Real Madrid outclass Galatasaray, take huge step towards last four

Real Madrid went ahead when Ronaldo scored after nine minutes and Karim Benzema added the second with a shot in off the post in the 29th. Higuain sealed the win with a 73rd-minute header.Social Media for Business here

Real Madrid showed the attacking power that could carry them to an unprecedented 10th European Cup when they demolished Galatasaray 3-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.

The other game, also played in Spain, ended in a goalless stalemate between debutants Malaga and Borussia Dortmund, but both sides created plenty of chances in an end-to-end match.

With Bayern Munich beating Juventus 2-0 at home and Paris St Germain drawing 2-2 with favourites Barcelona in Paris on Tuesday, the likely semi-finalists appear to be Real, Bayern, Barcelona and Dortmund.

All four ties will be concluded next week and, whoever comes through, a thrilling final is in prospect when Wembley Stadium stages Europe's showpiece game for the second time in three seasons on May 25.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, bidding to become the first man to win the European Cup with three different clubs following his successes with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010, appeared confident of his team's last four chances.

"If we score one more goal, they have to score five," Mourinho told Sky Sports.

"The football I saw was very good, I saw a lot of incredible things - but Istanbul is a difficult place to play and they have players with a lot of experience, with great character and personality.

"They will fight hard against us, but we will take it very seriously, its the only way to get through."

Real went ahead when Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 45th goal of the season after nine minutes and Karim Benzema added the second with a shot in off the post in the 29th.

Substitute Gonzalo Higuain sealed the win with a 73rd-minute header. That left Galatasaray needing to achieve the most unlikely of turnarounds to rescue the tie, but although they were largely outplayed, the Turkish team did create chances with Mourinho's former Chelsea player Didier Drogba guilty of some wayward shooting.

Lofted shot

Ronaldo opened the scoring with a superb lofted shot over goalkeeper Fernando Muslera following a perfect pass from Mesut Ozil to settle the home side's nerves.

Galatasaray came back into the game and dominated possession for a spell, but fell further behind when Michael Essien crossed for Benzema who controlled the ball at the far post before planting it low off the post and into the net.

The third arrived 17 minutes from time when Higuain met Xabi Alonso's free kick to head in his first goal of the competition.Social Media for Business here

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