Real Madrid 3 Galatasaray 0: Classy Ronaldo and Co on course for semi-finals 

PUBLISHED: 15:35 EST, 3 April 2013 | UPDATED: 04:17 EST, 4 April 2013

Real Madrid took a huge step towards reaching the last four of the Champions League by strolling to a comfortable victory over Galatasaray at the Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring early in the first half before Karim Benzema doubled the hosts' lead.

Substitute Gonzalo Higuain's second-half header put the result beyond doubt, and made Madrid's task in the second leg at the Turk Telecom Arena next Tuesday look far easier.

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Up and over: Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first against Galatasaray at the Santiago Bernabeu

Up and over: Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first against Galatasaray at the Santiago Bernabeu

Up and over: Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first against Galatasaray at the Santiago Bernabeu

MATCH FACTS

Real Madrid: Diego Lopez, Varane, Ramos, Coentrao, Khedira, Ronaldo, Ozil (Modric - 80), Alonso, Essien, Di Maria (Pepe 86), Benzema (Higuain 65)

Subs not used: Adan, Marcelo, Arbeloa, Kaka

Booked: Essien, Modric, Ramos

Goals: Ronaldo 9, Benzema 29, Higuain 73

Galatasaray: Muslera, Dany Nounkeu, Kaya, Eboue, Altintop (Bulut 78), Inan, Felipe Melo, Riera (Amrabat 83), Sneijder (Zan 46), Yilmaz, Drogba

Subs not used: Iscan, Balta, Sarioglu, Kurtulus

Booked: Dany Nounkeu, Felipe Melo, Yilmaz, Drogba

Referee: Oddvar Moen

Attendance: 80,000

Galatasaray's coach and players had insisted before the game that they would try to attack the Primera Division champions and would not settle for holding out for a draw. They were loyal to their promise in the first half, but it left them very exposed at the back.

Madrid, who have the reputation for being one of the best counter-attacking teams in Europe, were given a generous amount of space by their opponents and made full use of it.

They had their first attempt on two minutes, Benzema heading just over the bar after a cross from Angel Di Maria, and they took the lead after just nine minutes.

Xabi Alonso supplied the ball up to Mesut Ozil from his own half and the German played a one-two with Benzema, which allowed him space to deliver an excellent low pass into the path of Ronaldo, who calmly chipped the ball over goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and into the net.

Gala played pretty football but struggled to penetrate the Madrid backline and were limited to shots from outside the area. Didier Drogba turned Raphael Varane on the 18-yard line and shot just over the bar, while Wesley Sneijder also missed the target from 20 yards.

In the goals: Karim Benzema got the second for the hosts

In the goals: Karim Benzema got the second for the hosts

Sea of red: Galatasaray fans lit a flare to celebrate the occasion

Sea of red: Galatasaray fans lit a flare to celebrate the occasion

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RETURN LEGS

Tuesday, April 9
Borussia Dortmund (0) v Malaga (0)
Galatasaray (0) v Real Madrid (3)

Wednesday, April 10
Barcelona (2) v PSG (2)
Juventus (0) v Bayern (2)

Ozil could have doubled the lead when a long Sergio Ramos header out of defence led to Madrid attacking, but the midfielder, receiving the ball from Ronaldo, could not put his shot past Muslera.

Madrid's second goal arrived just before the half-hour mark. Michael Essien, a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up at the expense of Alvaro Arbeloa, delivered a high ball into the box which fell at the feet of Benzema, who was in space, took one touch to control the pass and slotted home from six yards.

Galatasaray's best chance of the half fell to Emmanuel Eboue just before the interval. The former Arsenal player burst through on goal but hit his shot straight at Diego Lopez's legs.

Sneijder, unimpressive in the first 45 minutes against his former club, was removed at half-time and replaced by defender Gokhan Zan - a move which saw Fatih Terim's side switch to a back three, with Eboue pushing up to right midfield.

Struggle: Didier Drogba led the line for the visitors

Struggle: Didier Drogba led the line for the visitors

Three and easy: Gonzalo Higuain scored the third with a glancing header

Three and easy: Gonzalo Higuain scored the third with a glancing header

Three and easy: Gonzalo Higuain scored the third with a glancing header

The tactical change did not help the visitors' attacking ambitions, and they went on to pose even less of a threat after the break as they had before it.

