Gareth Bale predicting "tough" semi-final at Manchester City

Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale has insisted that his team will need to be at their best to secure a positive result in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final away to Manchester City on Tuesday night.

Bale, 26, has also revealed that he is looking forward to returning to England, having represented both Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur earlier in his career.

"It's always nice to go back. We know it will be a tough match, Champions League semi-finals always are. We hope to play well there and come back with a good result," Bale told Real Madrid's official website.

"The most important thing is getting a goal away from home. It's also very important that we don't concede. We're very strong at the Santiago Bernabeu and we'll have a lot of chances."

Bale scored twice at the weekend as Real Madrid came from two goals behind to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 in La Liga. Overall, the Welshman has 18 goals in 25 appearances for his Spanish club this season.