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Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has said he got plenty of advice from former Galaticos before deciding to move to the Bernabeu.

The summer signing was signed for 91 million euros from Tottenham, following an outstanding campaign last year in which he scored 31 goals in all competitions.

And the 24-year-old has said that during the highly-documented negotiations about the transfer, Bale has revealed that plenty of former Real players stepped forward with advice on how to settle in and handle the pressure.

When he was asked who gave advice, Bale said “All of them. David Beckham texted to wish me good luck and stuff. It was very nice and I appreciated it.”

“He trained at Tottenham with me for a while, so I know him quite well anyway and it’s nice of him just to give a text and a call.

“I know Jonathan Woodgate from my time at Tottenham, so I speak to him now and again. I met Steve McManaman when I did an interview and we spoke for a bit. They have been in this situation as well. They give good words of advice, I take it on board and it’s helping me a lot out here.”

 

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Real Madrid comfortably saw off Galatasaray at the Santiago Bernabeu to take top spot in their Champions League group with a game to spare, despite the early sending off of Sergio Ramos.

Gareth Bale, Alvaro Arbeloa, Angel di Maria and Isco grabbed the goals for the hosts – who were without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo – while Umut Bulut scored for the Turkish outfit.

Madrid had the better of the opening twenty minutes and enjoyed an incredible 65% of possession. Bale missed a good chance early on, running through on goal but curled his effort wide with just the keeper to beat.

With just 25 minutes on the clock though, Carlo Ancelotti’s men faced a more difficult challenge as Ramos was sent off for tussling with Umut Bulut when the forward was through on goal. It was the 17th red card of Ramos’ Real Madrid career, and he extended his lead as the club’s most sent off player – Fernando Hierro is next on the list with 12 reds.

The incident was not too dissimilar to the harsh red card given to Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus when the Italian outfit was in town, but Scottish referee Willy Collum whipped out the red card and Ramos was off down the tunnel. Ancelotti decided to shuffle his pack and replaced Jese with Nacho, denying the youngster the chance to impress with some game time.

It was the 10 men who soon took the lead though, and it was a stunning effort too. Felipe Melo gave away a free kick about 35 yards out – well within Bale territory. And the Welshman obliged by sending his effort over the wall before dipping under the bar into the corner of the net to the delight of the home support.

Los Blancos held the lead for just one minute though, as the visitors went down the other end and equalised immediately. Veteran striker Didier Drogba slipped a ball through for Bulut who poked home past the onrushing Iker Casillas.

With a point good enough to secure top spot, it would have been understanding if Madrid had settled for a draw, but Ancelotti’s side took the lead five minutes after the break when Alvaro Arbeloa found himself in unfamiliar territory to side foot home a Marcelo cross. The scorer turned provider 12 minutes later when his low cross was finished off by Angel di Maria.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Madrid extended their lead through Isco’s well taken goal. The 30 million euro man took the ball down nicely when it fell to him in the Galatasaray box, and the 21-year-old calmly finished past the helpless keeper.

Los Blancos slowed the game down in the closing minutes as they kept possession and cruised into the next round.

 

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Real Madrid Galatasaray match preview

Real Madrid will seek to extend their unbeaten run in the Champions League and grab at least a point that will seal their qualification for the last 16 round as the group leaders.

Los Blancos have already secured a spot in the next round, but with a six point lead over Galatasaray and Juventus, they still need one more point to finish as table leaders and presumably avoid tougher rivals in the next round.

Carlo Ancelotti will miss Cristiano Ronaldo, who will rest to recover from muscle fatigue. However, the Portuguese will be present at Santiago Bernabeu, since 45,000 fans will wear a CR7 mask in support of Ronaldo as Ballon d’Or winner.

Fabio Coentrao is also sidelined due to injury, while Marcelo could be set to make his return. Luka Modric will also miss the clash through suspension.

Ancelotti has confirmed that Angel di Maria or Jese Rodriguez will play in Ronaldo’s position, while Asier Illarramendi could start again in midfield replacing long-term injured Sami Khedira.

Galatasaray, who have never won at Santiago Bernabeu, should have reasons to be scared, since Real have scored ten goals in their last two games, against Almeria and Real Sociedad. Moreover, in their previous clash, Los Blancos trashed them 1-6 in Turkey.