Madrid also dropped their intensity in the second period. Ronaldo and Di Maria both had chances to test Muslera, the better of which fell to the Argentinian, but the goalkeeper had little trouble with either effort.

Higuain came on for Benzema on 65 minutes and seven minutes later made the triumph secure when he headed in a free-kick from Xabi Alonso.

Rough and tumble: Sergio Ramos (left) drags Didier Drogba to the floor in the second half

Rough and tumble: Sergio Ramos (left) drags Didier Drogba to the floor in the second half

Rough and tumble: Sergio Ramos (left) drags Didier Drogba to the floor in the second half

Jose Mourinho's side rode out the final minutes of the game with little trouble. Alonso and Ramos both picked up yellow cards which mean they will miss the second leg.

Achieving victory was much lighter work for Madrid than their two hard-fought games with Manchester United in the previous round but, barring a complete collapse in Istanbul, they can be confident of reaching their third consecutive Champions League semi-final under Mourinho.

Putting out fires: Sami Khedira (right) and Ramos tackle Burak Yilmaz

Putting out fires: Sami Khedira (right) and Ramos tackle Burak Yilmaz

Over you go: Ronaldo hits the deck after Semih Kaya (centre) backs into the Portugal forward

Over you go: Ronaldo hits the deck after Semih Kaya (centre) backs into the Portugal forward

 

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Anyone that's said "Why was Benzema not sent off for a high foot" clearly don't mean Nani's was a red card. We're all trying to say if Nani is off for it then why isn't Benzema? Clear enough for you now you ABU's?!

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Galatasaray were floored by blatant partisan refereeing decisions! Is the Champions league only going to be about which Spanish team (Barca, Madrid )wins this competition ? If that's all UEFA want, then it should tell other clubs not to bother competing. I'm just surprised the ref didn't send off a Gala player for good measure, just to make sure they were handicapped good and proper !

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- Rafa's the God why would I be scared of RM. I am just stating facts that Dortmund won their group ahead of RM, Ajax and Man Citeh. Whether RM have Ozil, Khedira, Alonso, Ronaldo doesn't matter one bit to the Germans ie Borussia Dortmund or Bayern Munich. RM have extremely talented footballers yes, but so do BM and BD. If RM were so great why didn't they win the group and why did Dortmund win it, it shows they are so far the better team. BM are clearly best team in Germany, and Dortmund are clearly the second best team in Germany, RM are the second best team in Spain. I believe if Dortmund or Bayern play like they have done the Spanish teams will get found out did you see some of the football Dortmund played against Malaga it was ridiculous their passing vision etc was excellent, unfortunately didn't score and that is why the Germans etc will always be better than the English at the game because they find players who can play.

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I only wanted to see a picture of Jose and Drogba together... It's not here

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All the Ronaldo lovers have gone quiet for some reason. Oh well, we'll just have to wait until Messi doesn't score and Ronaldo does, then its all "Ronaldos the best player ever' again. Notice not many people harping on about Messi being better than Ronaldo?. I don't think they try as pathetically as Ronaldo lovers do. I wouldn't be suprised if you get more than a little excited when you see his legs.

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The match looked more like a training and I dont think that RM was rigorous. Score 3-0; if RM needed 7-8 they could have easily managed it. Ronaldo's jersey was still dry after 90 minutes.

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RM did not pay their full attention to the game otherwise there would be dramatic score for Gala.

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Galatasaray's defenders are tragic,they were punished for every mistake and thanks to them Galatasaray now doesn't have too much chance of winning it!. Varane-superb,money Real payed for him is turning out to be one of the best investments they ever made.

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Hahahahha ronaldo's eyebrows!

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Yes. The only reason Galatasaray lost 3-0 was because of the referee.... Honestly, some of the excuses... Galatasaray have strong attacking players, a good goalie and a very good manager but that doesn't make up for a defence comprised of Kaya and Nounkeu and an average left winger at left back. Its not CL quarter final quality. They deserve credit for giving it a go but it was too much of a step up for such tactics with such players. Too much was made of getting past Cluj, Braga and a Huntelaar-less Schalke.

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