Real sauntered through the match, scoring twice before half time thanks to a delicate chip from Cristiano Ronaldo after a Mesut Ozil through pass, added to by Karim Benzema who finished smartly at the back post.

Substitute Gonzalo Higuain grabbed the third, nodding home from Xabi Alonso’s free kick as Real landed one foot firmly in the semi-finals ahead of their trip to Turkey for the return leg.

Mourinho’s former charge Didider Drogba went close on several occasions but Wesley Sneijder was substituted at half time after cutting a peripheral figure in the first 45 minutes.

Mourinho told Sky Sports: “I think we played seriously. The Spanish press were not so respectful in relation to Galatasaray but we were very respectful.

“We knew they were a good team with fantastic strikers; they had danger and we prepared very well from a defensive point of view.

“We defended better than we attacked because in attacking terms I think we lost the last ball, the last pass, we had easy transitions – three against three, three against four – we could have scored more goals.”

Asked whether the tie was effectively over Mourinho replied: “If you score a goal they have to score five. I think the result is very good but in football I saw so many incredible things that nothing can surprise me and Istanbul is a difficult place to play.

“They have players with lots of experience, players with character, I think they will fight very hard against us. We have to go there very seriously because it is the only way to go through.”

As for his reunion with Drogba and Sneijder, Mourinho added: “I was with them at the end of the match, (Didier) and Wesley. They are family – they weren’t during 90 minutes but they are family.”

The post Mourinho pleased with defensive display appeared first on IdealCapper.

Del Bosque says “Torres had been a regular until recently, his inconsistency worries us.”

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea takes the place of injured captain Iker Casillas, while Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez makes the 24-man squad despite nursing a leg injury.

Spain hosts Finland in Gijon on March 22 and then plays France in Paris four days later.

Spain and France are tied with seven points each at the top of Group I. Georgia has four points, Belarus three, and Finland one.

Complete list:

Goalkeepers: Victor Valdes (Barcelona), Pepe Reina (Liverpool/ING) and David de Gea (Manchester United/ING)

Defense: Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa, Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea/ING) and Ignacio Monreal (Arsenal/ING).

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal/ING), Javi Garcia (Manchester City/ING), Jesus Navas (Sevilla) and ‘Isco’ Alarcon (Málaga).

Forwards: David Silva (Manchester City/ING), Pedro Rodriguez, David Villa (Barcelona), Juan Manuel Mata (Chelsea/ING) and Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla).

The post Spain drops Fernando Torres appeared first on IdealCapper.