Gareth Bale: Real Madrid forward says he expected Manchester City 'to throw a bit more at us' in semi-final

Real beat a tame City 1-0 to set up all-Madrid Champions League final

Gareth Bale (centre) celebrates with his Real Madrid team-mates (Getty)

Gareth Bale has admitted that Real Madrid expected Manchester City to be more adventurous in their Champions League semi-final after securing a 1-0 aggregate victory to book a final against city rivals Atletico in Milan later this month.

Bale’s first-half goal in the Santiago Bernabeu, which beat City goalkeeper following a heavy deflection off the shin of midfielder Fernando, proved enough to settle a tie which was light on goalmouth action throughout the 180 minutes in Manchester and Madrid.

But despite having over seventy minutes to score a crucial away goal in the Bernabeu, City failed to register a single shot on target, forcing manager Manuel Pellegrini to defend his team’s cautious approach to the game.

With City playing in their first Champions League semi-final, however, Bale claims that their lack of experience on the big stage contributed to their inability to test Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

“At 1-0, City always had a chance,” Bale said. “If they had thrown everything at us and we had gone down the other end and then nicked another goal, then it’s game set and match

“I guess you could say they could have thrown a little bit more at us, but they didn’t.

“Maybe experience probably told a lot in the Bernabeu and over the two legs. We have a lot of experience of being in the semi-finals and, before I was here, Real have been in them before.

“It was difficult for City because it was a new occasion to them. They haven’t been in this position before.

“It’s never easy in these games, but we did a very professional job, we limited them, and the reason they didn't have chances is because we did such a good job on them.”

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola, a two-time Champions League winner with Barcelona, will succeed Pellegrini as City manager in the summer and Bale expects the Catalan to take the club to a higher level.

“I'm sure he will,” Bale said. “He's a world class coach and he’s done well wherever he’s gone.”

Bale's effort deflects off Fernando to go in (Getty)

Real and Bale must now prepare for a repeat of the 2014 Champions League final against Diego Simeone’s Atletico, having beaten their neighbours to win a tenth European Cup in Lisbon two years ago.

And Bale, whose goal in Lisbon helped seal the victory for Real, insists no team can be billed as favourites for the game in Milan’s San Siro.

“It’s going to be a very difficult game again, we know that, but it’s one we’re looking forward to,” he said. “Obviously we have good memories of that game (in Lisbon), don’t get me wrong, but it’s one we’re getting hopeful for.

“We've won one final and we have a chance to win another.”