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Real Madrid survive late scare to reach semis

Real Madrid lose 3-2 to Galatasaray in Istanbul but progress to the Champions League semi-finals 5-3 on aggregate.

Real Madrid have progressed to the Champions League semi-finals despite suffering a 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray in Istanbul in the second leg of their quarter-final tie.

Madrid's 3-0 first-leg win proved vital for them to reach the last four of the competition for the third season in a row with a 5-3 aggregate victory.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Galatasaray on April 9, 2013© AP Photos

Jose Mourinho's side took the lead as early as the seventh minute when Cristiano Ronaldo smashed home from close range after latching onto Sami Khedira's pass.

The Portuguese forward came close to making it 2-0 moments later but was denied by a good Fernando Muslera save.

Madrid continued to dominate proceedings at the Turk Telekom Arena and had another good chance on 23 minutes, this time Muslera making a one-handed save from Angel di Maria's shot.

Galatasaray came into the match thereafter but other than a Wesley Sneijder shot that Diego Lopez saved comfortably late in the half, they failed to put their hosts under any pressure.

Ronaldo should have doubled Madrid's advantage on 56 minutes when he was found by Di Maria, but his effort from just yards out went wide.

That miss came to haunt Madrid immediately, as Emmanuel Eboue fired home from the edge of the box into the top corner to make it 1-1.

Then just after the hour mark Didier Drogba found Sneijder at the back post with the goal gaping, but the Dutchman dragged his shot well wide of the target.

However, Sneijder redeemed himself on 70 minutes when he slotted home past Lopez after getting the better of Raphael Varane and moments later Drogba found the target.

Galatasaray's Didier Drogba celebrates scoring against Real Madrid on April 9, 2013© AP Photos

Drogba had a goal disallowed for offside with 10 minutes left on the clock and Alvaro Arbeloa was sent off for Madrid a minute from full time, before Ronaldo's injury-time goal secured Los Blancos a place in the semi-finals.

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Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal against Celta Vigo on January 9, 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid23155351222950
2Atletico MadridAtletico23147238152349
3Barcelona23153564253948
4Athletic Bilbao23128336201644
5Villarreal23117546341240
6Rayo Vallecano239862724335
7Real Sociedad2394102020031
8GironaGirona2394103133-231
9Osasuna2371062832-431
10Mallorca2394102029-931
11Real BetisBetis237882731-429
12Celta Vigo2384113437-328
13Sevilla237792534-928
14Getafe236981817127
15Las PalmasLas Palmas2365122838-1023
16Espanyol2365122235-1323
17Leganes2358101932-1323
18Valencia2357112437-1322
19AlavesAlaves2356122535-1021
20Real ValladolidValladolid2343161548-3315


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