The Turkish will put their trust in Didier Drogba, who has scored 12 goals against Spanish rivals in his career. Roberto Mancini will have important losses, such as goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, Hamit Altintop and Ufuk Ceylan. Wesley Sneijder is also a doubt.

Galatasaray desperately need to obtain a positive result at Santiago Bernabeu after having lost to Copenhagen. They are drawing with the Danish in the second place with four points and they will host Juventus in the last match, with the Italians sitting fourth with three points at the moment.

Possible line-ups:

Real Madrid: Lopez; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Arbeloa; Alonso, Illarramendi; Jese, Isco, Bale; Benzema.

Galatasaray: Iscan; Eboue, Zan, Chedjou, Nounkeu; Inan, Melo; Bruma, Yilmaz, Sneijder; Drogba.

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madrid galatasaray betting

Real Madrid have not lost at home in Europe’s top club competition, the Champions League, for the past two and a half years, and the visit of Turkish side Galatasaray tonight should not provide any threat to that run continuing.

Los Blancos can be found at odd of 3/10 to win at the Santiago Bernabeu and secure top spot in the group, and a place in the last 16 of the competition. The visitors, managed by Roberto Mancini, have odds of around 9/1 to win in Madrid. Their form has been poor of late, having lost the Istanbul derby to Fenerbache a couple of weeks ago, while their record in Spain is terrible – as Alvaro Heralta looks at in his latest piece.

While Galatasaray may be outsiders to win, they do possess plenty of goal threat, with Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba among their ranks. The Ivory Coast forward, who won the Champions League during his time at Chelsea, has scored 12 goals against Spanish sides in his career, including two against Los Blancos.

Carlo Ancelotti will have to make do without Raphael Varane, Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao in defence, while the protection offered by Sami Khedira in front of the back four is a big loss tonight and for the rest of the campaign. For this reason, odd of 27/20 for a home win but both teams to score may be appealing to anyone wishing to place a bet.

Follow Paul Collins on Twitter: @pabmundo

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Real Madrid have practically sealed their qualification for the last-16 round of the Champions League. Galatasaray, on the other hand can not drop any more points if they want to accompany Los Blancos in the next round.

To achieve that objective, the Turkish outfit will have to put an end to their disastrous run in their matches played in Spain. In 13 visits to this country, Galatasaray have only won one match. It was in the 1999-2000 season, when they emphatically beat Mallorca 1-4, although in that occasion it was a UEFA Cup game.

The fact is Galatasaray have never won a single Champions League match against a Spanish team as a visitor. Their two trips to Santiago Bernabeu are a clear proof of their problems when traveling to Spain. In both of them, it was the quarter finals of the tournament, the first one in 2001 and the second one last season. Both ended up with a convincing 3-0 for Los Blancos in the scoreboard.

But Galatasaray’s bad luck in Spain doesn’t end up there. Statistics show that every time the Turkish side have faced a Spanish club in any round of the Champions League, they have been knocked out.

Barcelona (in 1993-94, 1994-95, 2001-02 and 2002-03), Athletic Bilbao (1999-2000) and Real Sociedad (2003-04) also sent the Turkish home. Although in the case of Athletic, they were also knocked out, since Juventus beat them both in the group stage.

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Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said his side is ready for a tough fixture against Galatasaray at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight, but the main objective is to qualify top of the group.

Los Blancos are all but assured of a place in the next round, but a win would guarantee their presence in the last 16 of the competition. And the Italian manager said he wants the team to go through a group winnners – with the advantage of playing the second leg at home in next round.

Speaking at his press conference ahead of the match, he said: “Our goal is to be first in group and play as best we can. There are two more games to do that and we want to win both. We’re not looking at the numbers and we have to give it our all in both matches. Tomorrow will be intense because their qualification is on the line. We’re confident, but not because of the result of the match in Istanbul.”

He also hailed opposite number Roberto Mancini for turning the Turkish club’s fortunes around after the were thrashed 6-1 on match day one by Los Merengues in Istanbul.

“Galatasaray is more balanced with Mancini. They played really well against Juventus in Turin. They have defensive and offensive skill. Drogba is very dangerous and it will be a different match than the one in Istanbul,” Ancelotti stated.

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Real Madrid press report 27-11-13

Madrid sports newspaper As reports today that Real Madrid fans will wear 45,000 Cristiano Ronaldo masks today at Santiago Bernabeu in order to show their support to the Portuguese for the Ballon d’Or award.

