Champions League: #ManCity need leap of faith against Real Madrid

Until this season Manchester City's progression in the Champions League could be measured in baby steps but on Tuesday they can make a huge leap forward when they host Real Madrid in their first European semi-final for 45 years.

The Abu Dhabi-backed English club have already broken new ground this season, moving past the last 16 stage that proved their limit for the past two seasons having failed even to survive the group stage prior to that.

In seeing off Paris St Germain, who have similar financial muscle, in the quarter-finals they delivered a powerful statement of intent to reach their first semi-final since a European Cup Winners' Cup defeat by Chelsea in 1971.

Manchester United dismiss Louis van Gaal deal reports

Manchester United have dismissed press reports in the Netherlands that the club had agreed a three-year deal with Louis van Gaal for him to replace the sacked David Moyes as coach.

Popular broadsheet De Telegraaf said on Saturday that "the national coach (Van Gaal) late last (Friday) night reached a deal with the top British club," to take over as manager after the World Cup.

"The man who's the absolute No 1 to replace axed coach David Moyes will immediately take up the job when the Dutch Eleven is knocked out of the World Cup in Brazil," the paper added.

Van Gaal, 62, who has been on holiday at his villa in Portugal's Algarve "has been in talks with Ed Woodward, lawyer for club owners the Glazer brothers for a multi-year, multi-million contract," it said, without citing any sources.

But United, who have put veteran player Ryan Giggs in charge until the end of the season, quickly denied the reports.