Grealish shoved into advertising board, while Kroos escapes red card for hack on Gundogan

After Vinicius Jr spectacularly gave Los Blancos the lead against the run of play, the match took a fiery turn with the home side resorting to very robust tactics to stop City's comeback bid.

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While trying to retrieve a long ball down the left, Jack Grealish was shoved in the back by Real Madrid full-back Dani Carvajal, crashing into the advertising hoardings.

Grealish was left in a heap and reacted to Carvajal, who went down holding his face, even though the Man City star hit him on the arm.

And on the stroke of half time, Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos was cautioned for a wild hack on Ilkay Gundogan. However, talkSPORT's Adrian Durham and Stuart Pearce believe Kroos was fortunate to get just a yellow.

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"That is a sending off challenge from Kroos," Pearce said on commentary for talkSPORT.

"That's a clear red card. This is outrageously bad refereeing and this could cost Man City," Durham added.

Things somewhat calmed down after the break and City got themselves level through Kevin De Bruyne's brilliant strike midway through the second half.

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The Belgian struck first-time from 20 yards out, giving fellow countryman Thibaut Courtois no chance in the Real Madrid goal.

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"That goal could be the most important he has ever scored for this football club," Pearce said on De Bruyne's goal.

And that's how the match finished, with Pep Guardiola's men holding the advantage going into the second leg next Wednesday.