Real Madrid News ®: Real Madrid 5-2 APOEL Nicosia

Through to the UCL semifinals with shower of goals led by Cristiano Ronaldo (2), Kaka, Callejon and Di Maria

Fernando Porrero / Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell

Real Madrid sealed their passage to the Champions League semifinals with an impressive 5-2 victory over APOEL Nicosia at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Whites will fight with old UCL foe Bayern Munchen for a spot in the final.

Despite the first leg's 3-0 score, Jose Mourinho used a strong starting lineup tonight, with Sahin in midfield and Varane paired up with Pepe in the centre of defence. The Whites dominated from the start while APOEL waited for them in their half of the pitch. Higuain had a chance only two minutes into the match and Pardo cleared a Ronaldo shot two minutes later.

The Portuguese striker tallied the first by finishing a Marcelo cross with his right knee (26') and APOEL continued to pose little threat to Casillas' goal due to Real's strong pressure. Kaka scored the scond from an amazing shot outside the box, sending the ball through the top right corner of the goal (36'), and the Madridistas continued to dominate until half-time.

Callejon came on for Marcelo in the second half and Di Maria replaced Higuain on the 53-minute mark. Albiol came on for Granero just before Manduca managed to nutmeg Casillas (65') and the strike spurred the visitors to pursue an equaliser.

Cristiano Ronaldo dampened their spirits with an impressive free-kick strike, which was his eighth in the championship this season (74') and was a turning point in the match, which sort of became crazy from then on.

Callejon tallied a fourth on the 78-minute mark with a good shot on the area border and Solari netted another for APOEL from a penalty just two minutes later. Di Maria eventually sentenced the match with an incredible lobbed shot seeing that the goalkeeper was badly positioned (84').

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