Real Madrid stars Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo join forces to celebrate ending Manchester City's dream

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Cristiano Ronaldo threw his arms around Gareth Bale in gratitude after Real Madrid ended Manchester City’s Champions League dream.

Bale’s first-half strike, via a deflection off Fernando, was enough to give Real a 1-0 win here and send them through to face neighbours Atletico Madrid in a repeat of the 2014 final.

Questions have been raised about the relationship between two of Madrid’s biggest stars, but Ronaldo was the first to congratulate Bale after the winning goal and the Welshman was quick to share any credit with his team-mates. 

Gareth Bale (right) celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo during Real Madrid's win over Manchester City

Manchester City midfielder Fernando (left) turned in Bale's cross in the first half at the Bernabeu

Ronaldo emphasised the growing team spirit within the Real dressing room by sharing this group picture

‘It doesn’t matter who scores or whether it’s an own goal or not, the main thing is we have a chance to win the Champions League again,’ said Bale. 

‘The reason I came to Real was to win Champions Leagues. I’ve got one already and I have a chance to win another.

‘I feel like I am maturing. My Spanish is getting better and I’m integrating more with the team. I feel I have turned a corner in that sense and I’m enjoying my football here.’ 

Ronaldo played despite doubts over his fitness after he missed the goalless first leg at the Etihad with a hamstring injury.

The former Manchester United forward said: ‘People were doubting me but I don’t know why. They forget I recover fast but I am happy and have no problems. I was tired because I hadn’t played for 15 days but I helped the team.

‘It was a tough game but we played better than City. We created more chances in the first half and the second half, we were more intense.’

City suffered a blow when captain Vincent Kompany limped off in the 10th minute with yet another injury, but manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted he had no regrets over his tactics as his side struggled to threaten the Spaniards. 

Welsh forward Bale battles for the ball with Manchester City midfielder Fernando 

Cristiano Ronaldo believes Real were better than City over two legs and deserved to go through

Ronaldo was all smiles as he was helped to his feet by Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart

It means Pellegrini will not end his City career with an appearance in the Milan final later this month, with the priority now to secure a top-four place and Champions League football for his successor Pep Guardiola.

‘No regrets,’ said the Chilean. ‘We worked very well the whole game and that’s why Real Madrid couldn’t create any chances. But we were not creative enough to damage them.

‘We didn’t deserve to lose. We should have gone to penalties. Madrid didn’t demonstrate that they are better than us and the goal was very lucky.’

Goalkeeper Joe Hart defended City’s approach, saying: ‘We can’t be bothered by criticism. We could easily be in the final. Did we do enough? I don’t know.’