MADRID (Reuters) – Real Madrid’s pursuit of a tenth European crown continues to gather momentum after they dismissed Galatasaray 3-0 at home in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.

The finishing of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain put the last eight’s outsiders Galatasaray firmly in their place, despite bold pre-match talk that they would take the game to the Jose Mourinho’s men.

MADRID (Reuters) – Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain scored to give ruthlessly efficient Real Madrid a 3-0 home win over Galatasaray in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.

Portugal forward Ronaldo became the tournament’s highest scorer with nine goals when he burst away on to Mesut Ozil’s pass to lob the opener after nine minutes at the Bernabeu.

MADRID, April 3 (Reuters) – Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain scored to give ruthlessly efficient Real Madrid a 3-0 home win over Galatasaray in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.

Portugal forward Ronaldo became the tournament’s highest scorer with nine goals when he burst away on to Mesut Ozil’s pass to lob the opener after nine minutes at the Bernabeu.

MADRID (Reuters) – The European Commission is studying information it has on allegations of illegal state aid to Real Madrid and other European clubs, a spokesman for competition policy said on Wednesday.

The nine-times European champions are alleged to have received a favourable deal for land around their Bernabeu stadium from the Madrid city council, as they look to develop a new shopping mall and hotel complex.

MADRID, April 3 (Reuters) – The European Commission is studying information it has on allegations of illegal state aid to Real Madrid and other European clubs, a spokesman for competition policy said on Wednesday.

The nine-times European champions are alleged to have received a favourable deal for land around their Bernabeu stadium from the Madrid city council, as they look to develop a new shopping mall and hotel complex.

MADRID (Reuters) – While Barcelona await news on the extent of Lionel Messi’s hamstring problem, the spotlight falls on his misfiring strike partners ahead of next week’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris St Germain.

The World Player of the Year limped off at halftime in Tuesday’s 2-2 first-leg draw in Paris, having scored the opening goal, and local media reported he would be out of action for some three weeks.

MADRID, April 3 (Reuters) – While Barcelona await news on the extent of Lionel Messi’s hamstring problem, the spotlight falls on his misfiring strike partners ahead of next week’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris St Germain.

The World Player of the Year limped off at halftime in Tuesday’s 2-2 first-leg draw in Paris, having scored the opening goal, and local media reported he would be out of action for some three weeks.

MADRID (Reuters) – Wesley Sneijder had a smile from ear-to-ear as he spoke confidently about Galatasaray’s intentions of taking the game to Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.

The Netherlands playmaker returns to the home of a club he left in 2009 after failing to win a regular first-team place and the scene of his and Inter Milan’s Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich in the 2010 final.

MADRID, April 2 (Reuters) – Wesley Sneijder had a smile from ear-to-ear as he spoke confidently about Galatasaray’s intentions of taking the game to Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.

The Netherlands playmaker returns to the home of a club he left in 2009 after failing to win a regular first-team place and the scene of his and Inter Milan’s Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich in the 2010 final.

MADRID (Reuters) – Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has defended his decision to leave 2010 World Cup-winning captain Iker Casillas out of his squad again for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg with Galatasaray.

The Spain goalkeeper is fit to train after recovering from a broken finger but will not feature against the Turkish team, having also been omitted for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Real Zaragoza in La Liga.