Madrid clinch

        

    Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring early in the first half before Karim Benzema doubled the hosts' lead. Substitute Gonzalo Higuain's second-half header put the result beyond doubt, and made Madrid's task in the second leg at the Turk Telecom Arena next Tuesday look far easier.Gala were limited to shots from outside the area. Didier Drogba turned Raphael Varane on the 18-yard line and shot just over the bar, while Wesley Sneijder also missed the target from 20 yards. Ozil could have doubled the lead when a long Sergio Ramos header out of defence led to Madrid attacking, but the midfielder could not put his shot past Muslera.Galatasaray's coach and players had insisted before the game that they would try to attack the Primera Division champions and would not settle for holding out for a draw. They were loyal to their promise in the first half, but it left them very exposed at the back.Madrid's second goal arrived just before the half-hour mark. Michael Essien, a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up at the expense of Alvaro Arbeloa, delivered a high ball into the box which fell at the feet of Benzema, who was in space, took one touch to control the pass and slotted home from six yards.Madrid, who have the reputation for being one of the best counter-attacking teams in Europe, were given a generous amount of space by their opponents and made full use of it. They had their first attempt on two minutes, Benzema heading just over the bar after a cross from Angel Di Maria, and they took the lead after just nine minutes.Galatasaray's best chance of the half fell to Emmanuel Eboue just before the interval. The former Arsenal player burst through on goal but hit his shot straight at Diego Lopez's legs.Xabi Alonso supplied the ball up to Mesut Ozil from his own half and the German played a one-two with Benzema, which allowed him space to deliver an excellent low pass into the path of Ronaldo, who calmly chipped the ball over goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and into the net.