Real Madrid produced a superb display of attacking football to beat Galatasaray 6-1 this evening, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring three goals.
Ronaldo created Madrid's first opportunity as the Portuguese found space outside the box before attempting to fire into the bottom corner, but his effort flew wide of the post.
The most interesting piece of action to develop in the opening quarter came when the recently-returned Madrid keeper Iker Casillas collided with Sergio Ramos, forcing the keeper to leave the field and be replaced by Diego Lopez.
The home side almost took the lead in the 19th minute when an Albert Riera set piece fell to Felipe Melo, who wasn't able to turn the ball over the line.
Madrid then had a big penalty claim turned down in the 23rd minute as Ronaldo rounded Aurelien Chedjou, before being brought down, only for the referee to ignore Madrid's appeals.
Galatasaray hit back when Wesley Sneijder found space inside the box before cutting it back towards Burak Yilmaz, but Ramos came across to make a vital challenge. From the resulting corner, keeper Lopez then had to make a fine save to deny Riera.
However, despite the even run of play, Madrid took the lead when Isco managed to hold off Emmanuel Eboue, before slotting into the back of the net from just inside the box.
Madrid increased their advantage after the break following poor defending from Melo, which allowed Karim Benzema to finish neatly.
Ronaldo then produced a double salvo as he added two goals in the space of three minutes, as he twice converted from close range to put Madrid into a 4-0 lead.
Gareth Bale was introduced and he crossed for Ronaldo, who then squared for Benzema to give the striker his second goal of the night in the 81st minute.
Galatasaray grabbed one back through Umut Bulut, before Ronaldo got his third to make it 6-1 at the final whistle.
Christopher Dodd
