Wednesday April 3, 2013 Quarter-final Finished Bernabéu

Real Madrid 3 - 0 Galatasaray

  • Cristiano Ronaldo 9’
  • Benzema 29’
  • Higuaín 73’

63 comments | Write your comment

  1. Champions League - Real Madrid score three in dominant display

    Champions League - Real Madrid score three in dominant display

    Real Madrid beat Galatasaray 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Bernabeu. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Real Madrid
    • Galatasaray
    • 90+3' The full-time whistle goes at the Bernabeu, and Real Madrid have secured a three-goal cushion ahead of the second leg in Istanbul with goals from Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuain! It's a very comfortable victory for Jose Mourinho's side, and the Turkish side will have to produce something very special in the second leg to turn the tie around. Thanks for joining us.
    • 90+2' Coentrao fouls Amrabat, and that could well be the final action in this match.
    • 90+1' Real keep possession very comfortably in the first of three added minutes at the end of this second half.
    • 90' Modric is now booked for a petty foul in midfield, and that's needless at this stage in the game.
    • 89' Inan whips over a testing corner from the right for the visitors, but Real clear the danger and keep the ball in their own half comfortably.
    • 88' Ramos is booked for a late challenge on Eboue, and that rules the defender out of the second leg.
    • 87' Higuain is penalised for a handball as he looks to bring down a high ball.
    • 85' That is the end of Di Maria's evening, and he is replaced by Pepe as Mourinho makes his final change.
    • 84' Inan fouls Khedira, and somehow he has still yet to be booked in this match!
    • 83' Di Maria is penalised for a foul on Inan on halfway, and that could well be his final act.
    • 82' Lopez is called upon to make a rare save as Inan tries his luck from range, and it's nothing more than a speculative effort.
    • 81' Amrabat comes on for Galatasaray now as Riera makes way.
    • 80' Ozil gets a standing ovation from the home fans as he departs, and Luka Modric is the man to replace him.
    • 79' Umut Bulut comes on now to replace Altintop, and further changes appear imminent.
    • 78' Yilmaz will miss the second leg of this tie, and replays show that Ramos did tread on his toe.
    • 77' Yilmaz goes down under a challenge from Ramos inside the penalty area, and he is booked for supposed diving! There did look to be contact there, but the referee is not convinced.
    • 75' Galatasaray keep the ball on halfway, and the visitors need to kill off the final passage of play.
    • 74' Is that the tie over? Galatasaray look very weary now and it would be foolish to rule out a fourth being scored in the final stages now.
    • 73' GOAL! There it is - the third goal for Real Madrid! Higuain pounces to head beyond Muslera from Xabi Alonso's pinpoint delivery from a free kick, and a complete lack of marking gives the forward all the space he needs! It's a comfortable three-goal cushion now.
    • 72' It's incessant pressure now from the hosts, and a third goal would kill the tie.
    • 71' Drogba concedes a free kick for a foul on Ramos, and there is surely no way that he is going to last the 90 minutes - he looks absolutely shattered!
    • 70' Higuain is ruled offside as he attempts to ghost in at the back post to meet a cross from Ozil.
    • 69' Melo is cautioned by the referee, and it must be for dissent as it was Inan who committed the foul. He cannot believe it!
    • 68' Ozil goes down under a challenge from Inan on the edge of the Galatasaray box, and the hosts now have a free kick from an acute angle.
    • 67' There is an anxious moment for the hosts as Drogba floats a deep cross to the back post, and Varane is forced to intervene with a timely clearance.
    • 66' Real have had seven shots on target compared to the visitors' two, and Di Maria really should have buried that chance.
    • 65' Riera is adjudged to be in an offside position as he reluctantly receives a pass from Inan, and Terim is not impressed.
    • 64' Higuain is indeed the man to come on for Real Madrid as he replaces Benzema, who has a goal to show for just over an hour on the field.
    • 63' Di Maria concedes a free kick now as he fouls Eboue, and it's all rather scrappy at the moment.
    • 62' Melo drives a low shot just wide of the near post as he creates space for an effort on goal.
    • 61' Mourinho has his substitutes warming up vigorously now on the touchline, with Higuain perhaps the favourite to be introduced.
    • 60' What a chance for Real! Di Maria sprints in behind the Galatasaray back line, but he places a tame shot straight at a relieved Muslera, who is able to gather comfortably! He really should have scored.
    • 59' Coentrao is penalised for a foul on Altintop, while Zan then collides with Ozil as yet another free kick is given.
    • 57' Ronaldo has another effort on goal after fine link-up play with Di Maria, but Muslera makes a fairly comfortable save.
    • 56' Melo concedes a sloppy free kick as he fouls Alonso, and that's a poor attemted interception as he gifts the hosts possession.
    • 55' Mourinho is again out on the touchline barking orders at his defence, and the urgency has dropped a touch from the hosts in the second half.
