Galatasaray v Real Madrid: Easy pickings for Madrid

9Apr 2013

Bajnokok Ligája

After cruising to a 3-0 win at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid should sail into the last four, writes Christian Crowther...

Galatasaray v Real Madrid, Tuesday 19:45, ITV, Match Odds: Galatasaray 5.1, Real Madrid 1.76, The Draw 4.1

The latter stages of the Champions League can be an unforgiving place, as Galatasaray found out in the Bernabeu - going down 3-0 to a far superior Real Madrid side who capitalised on the visitors defensive naiveties.

Despite making a few high-profile signings this season, the chasm in class between Jose Mourinho's Madrid and the Turkish champions was all too evident.

Even the presence of Champions League-winning duo Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba could do little to stem the flow of a tie which is now all but over.

Having gone into the game as the competition's joint top scorer, much was expected of Galatasaray striker Burak Yilmaz, but instead it was Cristiano Ronaldo who broke clear in that particularly race, opening the scoring with a beautifully taken chip.

Although Drogba and Emmanuel Eboue wasted decent chances, the latter's own defensive ineptitude in particular allowed Real to take full control of the tie.

Now, Galatasaray must somehow claw a way back in and, though Drogba's domestic double at the weekend helped edge them one step closer to Turkey's Super Lig title, it's difficult to envisage them stopping Real from notching an away goal - which will effectively seal it.

Considering no one has stopped Los Blancos from doing this in their last 16 away fixtures in Europe, the odds seem stacked against the hosts. As Galatasaray go hunting for goals, Mourinho's side have all the right weaponry to pick them off on the counter and record the double in Istanbul.

Real Madrid to Score in Both Halves

Where some of Mourinho's previous sides could have been accused of efficiency over flair, this Madrid team is the polar opposite. Real rack up goals for fun, both in Europe and on the domestic front. The five goals they put past Levante on Saturday made it 14 from their last four games in all competitions. Furthermore, they've notched either side of the break in three of those four matches as they have done in four of their nine games in this year's competition.

Both Teams to Score

Only Braga in their opening group game have prevented Galatasaray from notching in Istanbul in this year's competition. The Turks are desperate for goals and, although they drew a blank in Spain, they've actually notched at least twice in four of their last five outings, including three against Schalke in the second leg of their last Champions League tie. Madrid's clean sheet in the first leg was their only shut-out in nine games as well.

Best Bet: Back Real Madrid to Score in Both Halves @ 2.5

Recommended Bet: Both Teams to Score @ 1.73