Luka Modric squared up to Aymeric Laporte and Man City star embarrassed himself

There were barely two minutes on the clock before tempers flared between Real Madrid and Manchester City as Aymeric Laporte was left clutching his face on the floor.

Tensions were running high from the beginning at the Santiago Bernabeu given a place in the Champions League final is on the line. This led to a clash between the players before anything of note had even occurred in the game with Luka Modric at the centre of things.

The Croatian veteran was remonstrating with referee Daniele Orsato over a decision before Laporte shoved Modric in the chest in a bid to get him to leave the scene. Instead, the former Spurs midfielder stood his ground and opted to shove the French central defender back.

Luka Modric sent Aymeric Laporte tumbling to the floor with a push to the neck (BT Sport)

Modric appeared to grab Laporte by the throat, which in turn saw the centre-back fall to the floor clutching his face in a clear attempt to try and get the official to reach for his pocket and punish Modric.

Replays showed that the only player who struck anyone in the face was actually the City defender who clawed at his Croatian counterpart on his way down to the floor. Modric stood firm, when he could have delivered his own attempt at trying to get Laporte dismissed.

Orsato decided to caution both Modric and Laporte for their part in the clash, leaving both players are yellow-carded and walking a tightrope for the second half.

Laporte was left in a heap clutching his face and both players were booked (BT Sport)

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should either player have been sent off for their part in the incident? Comment below

Though Laporte's theatrical fall was a show of desperation, it was actually the hosts who entered the game chasing the tie after being defeated 4-3 at the Etihad last week. The first-leg of the semi-final tie played out as an all-time classic, littered with moments of brilliance from both sets of teams.

Liverpool have already booked their place in Paris later this month following their impressive comeback victory over Spanish side Villarreal on Tuesday night. Pep Guardiola's City side will be desperate to end their European hoodoo.

Since the former Barcelona boss took charge in Manchester, City have arguably underwhelmed and underperformed in the Champions League - though they did reach the final last term. They were surprisingly toppled by fellow Premier League outfit Chelsea in what was a cagey affair separated by just one goal.