Manuel Pellegrini believes his Manchester City side are well-placed in their Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid.

The Premier League outfit managed a 0-0 draw in the initial bout at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night which sets up a mouth-watering encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday.

Regarding his side's prospect of reaching the May 28 final in Milan, Pellegrini felt it was too close to call but is of the belief that City can create problems in Madrid by again keeping it tight and waiting for opportunities.

"It was a very close game. We tried from the beginning to win - we pressed high - but we were not very creative," said the Chilean.

"I don't think Real are favourites. They have the advantage of playing away first - but we play the same way away as at home.

"The players believe in what we are doing. Before we go to Madrid, we must continue in the league against a difficult team (Southampton).

"Unfortunately, we will have one day less to prepare for Wednesday's game but we trust in what we can do and we will give our all."

City's best chance of the contest came in injury-time when Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick was tipped over the bar by Keylor Navas following a pair of top quality saves from Joe Hart who kept out both Casemiro and Pepe from close range.