Real Madrid triumph

Real Madrid
survived Sergio
Ramos' first-half red
card to secure a
thumping 4-1 win
over Galatasaray at
the Santiago
Bernabeu.
The Spain defender
received his
marching orders with the score locked at 0-0
for tugging back Umut Bulut, but Carlo
Ancelotti's side soon raced into the lead
thanks to a Gareth Bale free kick.
Bulut soon leveled the scores, but Alvaro
Arbeloa put the hosts back ahead just after
the break, before goals from Angel Di Maria
and Isco left Madrid with a 4-1 win which
secures top spot in Group B.
Real was without Cristiano Ronaldo (thigh),
who was nonetheless the center of attention
as fans showed their support for the
forward's bid to be crowned Ballon d'Or
winner by displaying banners and wearing
masks of the Portuguese's face.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti also rested Xabi
Alonso, Karim Benzema and Alvaro Morata,
with Jese Rodriguez selected up front and
Casemiro handed his debut in the
competition.
Opposite number Roberto Mancini, who was
not in charge when the Turkish side was
humbled 6-1 in the reverse fixture, left Burak
Yilmaz and Wesley Sneijder on the bench.
Madrid should have taken the lead inside the
opening four minutes when Bale was sent
racing clear by Isco, but the Welshman side-
footed wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
But the momentum threatened to shift when
Ramos, who was the last man, was given his
marching orders after making the slightest of
contact with a goal-bound Bulut.
Jese had to make way in the tactical reshuffle
as Nacho was introduced, but Bale put the
10 men ahead eight minutes before halftime
with a dipping 25-yard free-kick that looked
to have deceived Eray Iscan in goal.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Umut
collected Didier Drogba's pass before coolly
slotting past Iker Casillas two minutes later.
Real went back ahead six minutes after the
restart, Di Maria swinging in a low cross from
the left to find the most unlikely of scorers in
Arbeloa, who tucked home with surprising
confidence amid suspicions of offside.
Arbeloa's spell in the spotlight did not end
there and he was booked for diving in the
55th minute, before turning provider for Di
Maria with 63 minutes gone.
Casillas produced a stunning save from
Drogba's header before Isco added the fourth
with a clever turn and finish in the box, and
there there was no way back for Mancini's
men, who must now beat Juventus in the
final group game to qualify.