Borussia Dortmund 4 - 1 Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League, Semi-finanls, 1st Leg)

Real Madrid thrive on adversity, on the big occasions and in the biggest stadiums. It is something that is embedded in the badge and that they have shown throughout their history. It was seen at the Camp Nou in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey, at Old Trafford and is what they will try to repeat on Tuesday at the Bernabeu. Lewandowski, with four goals, played a starring role for Borussia Dortmund. The Polish striker put his team ahead on the scoreboard, while Cristiano Ronaldo, just before halftime, equalised. The three goals that came in the second half, one of them following a harsh penalty decision against Xabi Alonso, made winning the semi-final an uphill struggle. The magic and mystique surrounding Real Madrid’s stadium on big European nights will be needed to take its team to Wembley in less than a week.

Lewandowski, the Borussia's hero

Borussia Dortmund were aware that doing well would depend on imposing a high tempo in the opening minutes. The Germans, supported by their home crowd, squeezed the Whites’ ball out of the back and it produced the desired results. Reus was the first to have an attempt following a fine solo run. The great full-stretch save from Diego Lopez denied the goal in the 6th minute. The first goal came two minutes later. Gotze’s cross came in from the left for Lewandowski to poke it in and put his team in front.

Real Madrid 3 - 1 Betis (Spanish League, Day 32)

Real Madrid once again showed that they head into each of their matches with confidence and defeated Betis, who arrived at the Bernabeu as the third best team in terms of points won away from home in the championship, four days before the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals at the Signal Iduna Park. Özil’s goal on the edge of halftime was key, causing significant damage to the team from Andalusia. In the second half Benzema completed a brilliant counter-attack and extending his team’s lead in the fifty-seventh minute, while Jorge Molina, from a penalty, halved the lead in the seventy-third minute. Özil, scoring his second goal one minute from the end of normal time, knocking a volley by Callejon over the line, sealed his team’s victory. Seventh consecutive victory at the Bernabeu and an outstanding debut by Casemiro. The only downside was Marcelo, Modric and Benzema being withdrawn due to niggles. Borussia Dortmund await on Wednesday.

Two goals from Özil and a win over Betis

Four days before the first leg of the semi-finals of the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid faced Betis at an impregnable Santiago Bernabéu, where the team are unbeaten in 15 months. There were many new faces in the Whites’ starting XI, among them the debutant Casemiro, against an opponent that before the start of the matchday were the third best team in terms of points away from home in the championship and two points away from the European places. The clash got off to a vibrant start. The visitors were the first to create a chance. A corner taken by Beñat and an impressive stretching save by Diego Lopez after the shot from Nosa in the eighth minute. Ruben Castro made the most of the rebound and knocked the ball over the line, but referee Alvarez Izquierdo ruled the goal out due to it being scored from a clear offside position. Real Madrid did not take long to react and a minute later Casemiro, who was very active, caused problems for Adrian with a volley from 25 metres.

Athletic Bilbao 0 - 3 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 31)

Real Madrid bid farewell to San Mames with a thrashing and with the look of solidity that has seen them sting together nine league matches unbeaten, eight of which have been wins. Cristiano Ronaldo, as he was five days ago in Istanbul, was decisive. His second consecutive brace and the assist for Higuain for the third is testament to this. The Whites soon went ahead on the scoreboard. The Portuguese was the architect, scoring from a direct free-kick in the 2nd minute and becoming the currently active Spanish League player with most goals from direct free-kicks. In the second half, and again from a set piece, the Portuguese headed in Xabi Alonso’s cross before completing his magnificent performance by making the final pass for the third goal.

Cristiano honored San Mames

Real Madrid played their last match in 'The Cathedral' with the confidence that comes from having strung together eight matches unbeaten in the championship. The Whites are the team that have won the most competitive matches in San Mames and were looking to continue in the same vein as they said goodbye to the Basque side’s famous old stadium. The start of the match could not have given more hope for that aim to come to fruition. Straight from the kick-off, following a combination between Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese was brought down by Herrera outside the area. The Portuguese masterfully executed the free-kick, put his team ahead and became the currently active La Liga player with the most goals from direct free-kicks. 0-1 and it was game on from the second minute.

Galatasaray 3 - 2 Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League, Quarter-finals, 2nd Leg)

Real Madrid secured their passage to their third consecutive Champions League semi-final in the Ali Sami Yen. They didn’t take long to go ahead. Cristiano Ronaldo needed just seven minutes to score his tenth goal in the competition and show what makes him the European Cup’s top scorer. Eboue, Sneijder and Drogba brought about some uncertainty in the tie in the second half and gave a home crowd that supported their team until the end a reason to believe that the comeback was on, but once again the Portuguese, in added time and despite playing with one less because of Arbeloa’s sending off for a second yellow in the 89th minute, sealed the qualification. The Whites are now into the last four in Europe and on Friday, at 12:00, they will find out their opponents.