“Ronaldo will not play against Galatasaray but he will be the theme of the game,” they report.

Los Blancos will face the Turkish side hoping to extend their unbeaten run in the Champions League and to seal the first spot of the group stage.

Meanwhile, the other main Spanish sports daily, Marca, puts its focus today on the awards they have given to commemorate their 75th anniversary. Tennis star Rafael Nadal was named as Spain’s all-time best sportsman, while Real Madrid’s legendary Quinta del Buitre generation won the football category prize.

In terms of Real Madrid news, the paper carries quotes from Marcelo denying he fell out with Ronaldo last season in the vote for the Ballon d’Or. He accused certain sections of the press of trying to stir up trouble between the Los Blancos team mates.

“My relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo is very good. You want to make up stuff that isn’t true, and that makes me angry. I said that Casillas deserved the Ballon d’Or as much as Ronaldo did. I always answer with a smile, but at times you all want to make things up and I get angry,” he said.

There is also plenty of build up to tonight’s Champions League match, which will you find coverage of right here at RealMadridNews.com.

* Follow Real Madrid News on Twitter

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Angel di Maria or Jese Rodriguez will replace the injured Cristiano Ronaldo in Real Madrid’s match against Galatasaray tomorrow, manager Carlo Ancelotti has said.

The 28-year-old Portugal international picked up a thigh injury against Almeria at the weekend and will sit out the match against the Turkish outfit. Some reports have suggested the Ballon d’Or nominee, who has scored 25 goals for his club this season, will be out for three weeks nursing various bumps and knocks, but Ancelotti said he could be back sooner.

Speaking to the press ahead of the match at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Italian said: “Cristiano won’t play tomorrow because he has a small injury. We will need to wait and see if he can play on Saturday. Di Maria or Jese could replace Ronaldo. We have two options and I will decide tomorrow.”

He also revealed French defender Raphael Varane will still be missing from the side having picked up an knock while on international duty. The 20-year-old centre back should be available for selection again in 10-12 days according to the manager.

“Varane needs a break for his knee to recover well. He won’t be available for 10 or 12 days. We won’t risk and play Ronaldo on Saturday (against Real Valladolid) unless he is 100 per cent fit,” he stated.

With Madrid cruising through the Champions League group, Ancelotti may take the opportunity to rest some players, and in particular Xabi Alonso – meaning a chance for Casemiro to impress in midfield.  Los Blancos will be without the likes of Fabio Coentrao (thigh), Sami Khedira (knee), and the suspended Luka Modric.

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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Raphael Varane won’t undergo further surgery despite suffering a relapse of his knee problems.

Reports had claimed that the Frenchman could enter the operating room for the second time this year to treat his ongoing meniscus injury.

However, Ancelotti has revealed the 20-year-old won’t need to go under the knife again. “I’ve talked to the doctors and we’ve decided to give Varane some rest,” the Italian told the press.

“He won’t play for the next ten days and we’ll see if his knee keeps inflamed. He doesn’t need more surgery, just resting,” Ancelotti affirmed.

Varane entered the operation room last May to try and cure a meniscus injury that caused him inflammation after every match.

All though the recovery period expected was two months, he relapsed and had to undergo a special recovery treatment to strengthen his knee muscles.

Varane made his returned at the end of October, but he has suffered pain again and he has returned from the last French national team international games with a knee inflammation.

* Follow Alejandro Gonzalez in Twitter @alejandrognieto

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Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur may make a loan move for Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata in the January transfer window in a bid to solve their goalscoring crisis, according to a report in the Daily Mirror.

The White Hart Lane club was mauled 6-0 by Manchester City at the weekend, leaving Andre Villas Boas’ troops in ninth place in the league. Gareth Bale’s former club has struggled for goals this campaign in the league, having scored just 9 in their 12 games to date, despite spending heavily on attacking players such as Roberto Soldado, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen.

Spurs were believed to have made a move for Morata in the summer as part of the Bale deal, but Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti was keen to keep  the Spain Under-21 striker in his squad having sold Argentinean forward Gonzalo Higuain.

The paper reported Morata is keen to experience more regular first team football and would be willing to leave the Santiago Bernabeu on loan to help his development. Spurs boss Villas Boas wants to get Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermaine Defoe off the books at the north London club, freeing up space for another striker to come in.

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