    • 54' STAT: Real Madrid have failed to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League this season (11 goals conceded). The Merengues have the worst defensive record among the eight teams left in the competition this season, so there is hope for the visitors.
    • 53' Real keep the ball very patiently in their half, but it's fairly slow build-up play.
    • 52' Di Maria goes down in the Galatasaray box under a challenge from Nounkeu, but there was no real contact there - he just slips.
    • 51' Mourinho has never lost out at this stage before, and he's very calm on the touchline, standing with his hands in his pockets.
    • 50' Ronaldo is furious as he is ruled offside, and he wanted the ball from Ozil much earlier.
    • 49' Nounkeu shows a touch of naivety as he thunders into Benzema from behind, and that's a cheap foul.
    • 48' Zan makes his presence felt after coming on as he fouls Ronaldo, who fires a low free kick effort into the wall with the resulting set piece.
    • 47' Drogba is penalised for a handball as he challenges with Ramos for a high ball, and it's a scrappy start to the half.
    • 46' The second half gets under way, and just one change has been made as the ineffectual Sneijder is withdrawn with Gokhan Zan introduced.
    • - @wazza_MUTD10 believes a single goal back from the visitors would give them a big chance ahead of the second leg, while @omar_zak thinks Real will comfortably seal victory. What do others think? Get in touch.
    • - Can you see Galatasaray hauling themselves back into the match and the tie? Real Madrid will fancy their chances of a 24th semi-final appearance after assuming a two-goal cushion. What did you make of the first half? You can get in touch via Twitter @Dan_Eurosport
    • 45+1' Drogba shows his strength by outmuscling Ramos, and Varane has to race across to intervene! The half-time whistle goes, and the hosts lead 2-0 courtesy of goals from Ronaldo and Benzema inside the opening half hour.
    • 45' There will be just one added minute at the end of this first half, with Real continuing to keep the ball comfortably.
    • 44' The opening afforded to Eboue stuns the hosts somewhat, and they proceed to play the ball around very calmly in their own half.
    • 43' Just as a write that, Eboue flies forward and drives a low shot on target, with Lopez making a smart save to deny the Ivorian! That was far too easy for Mourinho's liking.
    • 42' Eboue is having very little joy as he attempts to take on Coentrao time and again to little avail.
    • 41' Ronaldo comes agonisingly close as he whips a very fine effort just over the crossbar, with Muslera temporarily concerned.
    • 40' Khedira brings the ball forward from deep for the hosts, before Benzema skips past Nounkeu to draw the foul and win a free kick. Nounkeu is booked and he is ruled out of the second leg as a result.
    • 39' Ronaldo is ruled just offside as he looks to get in behind Kaya once more, and it's a marginal but correct call.
    • 38' Mourinho suddenly springs into life, marching across his technical area and shouting instructions at his defenders.
    • 37' Essien again gets down the right and whips over a testing delivery, and Ronaldo almost pounces from close range but he cannot quite keep his balance as he looks to take it down.
    • 36' Muslera shows good footwork to trap a very tricky backpass from Kaya, control it and clear upfield.
    • 35' Eboue brings the ball down the right once more, but he fails to keep it in play under pressure from Coentrao.
    • 34' Benzema goes down clutching his toe after battling for the ball with Nounkeu, but he gets to his feet and hobbles around.
    • 33' Yilmaz almost pounces as Ramos fails to clear a loose ball in the Real box after Drogba makes a pest of himself, and the hosts have to be careful.
    • 32' STAT: Galatasaray have now failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 13 away games in the Champions League.
    • 31' Penalty? No! Khedira appears to handle a loose ball as he and Essien combine to clear inside the Real box, and Drogba leads the complaints.
    • 30' It was a good deep delivery from Essien, but the visitors really should have dealt with it and cleared the danger.
    • 29' GOAL! Essien whips over a deep ball which the visitors do not deal with, and Benzema eventually takes it down before driving a low finish beyond Muslera to double Real's lead early on! It's his fourth goal in seven matches. It's an emphatic finish!
    • 28' It's all Real now as the hosts get the ball down once more and dictate the play.
    • 27' Galatasaray win a corner courtesy of Lopez's flap, but it's wasted by Sneijder.
    • 26' Drogba lets fly with a fierce strike from range, and Lopez is very unconvincing as he flaps at the ball, turning it wide of goal!
    • 25' Sneijder is not managing to get on the ball nearly as much as he would like, and Real continue to boss the midfield.
    • 24' Benzema holds the ball up very effectively once more as he brings Ronaldo and Ozil into play, but the visitors regroup just in time.
    • 23' Essien has not been overly troubled playing at right back so far, and he has marauded forward on a few occasions.
    • 22' The hosts are keeping the ball very comfortably in the Galatasaray half, and only a stray pass from Di Maria gifts possession back to the visitors.
    • 21' STAT: Real Madrid have the best attacking record in the Champions League this season (19 goals in nine games).
