UpdatedAApr three, 2013 6:05 PM ET Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid have one foot in the UEFA Champions League semifinals after having a 3-0 conquer Galatasaray in the first-leg of these quarterfinal battle. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring early in the first half before Karim Benzema doubled the hosts' lead. Exchange Gonzalo Higuain's second-half header put the result beyond doubt, and made Madrid's job in the second leg at the Turk Telecom Arena next Tuesday look much easier. Galatasaray's coach and players had insisted prior to the game they would try to strike the Primera Division champions and would not settle for holding out for a sketch. They were loyal for their offer in the first half, nonetheless it left them very exposed at the rear. Madrid, who have the reputation if you are one of the most effective counter-attacking clubs in Europe, received a generous amount of space by their opponents and made full usage of it. They'd their first test on two minutes, Benzema going just over the bar after a cross from Angel Di Maria, and they took the lead after just nine minutes. Xabi Alonso supplied the ball up to Mesut Ozil from his or her own half and the German played a with Benzema, which allowed him space to supply a great low pass into the path of Ronaldo, who comfortably cracked the ball over goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and into the web. Can Champions League action be got enough by not? Neither can we. Check out the most useful photographs using this week's quarterfinal period. Gala played very basketball but fought to penetrate the Madrid backline and were restricted to pictures from beyond your area. Didier Drogba turned Raphael Varane on the 18-yard line and shot just over the bar, while Wesley Sneijder also missed the mark from 20 meters. Ozil could have doubled the guide each time a long Sergio Ramos header out of defense led to Madrid approaching, but his shot could not be put by the midfielder, receiving the ball from Ronaldo, past Muslera. Madrid's second target arrived prior to the half-hour level. Jordan Essien, a shock introduction in the starting line-up at the cost of Alvaro Arbeloa, delivered a higher ball in to the field which fell at the feet of Benzema, who was simply in place, took one touch to regulate the move and slotted home from six meters. Galatasaray's best chance of the half fell to Emmanuel Eboue right before the interval. The former Arsenal player burst through on goal but hit his shot right at Diego Lopez's feet. Sneijder, unimpressive in the very first 45 minutes against his former membership, was eliminated at half-time and replaced by defense Gokhan Zan - a shift which found Fatih Terim's side change to a three, with Eboue driving as much as right midfield. The tactical change did not help the visitors' attacking goals, and they continued to cause even less of a risk after the break as they'd before it. Their intensity was also dropped by madrid in the next time. Ronaldo and Di Maria both had chances to try Muslera, the greater that fell to the Argentinian, nevertheless the goalkeeper had little trouble with either attempt. Higuain came on for Benzema on 65 minutes and seven minutes later made the victory safe when he headed in a from Xabi Alonso. Jose Mourinho's side rode out the last minutes of the game with little trouble. Ramos and Alonso both found yellow cards which mean they will miss the second leg. Achieving success was much lighter work for Madrid than their two hard-fought activities with Manchester United in the previous round but, barring an entire collapse in Istanbul, they could be confident of achieving their third straight Champions League semi-final under Mourinho.
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