MX23RW : Friday, October 4 02:11:32| >> :120:32988:32988:

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.

ID:78685: cacheID:78685:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4736:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal against Celta Vigo on January 9, 2013
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Madrid ahead in Istanbul
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Buccaneers
@
Falcons
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona87012591621
2Real Madrid85301761118
3Villarreal85211715217
4Atletico MadridAtletico8440124816
5Athletic Bilbao8422128414
6Mallorca842286214
7Osasuna84221213-114
8Real BetisBetis833287112
9Rayo Vallecano824298110
10Celta Vigo83141515010
11AlavesAlaves83141112-110
12GironaGirona8233911-29
13Sevilla8233810-29
14Real Sociedad822467-18
15Getafe814356-17
16Leganes814359-47
17Espanyol8215712-57
18Valencia8125513-85
19Real ValladolidValladolid8125417-135
20Las PalmasLas Palmas8035916-73


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!