Manchester City managed to come away from the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid with a clean sheet and Paul Dickov thinks they are in a strong position ahead of the return match in Madrid. Dickov has been impressed with the way City have transformed their performances in Europe after failing to get past the round of 16 in their last four attempts.I thought it was a really good result for City last night, Dickov told Sky Sports News HQ. City have been guilty in previous seasons of being a little bit naive in Europe, maybe going a bit too gung-ho. Against Real Madrid last night it was imperative they kept a clean sheet and going over to the Bernabeu next week I really do fancy City to score with the players theyve got in their team.Real Madrid were unlucky not to score but City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart was in fine form - keeping Pepe out from just six yards from what looked like a certain goalscoring opportunity.Hes been outstanding, he made two world-class saves last night and I have said before I regard Joe as one of the three or four best keepers in the world, Dickov said. Bale and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart shake hands at the final whistle The ex-City forward is confident his old side can progress and has tipped them to come up against future manager Pep Guardiola and Bayern Munich in the final, saying its written in the stars.If you look at Citys results in Europe this season, the five away games theyve had I think theyve scored 10 goals so that just shows you the way the way they set up away from home, hitting teams on the counter attack - it really suits how they play, Dickov added.If City can be nice and solid, the likes of Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne, whos been in great form, and obviously Sergio Aguero are a real threat. The one thing I can see City doing is scoring and I really fancy them and I think its written in the stars for a Bayern Munich and Manchester City final.Manuel Pellegrini will be aware his side must keep an eye on their league form as they look to secure their place in the top four this Sunday when they play an in-form Southampton, live on Sky Sports 1. Also See: Hart: City can do it Kompany: Pressure on Real City and Real share stalemate Missed chance for City? Bob Gibson Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Drew Robinson Jersey . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. http://www.authenticcardinalspro.com/cardinals-tyler-o-neill-jersey/ . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Miles Mikolas Jersey . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Enos Slaughter Jersey . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. LONDON -- Milos Raonic is as good a server as there is in tennis nowadays.Andy Murray is one of the top returners.How that matchup plays out in the Wimbledon final Sunday could go a long way toward determining who wins the championship.The sixth-seeded Raonic heads into the first Grand Slam title match of his career -- and the first for a man representing Canada -- having won 116 of his 121 service games (96 percent) across six matches.Obviously, said Murray, the 2013 Wimbledon champion, Milos has got a fantastic serve.Raonic, who added John McEnroe to his coaching staff ahead of the grass-court portion of this season, has hit 154 aces, averaging 25 1/2 per match. Hes faced only 27 break points, saving 22.In his five-set victory over Roger Federer in the semifinals, Raonic saved 8 of 9 break points.Not only did the 6-foot-5 Raonic repeatedly top 140 mph in that match, he went as high as 144 mph more than once, and his average first serve of 129 mph was faster than Federers best offering of 126 mph.Raonics serve is speedy and scary, to be sure -- British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith called it ginormous -- but it is also much more than that.One reason its so effective is because of his ability to alter velocity and placement.Against Federer, he would boom one right at the body at upward of 135 mph -- emanating a thud that reverberated around Centre Court -- then hit an ace out wide at 115 mph that sent up a spray of chalk when it hit a line.You dont get in a rhythm, said Sam Querrey, the American who lost to Raonic in the quarterfinals after beating No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the third round. You go games on his serve where you might get one return in play.Dont count on that happening too often against Murray.Take out players who didnt make it past the second round this fortnight, and the second-seeded Murray ranks No. 1 in:- percentage of returns put in play, 77;- percentage of second-serve points won, 64;- percentage of return games won, 36.Murray -- a two-time major champion, most famouslly becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years -- has won his past five matchups against Raonic.dddddddddddd Just three weeks ago, Murray won their meeting in the final of the Queens Club grass-court tournament. Murray dropped the first set, then trailed 3-0 in the second, before beginning the turnaround with a return winner.It helps to have played a match against him on the grass, Murray said. You know, see some of the things hes doing on this surface a little bit differently.For Murray, this will be the 11th Grand Slam final of his career -- and third of this year -- but first against someone other than Djokovic or Federer.Raonic was asked what sort of a boost his debut in a major final might be for Canadian tennis.Its great to sort of be at the center and front of that come Sunday. Im glad that Ive sort of been leading this charge, the first one to break through and really put these things together, he said. But Im by no means done.Both times Murray earned a major trophy, Ivan Lendl was his coach. And after a hiatus, they have reunited.I dont think its a coincidence. I obviously had the best years of my career with him, Murray said.I obviously wanted to work with Ivan again to try to help me win these events, he added. Thats the goal.One of eight-time major champion Lendls rivals during his playing days was McEnroe, who won three of his seven Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon. Lendl won 21 of their 36 head-to-head matchups, although McEnroe won the only time they played at the All England Club, in the 1983 semifinals.Lendl is expected to be seated in Murrays guest box at Centre Court for the final. McEnroe? Instead of supporting Raonic at courtside, hell be in the TV commentary booth, calling the match for ESPN.---Freelance writer Sandra Harwitt contributed to this report.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich ' ' '