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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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


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