Real made to sweat

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo exults after his second goal against Galatasaray during their Champions League quarterfinal in Istanbul on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Real Madrid withstood a second-half onslaught from Galatasaray to qualify for their third successive Champions League semifinal 5-3 on aggregate, despite losing 3-2 on the night.
Already leading 3-0 from the first-leg last week, it took Los Blancos just eight minutes to build on their advantage as Sami Khedira crossed for Cristiano Ronaldo to prod home from close range.
However, after Ronaldo had missed a guilt edged opportunity to double his tally on the night, Galatasaray produced a remarkable comeback as Emmanuel Eboue thumped in an equaliser from the edge of the box.
Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba then added two goals in a minute to ensure a nervy final 18 minutes for Madrid.
Alvaro Arbeloa saw two quick-fire yellow cards a minute from time to ensure he will miss the first-leg of the semifinal, before Ronaldo sealed Madrid's path into the last four with another sweet strike in stoppage time.
Madrid had been warned about the wall of noise they would face in Istanbul but just like in the first leg, they started in perfect fashion.
Angel di Maria ought to have done better when his shot towards an open goal was deflected wide after Fernando Muslera had scampered from his line to deny Gonzalo Higuain just three minutes in.
However, the visitors continued to take the game to Galatasaray in the early stages and reaped their reward just five minutes later.
Mesut Ozil was once more the creator for the Spanish champions as he slipped Khedira through on the right side of the area and his driven cross was turned in by Ronaldo for his 10th goal in just 10 Champions League appearances this season.
Ronaldo then played in Di Maria for what would have been the visitors' second on 25 minutes had it not been for an incredible save from Muslera to turn the Argentine's driven effort over the bar.
The hosts created hardly anything of note going forward in the first-half, but Sneijder did test Diego Lopez's handling with a powerful drive from the edge of the area after Madrid had switched off from a short corner seven minutes before half-time.