    • 20' Benzema is penalised for a foul on Kaya, and the visitors are slowly beginning to settle into the match.
    • 19' Terim is suddenly very animated as he calls over the captain Inan, and he appears to be very concerned with the shape of his side.
    • 18' Real have three against three on the counter-attack, but Ozil dallies slightly and ends up shooting straight at Muslera who makes a fairly comfortable save!
    • 17' Altintop takes matters into his own hands as he lets fly from range, but it doesn't trouble Lopez.
    • 16' Sneijder gets on the ball once more outwide down the left, but he cannot quite keep it in play as he looks to get past Essien.
    • 15' Sneijder is afforded too much time on the ball deep inside the Real half, but he slices his effort wide of the near post!
    • 14' Ozil takes a tumble on the edge of the Galatasaray box, and that was very staged as the referee shakes his head in disdainful fashion.
    • 13' Ronaldo very nearly gets in once more as he combines with Benzema, but he ends up drifting wide of goal and being crowded out.
    • 12' Nounkeu is penalised for a petty foul on Ozil, and Real can quickly push up the field once more.
    • 11' Chance! Drogba swivels on the edge of the Real box and blasts a fierce shot just over the crossbar, and he almost punishes the hosts for affording him too much time and space!
    • 10' Ronaldo has now scored for the fourth Champions League match in succession.
    • 9' GOAL! Cristiano Ronaldo opens the scoring inside the first 10 minutes with an exquisite dinked finish as Muslera charges off his line, and it all comes from a gorgeous through ball from Mesut Ozil! Real already lead, and it's all too easy for Ronaldo.
    • 8' Altintop forces his way down the right and gets over a cross, but it's far too deep for either Drogba or Yilmaz and the opening comes to nothing.
    • 7' STAT: Galatasaray have never won in Spain in the Champions League (two draws, six defeats, five goals for, 17 against).
    • 6' Former Arsenal defender Eboue gets down the right before having to turn back, and Real are pressing high up the field.
    • 5' Khedira and Drogba clash in the Real half as the pair challenge for a high ball, and the hosts are awarded a free kick.
    • 4' Felipe Melo unleashes a speculative drive from range as he shoots high and wide with Lopez able to simply watch the ball sail over.
    • 3' Ramos brings the ball forward from the back for the hosts, before Alonso picks out Di Maria with a sublime long ball, with Benzema heading just wide from the Argentine's dinked cross!
    • 2' Di Maria makes a bright start to the match, jinking inside two challenges before having a low shot deflected away to safety.
    • 1' The first half is under way at the Bernabeu, and Real Madrid immediately get the ball down and pass it around at the back.
    • 19:40 A fantastic atmosphere is being generated at the Bernabeu! Madrid are aiming for a 24th semi-final appearance - no other team have competed in as many quarter-finals.
    • 19:35 Right, it's time for your pre-match predictions: what do you think the scoreline will be this evening, and who will score the goals? You can get in touch throughout the evening via Twitter - @Dan_Eurosport
    • 19:30 A stat from Infostrada: "Jose Mourinho is aiming to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the seventh time in his coaching career. Only one other manager has achieved that feat: Sir Alex Ferguson."
    • 19:25 Fatim Terim: "When the draw was made, we drew a team whose goal it is to win the trophy. Madrid have some of the most important players and maybe the best coach in the world. Our goal is to continue our work and to gain respect. We know very well who we are facing but in the Champions League we have already proved our strength and belief. We will have a great game regardless of the result."
    • 19:20 Jose Mourinho: "Galatasaray have a great coach with experience at this level and so he feels comfortable. He is not afraid of playing here. He has players who have played in the best teams in the world, players who are calm when it comes to the quarter-finals of this competition. Drogba, Sneijder and Burak [Yılmaz] could play for any team in the world."
    • 19:15 Tonight's subs: Real Madrid: Adan, Pepe, Marcelo, Arbeloa, Kaka, Modric, Higuain. Galatasaray: Iscan; Sabri, Zan, Balta; Kurtulus, Amrabat; Bulut.
    • 19:10 Engin Baytar and Aydın Yılmaz are both out for the visitors. It had been hoped that Johan Elmander might be fit enough for a place on the bench but he is not involved.
    • 19:05 Raphaël Varane (back) and Fábio Coentrão (muscular problems) were both doubts for Real Madrid this evening but both are fit to start.
    • 19:00 Ahead of the big match, Andy Mitten has been looking at the emergence of Galatasaray this season. Galatasaray on the rise may surprise Real
    • 18:55 First thing to note is there seems to be absolutely thousands of Galatasaray fans here – won't be a complete home game for Madrid.
    • 18:50 TEAM NEWS: Real Madrid: López; Essien, Varane, Ramos, Fábio Coentrão; Di María, Khedira, Alonso, Ronaldo; Ozil; Benzema /// Galatasaray: Muslera; Eboué, Dany Nounkeu, Semih, Riera; Hamit, Selçuk, Melo, Sneijder; Burak, Drogba.
    • 18:45 Welcome to our live coverage as Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo go up against Didier Drogba and Fatih Terim at the Bernabeu.

