Joe Hart was the hero at the Etihad on Tuesday, making a string of fine saves to help Manchester City to a 0-0 draw with Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.
Highlighted by a point-blank stop on Pepe with less than ten minutes to play, Hart’s performance has set up a winner-take-all affair for the second leg in Madrid next week.
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Speaking in the tunnel after the match, Hart was not intimidated by the trip to the Bernabeu, where Real are yet to concede a Champions League goal this season.We are not disappointed with the result. Bring it on.
We’ve set it up for a good ol’ fashioned rumble at the Bernabeu and you know we’re going to be ready for it.
We have a brilliant squad who are coming to fruition. Big game next week, simple as.
With the scoreless draw, Manchester City has successfully kept back-to-back clean sheets in the Champions League for the first time in club history.
Hart was outstanding, but City must be better in the second leg to advance to the final. Should Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema be fully fit next week, Hart will likely have to be the hero once again.