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With the action on the pitch not up to much in this Champions League semi-final first leg between Manchester City and Real Madrid, attentions turned to the touchline.

In contrast to the usually calm demeanour of City manager Manuel Pellegrini, opposite number Zinedine Zidane was an often-exasperated figure.

A little too much movement, though, revealed a familiar frailty. The French boss once again suffered the embarrassment of a ripped pair of trousers, similar to the problem that plagued him in the last round of this competition.

On that occasion, Zidane's part in the wild celebrations that featured in the quarter-final comeback against Wolfsburg cost him. Here, it was more frustration and encouragement to his players.

Real will return to the Santiago Bernabeu with a goalless draw in Manchester as their platform. In the seven days beforehand their manager might want to find a new tailor.
Asked about his wardrobe malfunction post-match, Zidane said: 'It's not a big issue so don't worry about it.'

He at least should have Cristiano Ronaldo to call upon. The talismanic Portuguese forward missed Tuesday night's first leg but his absence through injury was only taken as a precaution.

'It's sensible. I'll wait. If it was a final, I would have played,' Ronaldo told Marca prior to kick-off.

In the star man's absence, Real struggled to create during a drab first half but they did have the better of the chances as the game went on.

Joe Hart had to save brilliantly from Pepe, Jese hit the crossbar with a header and was also denied a penalty shout as Los Blancos looked to turn the screw.

It did not prove enough, for now. These two sides meet again next Wednesday, hopefully with a new sense of adventure on display. Certainly there should be a fresh pair of trousers on the touchline.