Real Madrid have booked their spot in the 2016 Champions League final courtesy of a 1-0 win over Manchester City in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday night.
The two teams played out a goalless draw in the first leg at the Etihad last week, but an own-goal from Fernando in the 20th minute at the Bernabeu was enough to send 10-time winners Real Madrid into the Milan final, where they will meet rivals Atletico Madrid.
© Getty Images
After missing the first leg with a thigh problem, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the Real Madrid XI and his fitness proved a major boost for a team that were without Karim Benzema and Casemiro through hamstring and hip problems respectively.
Jese Rodriguez and Isco both came into Zinedine Zidane's starting selection, while the experience of Pepe was once again preferred to the youthful exuberance of Raphael Varane alongside skipper Sergio Ramos at the back.
As for Man City, David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta were both unavailable for selection, but Yaya Toure overcame a muscular injury to start in an attack that also included Jesus Navas and Kevin De Bruyne.
© Getty Images
Vincent Kompany returned to the Man City team after sitting out the defeat at Southampton at the weekend, but the influential Belgian limped off in the 10th minute after over-extending in a challenge.
The withdrawal of Kompany boosted Real Madrid and they had their first real chance in the 13th minute when Dani Carvajal picked out Ronaldo with a cross from the right, but the attacker's header was too high.
Real Madrid were in control as the match settled and they had the lead in the 20th minute when Gareth Bale found the top corner with a right-footed effort after Carvajal had slid a pass behind the away side's defence.
The Welshman celebrated as if he had scored his first Champions League goal of the season, but UEFA ultimately credited the effort to Fernando, who in attempting to block Bale's effort, had directed the ball over Hart.
© Getty Images
Man City had the chance to hit back moments later when Fernando met a corner from Kevin De Bruyne, but the midfielder's header was always moving over the crossbar, before Ronaldo missed the target down the other end.
The visitors struggled for possession for much of the first period, but they did press forward when given the opportunity and only a clearance from Carvajal prevented Sergio Aguero from having a strike on goal from a Navas cross in the 33rd minute.
Real Madrid had the ball in the back of the net for a second time in the 36th minute, but Ramos's close-range effort was called offside after a free-kick delivery from Toni Kroos.
Man City's best chance of the first period came in the 44th minute when De Bruyne fed a pass into Fernandinho, but the Brazilian's powerful strike hit the outside of the post as Real Madrid entered the break with a one-goal lead.
© Getty Images
The first half-chance of the second period came to Ronaldo after Bale had delivered a pass into the Man City box, but the Portuguese could only scuff his effort into the arms of Hart. Jese was next to come close for Los Blancos in the 51st minute, but the Spaniard's strike was too high.
Luka Modric should have sent the home side 2-0 ahead in the 52nd minute after beating the offside trap to meet a pass from Bale, but Hart was out to make the save and keep the visitors in the semi-final.
Carvajal then set up Ronaldo with a cross from the right, but the Portuguese headed straight at Hart, whose defence went walkabout in the opening 15 minutes of the second period.
It was Hart against Real Madrid's attack as the half developed, and the England international had to be at his best to keep out a stinging Ronaldo effort just before the hour mark.
© Getty Images
Real Madrid continued to press and once again came close to a second goal in the 64th minute when Bale met a corner from Kroos, but his header hit the underside of the crossbar as Man City survived at 1-0.
Pellegrini introduced both Kelechi Iheanacho and Raheem Sterling in a bid to threaten Real Madrid's back four, but Ramos and Pepe were both excellent at the back and managed to keep Keylor Navas extremely quiet between the sticks.
After Lucas Vasquez had chopped Sterling to the ground in the 83rd minute, De Bruyne had the chance to threaten from a free kick, but the Belgian hit the side-netting as Man City passed up one of their best openings of the second period.
Aguero released a powerful strike in the 89th minute as Man City finally had a meaningful effort, but the ball kissed the top of the netting and Real Madrid, who will take on capital rivals Atletico in a repeat of the 2014 Champions League final, closed out the four minutes of stoppage time to claim the win.
Matt Law
