Real Madrid 3 - 0 Galatasary: Real blow away Turks

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.

Scorers: Real - Ronaldo 9, Benzema 29, Higuain 73

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.

Madrid 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 nine minutes.

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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 some 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.

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, delivered a high ball into the box which fell at the feet of Benzema, who 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 .

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

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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.

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.

Barring a complete collapse in Istanbul, Madrid can be confident of reaching their third consecutive Champions League semi-final under Mourinho.

Real Madrid: Diego Lopez, Essien, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Fabio Coentrao, Alonso, Khedira, Di Maria (Pepe 86), Ozil (Modric 80), Ronaldo, Benzema (Higuain 65). Subs not used: Adan, Kaka, Marcelo, Arbeloa.

Galatasaray: Muslera, Eboue, Kaya, Nounkeu, Riera (Amrabat 83), Altintop (Bulut 78), Felipe Melo, Sneijder (Zan 46), Inan, Burak Yilmaz, Drogba. Subs not used: Iscan, Balta, Kurtulus, Sarioglu.