It was a slow start from Real Madrid, but five second-half goals from the La Liga side, three courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo, saw them run out convincing 6-1 winners over Galatasaray in their opening Group B UEFA Champions League match at the Turk Telekom Arena on Tuesday night.
It was a rather timid opening 45 minutes from Madrid as the home side outplayed them early on.
Only the brilliance of Iker Casillas kept the scores level in the third minute as he denied Felipe Melo's thunderous 30-yard shot.
Shortly after Madrid suffered a set-back as Casillas had to be replaced by Diego Lopez in the 15th minute due to injury.
Melo threatened again in the 17th minute, but he saw his header fly straight at the keeper from close range.
In the 29th minute Melo was denied once again as Lopez came to Madrid's rescue with another fine stop.
Then, somewhat against the run of play, Madrid took the lead in the 33rd minute as Isco latched onto an exquisite ball over the top and fired a low shot from the edge of the area that crept in via the post, 1-0.
The second 45 saw Madrid really find their footing as they took a stranglehold of the game, scoring five goals, three courtesy of the boot of Ronaldo.
Madrid’s second goal came in the 54th minute as Karim Benzema raced onto a miscued header by Melo to surge in on goal and coolly double the lead, 2-0.
In the 63rd minute Madrid really put the game beyond doubt as Angel di Maria rounded the keeper before hanging up a cross that Isco touched back to Ronaldo who made no mistake from three yards out, 3-0
Four minutes later and Madrid found their fourth goal as Ronaldo tucked home the ball after latching onto a goal-mouth scramble as the Galatasaray defence failed to clear, 4-0.
It was a free-flowing game now and Madrid made it five in the 81st minute as Benzema met a great through ball from Ronaldo to make it 5-0.
Galatasaray did manage a consolation goal three minutes later courtesy of Bulut, 5-1.
Madrid and Ronaldo, though, had the final say as the Portuguese international completed his hat-trick in the 91st minute, crashing a left footed drive into the corner from a tight angle, 6-1.
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