Ronaldo's brace seals semi-final place

The intentions of both teams were more than evident from the outset. Galatasaray wanted to make their fans to think back to their memorable European comeback against the Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax in 1988-89 in which they turned around the tie in what was a "night for the history books", as Fatih Terim said in the pre-match build-up. Real Madrid who themselves are accustomed to dominating in front of their own home fans, knew the recipe to make sure that this did not occur. Mourinho explained what the key was: "We have prepared seriously for a very difficult match and my players will respond". And that is what happened. The Whites were able to contain the initial pressure from their opponents and had the first chance of the match following a poor clearance by Muslera in the 3rd minute, which Di Maria failed to convert to put his team ahead on the scoreboard. The connection between the Germans Ozil and Khedira ended with Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot in front of goal in the 7th minute.

Real Madrid 5 - 1 Levante (Spanish League, Day 30)

Real Madrid keep racking up points in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The Whites thrashed Levante and have still won every home league match this year. Despite how the match finished, they had to come from behind following Michel’s opening goal. They did so resoundingly. Higuain, with a beautiful volley, scored the goal of the match to equalise before Kaka, from a penalty, put Real Madrid ahead prior to the break. In the second half, Cristiano Ronaldo and a brace from Ozil completed a rout that could have been more had it not been for the brilliant performance of an inspired Munua. A morale boost before of the quarter-final second leg against Galatasaray.

Spectacle and goals against Levante

Real Madrid were looking to maintain their perfect home league record this year and get their seventh straight home win in the championship. It was not going to be easy. The ever competitive Levante would try not to let that happen. The intentions of both teams were clear, as were the tactical approaches. The visitors chose to drop deep and let Real Madrid have control of the ball with the intention to surprise on the counter. The opening exchanges left that clear. Marcelo had the first shot on goal in the 2nd minute prior to Acquafresca’s effort two minutes later.

After the first ten minutes of play, the chances began to come for the home team thanks to their dominance in possession and continuous movement. They had four in just seven minutes. Higuain and Benzema, in the 13th and 14th respectively, had the first two of a series of shots from the edge of the box that was completed by Callejon, in the 19th minute, and Kaka a minute earlier. The Brazilian had the clearest of them up until that point. Higuain’s movement, taking two defenders with him, left the way open for the midfielder’s left-footed shot which brought the best out of Munua. Nevertheless, on the half-hour mark, it was the Valencian team that went ahead on the scoreboard. It came from a well worked counter-attack, although
Michel’s shot needed the lucky clip off of Pepe’s heel to take it beyond a surprised Diego Lopez.

Real Madrid 3 - 0 Galatasaray (UEFA Champions League, Quarter-finals, 1st Leg)

Real Madrid beat Galatasaray at home and are one step closer to their third consecutive European Cup semi-final. Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema before the end of the first half hour and from Higuain in 72nd minute, earned a win that was much deserved both in terms of how they played and the chances they created. Three goals scored, by each of the three forwards who played, and none conceded to take into the second leg, in which there will be no Xabi Alonso or Ramos due to suspension. A giant step towards progressing in a Bernabeu that remains unconquered.

Real Madrid giant step towards semi-finals

Playing at home, Real Madrid edged closer towards their third consecutive Champions League semi-final. The Bernabeu crowd were crucial in pushing the Whites’ players, aware that their home fans have not seen them lose for 14 months, to show the connection that they share against Galatasaray. They suffocated the opposition playing the ball out of the back with a high press, moved the ball cleverly and at a high tempo and soon sent the first warning. A 30 metre Xabi Alonso pass to Di Maria, who controlled and played in Benzema, who then shot wide with his head on three minutes.

Real Madrid soon went ahead on the scoreboard. It took just nine minutes. Another steal in the midfield, which Ozil turned to gold. His precise pass was finished by Cristiano Ronaldo who beat Muslera with a chip that was as beautiful as it was effective. The Portuguese once again showed his affinity with the competition and became the Champions League’s top scorer. The start could not have been more promising and how Real Madrid were playing sent the message that they were not content with just the one goal.

Zaragoza 1 - 1 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 29)

Real Madrid drew in Zaragoza after the international break and became the first team to reach 4000 points in the championship. Rodri, in the seventh minute, put Zaragoza ahead with the home side’s first shot on goal and Cristiano Ronaldo equalised in the thirty-eighth minute after surprising Roberto with a left-footed shot. The Whites deserved more four days before the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Galatasaray; Marcelo’s shot crashed into the post and Loovens cleared the ball off the goal line.

Real Madrid could not reach the victory against Zaragoza

Real Madrid returned to action after the international break against Zaragoza at La Romareda. The premise was clear: continue the excellent form and results that had enabled them to string together seven consecutive victories. The Whites’ objective was made difficult before the first ten minutes of the game had ended. Rodri made the most of a deflection in the seventh minute and beat Diego Lopez in a one-on-one. The home side went ahead with their first shot on goal. Real Madrid would have to come from behind again away from home, but they had almost the entire match ahead of them.