  • Summary

    • 73' GOAL! There it is - the third goal for Real Madrid! Higuain pounces to head beyond Muslera from Xabi Alonso's pinpoint delivery from a free kick, and a complete lack of marking gives the forward all the space he needs! It's a comfortable three-goal cushion now.
    • 60' What a chance for Real! Di Maria sprints in behind the Galatasaray back line, but he places a tame shot straight at a relieved Muslera, who is able to gather comfortably! He really should have scored.
    • 43' Just as a write that, Eboue flies forward and drives a low shot on target, with Lopez making a smart save to deny the Ivorian! That was far too easy for Mourinho's liking.
    • 31' Penalty? No! Khedira appears to handle a loose ball as he and Essien combine to clear inside the Real box, and Drogba leads the complaints.
    • 29' GOAL! Essien whips over a deep ball which the visitors do not deal with, and Benzema eventually takes it down before driving a low finish beyond Muslera to double Real's lead early on! It's his fourth goal in seven matches. It's an emphatic finish!
    • 11' Chance! Drogba swivels on the edge of the Real box and blasts a fierce shot just over the crossbar, and he almost punishes the hosts for affording him too much time and space!
    • 9' GOAL! Cristiano Ronaldo opens the scoring inside the first 10 minutes with an exquisite dinked finish as Muslera charges off his line, and it all comes from a gorgeous through ball from Mesut Ozil! Real already lead, and it's all too easy for Ronaldo.
    • 18:50 TEAM NEWS: Real Madrid: López; Essien, Varane, Ramos, Fábio Coentrão; Di María, Khedira, Alonso, Ronaldo; Ozil; Benzema /// Galatasaray: Muslera; Eboué, Dany Nounkeu, Semih, Riera; Hamit, Selçuk, Melo, Sneijder; Burak, Drogba.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Real Madrid

    Manager: José Mourinho

  • Galatasaray

    Manager: Fatih Terim

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.1 6
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 5.9 7
      Yellow Card 6.5 6
      7.2 7
      6.2 6
      Midfielders
      6.6 7
      Yellow Card 6.5 7
      Substitution Out86′ 6.3 7
      Substitution Out80′ 7.8 8
      Goal 7.7 8
      Strikers
      Goal Substitution Out65′ 6.8 7
      Subs
      Substitution In80′ Yellow Card 6.7 6
      Substitution In65′ Goal 7.2 7
      Substitution In86′ 6.5 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      4.7 6
      Defenders
      4.5 5
      4.4 6
      Yellow Card 4.7 5
      Substitution Out83′ 4.5 6
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 5.1 6
      Substitution Out78′ 5.4 5
      4.5 7
      Substitution Out45′ 6 5
      Strikers
      Yellow Card 5.5 5
      Yellow Card 7.2 6
      Subs
      Substitution In45′ 5.1 6
      Substitution In83′ 4.5 6
      Substitution In78′ 4.8 6

Comment 43 - 63 of 63

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  1. Ramos with a near identical foul as the foul which got­ Nani a straight red, Ramos' foul might even have­ been worse and he doesn't even get a yellow?­ Inconsistancy... But Real are unstoppable at the­ moment and will win CL.

