons - how Man City can kill off Real Madrid tie

Under the lights, in a cauldron of atmosphere in east Manchester, an unforgettable night of Champions League football unfolded before our very own eyes.

Last night Pep Guardiola welcomed 12-time winners Real Madrid to the Etihad for the first leg of a mouth-watering semi final. And the biggest stars in world football dazzled on the glistening grass at the home of the English champions in part one of this European epic.

City found themselves 2-0 up within 10 minutes with Kevin De Bruyne at the heartbeat of the attack, firstly heading in from Mahrez’s inch-perfect cross and supplying Garbiel Jesus with a fierce cross which the Brazilian slotted home from. Phil Foden and Mahrez both had golden opportunities to extend the lead but failed to convert, leaving the door slightly ajar for the Spanish side and talisman Karim Benzema.

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And you can’t do that to a team with the amount of quality that Real Madrid have; City found that out the hard way. Benzema converted from Ferland Mendy’s cross to half the deficit. This is something City will need to be wary of in a week's time.

Going into the second leg, the home side know it is not going to be plain sailing, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have the bit between their teeth as they did in the second half at the Etihad. Foden’s header restored their two-goal lead before Vinicius Jr’s dummy left the City captain Fernandinho stranded on the halfway line as the winger ran through and slotted past Ederson.

The home side were able to bounce back once again when Bernardo Silva reacted fastest to the referee playing advantage and his shot whistled into the top corner, leaving Courtois stranded and the Etihad in a state of