Real Madrid withstood a second-half onslaught from Galatasaray to qualify for their third successive Champions League semi-final 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 a stunning equaliser from the edge of the box.
Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba – two of Madrid boss Hose Mourinho’s former charges – 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 semi-final, before Ronaldo sealed Madrid’s path into the last four with another sweet strike in stoppage time. It was his 11th goal in 10 Champions League games this season.
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.
The Portuguese superstar 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.
However, the momentum of the game swung in two incidents within 60 seconds of one another just before the hour mark. Firstly, Ronaldo uncharacteristically scuffed wide with the goal at his mercy before Eboue sent a rocket of a shot into the top corner from Sneijder’s cut-back.
Sneijder, a January signing for Galatasaray, then missed a glorious chance to put the home side in front as he side-footed Fabio Coentrao’s misplaced clearance wide.
The Dutch international made no mistake with his next opportunity though as he skipped past Raphael Varane with a beautiful first touch and slotted confidently past Diego Lopez with 19 minutes to go.
And a minute later the tie was truly back in the balance as Drogba brilliantly backheeled Nourredine Amrabat’s cross into the far corner.
Arbeloa was then stupidly dismissed for two yellow cards in barely a minute as he first brought down Sneijder then saw a second booking for arguing with the referee.
But Madrid’s fears were eased in stoppage time when Karim Benzema pulled the ball back for Ronaldo to drill home and cap an incredible evening’s entertainment.
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