Real Madrid Cruise to a 3-0 win over Galatasaray in Champions League Quarter-Final

Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid have put themselves in great position for the Champions League semi-finals after a 3-0 win over Galatasaray at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their quarter-final clash. Madrid seldom looked in any real danger by the Galatasaray attack and was two goals up before the half-hour mark through Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. The match was put away by a second-half header from substitute Gonzalo Higuain which made the win for Madrid a greater deficit for Galatasaray ahead of next week's second leg in Istanbul.

Galatasaray started off the match reasonably well, with their squad suggesting an aggressive attacking formation with Wesley Sneijder, Hamit Altintop and Selcuk Inan all pushing forward to try and join Didier Drogba and Burak Yilmaz. At the nine minute mark the deadlock was broken flowing Mesut Ozil thru ball sending Ronaldo free down the left hand side as he chipped the ball over Fernando Muslera in clinical fashion.

Madrid's continued pressure in the second half lead to Real extending their advantage as Xabi Alonso curled a free-kick into the box that Higuain headed into the corner to score. Galatasaray did have a late call for a penalty denied when Sergio Ramos stepped on Yilmaz's foot but the striker was booked for embellishment instead. Ramos later picked up a strategic booking that ruled him out of the second-leg when he kicked the ball away with just minutes left leaving him eligible for the semi-finals with no yellow card accumulation. 

Another real positive from Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Galatasaray in the Champions League quarter-finals was the fact that this was their first clean sheet in the competition. 

Real Madrid settles for just a point as they draw Real Zaragoza 1-1

Real Madrid and Real Zaragoza traded goals in the first half but neither side could find the winner and both had to settle for a point a piece and a 1-1 draw.

Real Zaragoza came out strong from the start of the match and was rewarded with an early goal that put Real Madrid under immediate pressure.  Madrid’s Luka Modric was beaten to a loose ball in the midfield by Apono who moved the ball forward with one touch pass to Rodri. The midfielder moved into the Madrid area and beat Diego Lopez over his right shoulder to give Zaragoza the early 1-0 advantage.

Real Madrid was able to level the score seven minutes from halftime, taking advantage of a mistake by Zaragoza’s Glenn Loovens. The Dutch defender misplayed a long ball, giving possession to Gonzalo Higuain just outside the Zaragoza area. Higuain moved the ball to Ronaldo who was able to dribble into the box and beat goalkeeper Roberto Gago just inside the near post. Gago appeared to misjudge Ronaldo's intent and moved just enough from the post to create the space that the Portuguese striker needed.

A potential game changing moment in the 59^th minute was denied as Zaragoza were not given a clear penalty by the referee as Michael Essien pulled down Helder Postiga with two hands on his shoulder. Diego Lopez made a match saving save in the 78^th as Francisco Montanes backed into the Madrid area and sending a ball across to Postiga at the far post. Postiga's header looked sure to put Zaragoza ahead of Lopez came flying across to deny the striker.  With the late game heroics of Lopez Real Madrid and Real Zaragoza were only able to net a goal apiece to settle for the 1-1 draw.

Real Madrid comes from behind Twice to beat Mallorca

Real Madrid trailed twice before fighting back with three goals in a seven-minute span to beat Mallorca 5-2.  Mallorca led 2-1 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium after goals from Emilio Nsue and Alejandro Alfaro with Gonzalo Higuain scoring for Madrid.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo rallied Madrid back into the game with an equalizing goal in the 51^st.  Luka Modric put Madrid ahead three minutes later with a terrific shot from long range, similar to his Champions League goal against Manchester United, with Higuain completing the surge by scoring his second of the night in the 57^th.

Madrid has seen its title defense damaged due to poor games to modest Spanish teams this season, thus the reason why they trail leader Barcelona by 10 points.  This pattern seemed as if it would continue until Madrid reacted to a poor first half and quickly imposed itself on the relegation-threatened visitors.

 

Ronaldo’s frustration grew as the match progressed and at one point the Portugal forward slammed his fist into the turf and threw his arms up in disgust several times as Madrid were failing to discovery their game. For the start of the second half coach Jose Mourinho sent on Mesut Ozil and Benzema hoping for them to make an immediate impact, and that they did.   Ronaldo put Madrid level again when he met Ozil's corner at the near post.  Ozil then picked out Higuain for Madrid's fourth of the night.  Madrid showed great tenacity in fighting off their struggles to overcome going behind twice in the match to beat Mallorca 5-2 on the night. 

Real Madrid eliminates Manchester United from Champions League Play

Real Madrid came into Old Trafford, and walked out with a 2-1 victory courtesy of a astonishing goal by Luka Modric, and a routine winning goal from United’s former hitman, Cristiano Ronaldo, to advance to the Champions League’s quarterfinals stage  though Manchester opened the scoring via an own goal by Real’s Sergio Ramos. 

 

This was a game that won’t be remembered for spectacular goals and intriguing tactics by both managers, it will be remembered for a call made by Turkish referee Cuynet Cakir, who sent off Manchester’s Nani early in the second half for a charge, studs high, into the midsection of Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa.

Both managers expressed regret that the game did not play out with both teams full complement of players. With Madrid manager Jose Mourinho saying, “[United] were playing very well, they were aggressive and they were compact, I am not speaking about the decision as I am not sure of it. I do think the best team lost.”

The fact is that the decision distracted from what was a riveting match, filled with some awe-inspiring play. Luka Modric’s goal, a brilliant shot off the post, past a sprawling David de Gea. While United’s goal came after a blistering spell of pressure that forced two stops from a frazzled Madrid keeper Diego Lopez.

Some recognition, however, should go to Modric. Coming on in the second half replacing Arbeloa immediately turned Real into a threat combined with Kaka replacing the injured Angel di Maria. Gonzalo Higuain was used to fine effect to pry United’s back line apart with Mesut Ozil, working off Modric, proved to be too slick for United to handle.