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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
CReal Madrid38298187266195
2Barcelona38267579443585
3GironaGirona38256785463981
4Atletico MadridAtletico382441070432776
5Athletic Bilbao381911861372468
6Real Sociedad3816121051391260
7Real BetisBetis38141594845357
8Villarreal381411136565053
9Valencia381310154045-549
10AlavesAlaves381210163646-1046
11Osasuna38129174556-1145
12Getafe381013154254-1243
13Celta Vigo381011174657-1141
14Sevilla381011174854-641
15Mallorca38816143344-1140
16Las PalmasLas Palmas381010183347-1440
17Rayo Vallecano38814162948-1938
RCadizCadiz38615172655-2933
RAlmeria38312234375-3221
RGranada3849253879-4121


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