Manchester City will be hoping they can defy the odds when they face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

The Premier League club earned a 0-0 draw at home in the first leg last week and only need a draw, score or goalless, to advance to their first UEFA Champions League final.

However, the Sky Blues will be up against a Real Madrid side which has yet to concede at home in all five matches of this edition of Europe's premier club competition and will be welcoming the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed the first leg with a thigh injury.

It should be a fascinating encounter between two sides that haven't set the world on fire domestically this season. City will be hoping to shore up their defence after conceding four against Southampton on the weekend, where as Real will want to continue the momentum from their 1-0 triumph at Real Sociedad.

Will there be a rematch of the 2014 Battle of Madrid in the May 28 final in Milan? Or will City make history and go one step closer to taking Europe's biggest crown?

Last Time They Played

The first leg at the Etihad was an uncompromisingly lacklustre affair.

Both sides seemed tentative to go for it, with a mere 5 shots on target from both ends. Manuel Pellegrini's City kept possession well in the first half but there attacking edge was lost when playmaker David Silva exited the game after aggravating an ankle injury. The same can be said for Zinedine Zidane's Real, who lost key striker Karim Benzema at half-time. Los Blancos would have considered themselves unlucky on their flight back to Spain.

We shouldn't expect more out of a centre-half, but Pepe's inexplicable miss with 8 minutes remaining was a howler; there's no wonder he doesn't have any hair left. The Portuguese international must've got the fright of his life when the ball fell to him from a corner. Unmarked and within the six-yard box, Pepe struck his shot directly into Joe Hart from point blank range and that was that. 0-0 and one to forget, with both coaches undoubtedly relieved they did not concede, however I suspect Pellegrini may have been the happier of the two.

Will they ever get rid of this pesky away goal rule?

Statistics

If you're a stickler for statistics then run to the bookmaker and put your money on Madrid.

Manuel Pellegrini's side will take comfort in the fact they don't need to score at the Bernabeu, which is something no side has done in Europe this season. Real have scored 18 goals at home in five matches in Europe this term and have conceded zero, including a 3-0 win over Wolfsburg in the last round having lost 2-0 away. The ten-time European champions have gone unbeaten in their last nine matches against English opponents with six wins and three draws.

The last time an English side won in Madrid was Liverpool back in 2008/2009. If you're thinking the 0-0 scoreline in the first leg is an advantage for City, think again. Only 31% of teams who drawn 0-0 in the first leg at home advance to the next round.

However, it's not all doom and gloom for City. Although they haven't beaten Madrid, they do have experience of winning in Spain this season, having beaten Sevilla 3-1 in the group stage. They have also won three out of five games overseas in the Champions League this campaign.

Team News

Headaches would have persisted throughout the week for Pellegrini and counterpart Zidane.

The latter will be more than buoyed by the return of the prolific Ronaldo; Real Madrid win 71% of the time he features in the Champions League. Unfortunately for Zidane, hitman Benzema has been ruled out along with midfield enforcer Casemiro, who played well in the first leg and has proved vital to the balance of the side.

However, Zidane believes their absence will not change the 4-3-3 system that Madrid has become accustomed too: "I am not going to change tomorrow," said the Frenchman.

"It has always been the same and even more so playing at home."

We're ready for Wednesday's match!#RMCity#RMUCL#HalaMadridpic.twitter.com/mDXDvlatNM
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) May 3, 2016

The Sky Blues were hammered by the Saints on the weekend and with Silva out, Pellegrini will have to make a tough decision for who plays behind, or up front with Sergio Aguero at the Bernabeu.

Raheem Sterling's audition for the job was disastrous. For a player who was once touted as England's most promising youngster and destined to play for either Madrid or Barcelona, his performance on the weekend at St Mary's was more indicative of a player heading to Colchester (no offence U's).

When Silva was injured in the first leg, it was not Sterling who replaced him, but Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored a brace in the defeat to Southampton on Sunday. There is also Wilfried Bony available but you'd expect that Nigerian youngster Iheanacho will almost certainly get the nod if it is a choice between the three.

Despite this, all will rest on the fitness of Yaya Toure, who missed the first leg due to a thigh strain, with Pellegrini confirming he has returned to normal training. 2009 Champions League winner Toure, with a wealth of experience and an ability to produce moments of magic, should be the most likely preferred in Silva's absence, if he is fit.

Pre-match manager quotes

Manuel Pellegrini: "I don't think Real are favourites to progress. We have the same options. They have the advantage of playing away first - they tried to manage the pace of the game - but we play the same way away as at home and we came away from Sevilla and PSG with good results."

Zinedine Zidane: "It will be even more difficult than in the first game, because it will all be decided tomorrow. We are not thinking about scoring two or three goals within 15 minutes like we did against Wolfsburg. We know that we will suffer for 90 minutes - and perhaps even longer."

Prediction

Pellegrini's side should be parking the bus and hoping to pinch a goal from a counter-attack or a set piece, but 'The Engineer' doesn't seem content to play defensively.

“We will try to play in the way we play each week. The best way to reach the final is to play the way we know. We tried in Manchester but it was not a good day for creative players. We will try to attack," said Pellegrini.

The Chilean's bravery is commendable but with only a draw needed, he may need to adjust his tactics if he hopes to get one over his old club. If City does set out to score goals and relinquish sustainability at the back, they will be put in a precarious decision with the firepower that Madrid possesses.

With Ronaldo returning and Real's impeccable defensive record at home, Los Blancos should advance to face rival Atletico in an attempt to win a record 11th Champions League title.

Score:Real Madrid3 - Manchester City1