UCL Galatasaray vs Real Madrid: Kroos powers Madrid to crucial 1-0 win

Zinedine Zidane-side bagged their first Champions League win of the season after they managed to seal a close 1-0 win in their UEFA Champions League Group A clash against Galatasaray. Toni Kroos was on target as Real Madrid moved up to the second position of the points table after the win. The loss saw the home side sliding down to the last spot of the table. The game was a thrilling affair and the Los Blancos were made to work hard for the much-needed three points. 

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UCL Galatasaray 0 - Real Madrid 1: Match review

The game began with Real Madrid going on the attack from the very first minute. The visitors were pressing high and got near Galatasaray's goal real quick. Real Madrid's early dominance in possession saw the home crowd booing whenever the ball touched the feet of a player in the white jersey. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Rodrygo made his first start for the Los Blancos, which also marked his Champions League debut. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made stunning back-to-back saves to deny Galatasaray twice within a space of two minutes. Madrid's sleepy defence allowed the hosts to take early chances in the opening minutes of the game.

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Midfielder Toni Kroos finally broke the deadlock of the high voltage game at the 18th minute. A goal was always on the cards and it started from some brilliant gameplay between Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema. Hazard, who had a chance to shoot at the goal, selflessly played the ball to Kroos and the German slotted one home for the whites. What followed next was a series of counter-attacks from both sides. The match pretty much looked like an unorganised, breakless saga between the two sides. Courtois made another crucial save during the 38th minute. Both the teams missed easy chances in the first half. The score could have been 3-3 by the end of the 45th minute but Madrid scored the only goal of the half.

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The second-half started with Real Madrid looking to get a bit control of the game. Galatasaray pushed hard in the next 45 minutes in their pursuit to find the equalizer but the Madrid defence somehow managed to halt them. Real Madrid had the best chances of the match with Benzema missing a one-on-one chance against Fernando Muslera. Hazard had the opportunity to grab his first Champions League goal for the Los Blancos but his shot hit the cross-bar. The former Chelsea player did 90 per cent of the work by cutting past the keeper beautifully but added too much power on his shot which went high to meet the woodwork on the 63rd-minute. The game was full of chances and Real Madrid took the real one to grab three points from the game. 

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