    From Urbanedragoon, on Fri 5 Apr 19:40

  2. plz soccer fans real madrid ,barcelona , and bayern,r­ the best teams in display forget munited. even do im a­ mu fan. the game is bigger than any club. y dont wee­ enjoy wath this clubs got to offer bcauze its classy­ fottball and wow cool was cr wen he scored that first­ goal thats y i watch this lovely game,,,,,,,,,

    From Rosemary, on Thu 4 Apr 7:17

  3. I do not understand why MU fans are coming here and­ leave comments. Stop talking about why Nani was sent­ off by Referee in the previous game. MU was outclassed­ by Real Madrid and that's why they are out. There­ is always next year. Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Real­ Madrid are the only teams fun to watch. Right now these­ teams are playing the "Beautiful Game"­ beautifully.

    From Ramesh, on Thu 4 Apr 5:08

  4. Khedira + Ozil = Real Madrid !

    From Saeedeh, on Thu 4 Apr 4:50

  5. First I hope and pray that Real Madrid will not be­ allowed to cheat their way to the Champions League­ final and someone can stop these thugs and dubious­ people from Spain. To start with, I don't know who­ chooses Referees for matches like this. In the last­ match against Man United, the Referee was so­ incompetent beyond measure by sending Nani off but if­ we thought that Referee was bad, today's Referee­ stinks. Two Real Madrid players committed exactly the­ same offence for which Nani was sent off but didn't­ even get yellow cards. Where is the consistency?Then­ the Turks were denied two clear cut penalties. Where on­ earth do the UEFA get their Referees from ? Or Shall I­ ask what is the size of the brown envelopes they are­ receiving from Real Madrid. Seriously something really­ needs to be done to stop Real Madrid from cheating­ their way to the Champions League final. That will be a­ bad advert for football. I hope the Turks can still put­ them to sword in Turkey. I will be praying for them and­ Drogba.

    From O.S., on Thu 4 Apr 4:10

  6. The BEST Three GoalScorers on Earth, Higuain, Benzema­ and Ronaldo!! A mighty force to be reckoned.

    From Sunny, on Wed 3 Apr 23:23

  7. madrid robbing again, that stupid ref denied 2 clear­ penaltys from galatasaray

    From Amir, on Wed 3 Apr 23:01
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Madrid are nailed on for the trophy when their players­ are immune from receiving red cards, but are able to­ lay it on enough to have an opponent sent off. Sour­ grapes - very much so... That said, I would like to see­ Ronaldo win it again.

    From Kevin, on Wed 3 Apr 22:03
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    People need to stop comparing what Benzema did to­ Nani's red card. There is no comparison because he­ only grazed him with the outside of his boot, unlike­ Nani who karate kicked him with studs going straight­ into his ribs. I love how Man Utd fans still can't­ accept the fact that they lost. Get over it already,­ there's always next year

    From Rob, on Wed 3 Apr 21:46

  10. Ha-ha! This ref started to show cards also to Real­ players when the game was already over. I bet he was­ bribed!

    From Okokk, on Wed 3 Apr 21:44

  11. it seems seb platter is going to get his dream madrid,­ barcelona final, after all he has been doing everything­ he can to get it.

    From Badspelling, on Wed 3 Apr 21:44
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    turkish cowardly #$%$ #$%$

    From mat, on Wed 3 Apr 21:41

  13. If I were Cassilas, I'd seek a transfer from Real­ Madrid if Mourinho stays beyond the end of the season.

    From Kabers, on Wed 3 Apr 21:36

  14. Funny how Ramos sent the ball out after the ref blew­ the whistle so he does not play the second leg and­ therefore he can start clean

    From soufiane, on Wed 3 Apr 21:35

  15. 84' Inan fouls Khedira, and somehow he has still­ yet to be booked in this match.. Why is Yahoo so­ Biased????

    From Nico, on Wed 3 Apr 21:33

  16. Come on RM. Make it 4-0!!!

    From TamerK, on Wed 3 Apr 21:30

  17. Most awful refereeing since Norwegian Ovrebo turned­ Chelsea v Barcelona into a farce.All decisions against­ the Turks.

    From Okokk, on Wed 3 Apr 21:28

  18. 3-0. It's over!!! GS is no match for RM...

    From TamerK, on Wed 3 Apr 21:18

  19. I wonder will EUFA come out and clarify which of their­ referees made the wrong decision, was it the one who­ sent Nani off or was it the one who didn't send­ Benzema off. After all they both can't be right.

    From George, on Wed 3 Apr 21:13

  20. Drogba is playing as if he does't care. or is that­ age telling on him?

    From Emmanuel, on Wed 3 Apr 21:10
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