Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match between Real Madrid and Galatasaray in the Champions League.

After three successive victories, Real Madrid went into their match with Juventus three weeks ago knowing that a win would earn them qualification to the knockout stages. That success didn't come, after they were pegged back by the Italian giants, but with just a point now required, the La Liga side are on the brink of the last 16.

As for Galatasaray, they have responded well to being thrashed 6-1 by Madrid on matchday one to move into second position with two matches remaining. However, a defeat this evening would leave Roberto Mancini's men up against it to remain in the competition.

It will also be worth keeping an eye on the other game in this group. Juventus host Copenhagen, with the winner knowing that they could go into the final fixtures of the group in second position. Real Madrid might be as good as qualified at the top, but it's all to play for elsewhere!

Cristiano Ronaldo will be missing from Real Madrid's starting lineup tonight, but Carlo Ancelotti's side are more than a one-man team. Team news from the Bernabeu coming right up.

REAL MADRID XI: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Illarramendi, Casemiro, Bale, Isco, Di Maria; Jese

GALATASARAY XI: Eray Iscan; Gokhan Zan, Nounkeu, Chedjou, Eboue, Felipe Melo, Selcuk Inan, Bruma, Amrabat; Umut Bulut, Drogba

As well as Ronaldo's absence, the big news coming out of the Madrid team news is the inclusion of Jese. The 20-year-old will be making just his 11th appearance in the first team tonight.

Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder misses out on a place in the starting lineup against his former club, with the Turkish outfit relying on the big-game experience of Didier Drogba to lead them in attack in front of a passionate home crowd.

REAL MADRID SUBSTITUTES: Diego Lopez, Benzema, Alonso, Carvajal, Nacho, Morata, Jose Rodríguez

GALATASARAY SUBSTITUTES: Ufuk Ceylan, Semih Keya, Sabri Sarioglu, Ceyhun Gulsalem, Sneijder, Reira, Burat Yilmaz

With Ronaldo on the sidelines, could tonight be the night when Gareth Bale steps out of his shadow to show the club's supporters what he is all about? The former Tottenham Hotspur winger has grown into his role in Spain, but it's fair to say that the form of his Portuguese teammate has seen Bale blend somewhat into the background. The Welshman netted a fine goal in Italy against Juventus, and he will be looking to follow that up when we get underway in just under 25 minutes time.

Galatasaray's domestic form hasn't been too impressive since they lost in Denmark. They suffered a demoralising 2-0 defeat away at rivals Fenerbahce, before struggling to a 2-1 success over surprise package Sivasspor. It will probably take a huge improvement in their performance to earn a result tonight, but this group has already thrown up a few surprises over the past two months, so you never know...

PREDICTION! The Spaniards may be missing players in attack, but their overall flair should be too much for Galatasaray tonight. The Turkish team might hold out for the opening 30 minutes, but I'd expect Real Madrid to eventually coast to a 3-0 win.

We are just under 10 minutes until kickoff at the Bernabeu. The crowd certainly look in the mood for this one.

If you wish to follow Copenhagen's match in Juventus, you can do so by clicking here.

The two teams are out on the pitch in Spain, currently embracing the Champions League anthem. Ronaldo might not be on the pitch tonight, but there is a huge banner with his face on in the crowd.

Galatasaray gets us underway.

As expected, Real Madrid are bossing the opening exchanges, and the Turkish side are sitting extremely deep. That's probably not the best tactics to employ...

CHANCE! Gareth, Gareth, Gareth. Bale misses a huge chance for the home side. He was released through on goal, but after advancing into the penalty area, he curled the ball wide. Unbelievable miss for someone worth £85m. He was a yard offside, but the the flag didn't go up.

That miss is a huge let-off for the visitors. They must have feared what was seemingly the inevitable when Bale was in front of the goalkeeper. Maybe that will encourage Mancini's men to attack more than they had planned, because they will struggle to keep Real Madrid out tonight.

Angel di Maria swings over a cross from the left but it's a disappointing one, and it's cleared by the defender. However, Madrid come again, and Marcelo does superbly to set up Jese, but the 20-year-old dwells on the ball and he is dispossessed.

Despite that chance, Galatasaray are beginning to ease into this match now, although they are struggling to get Drogba into the game. I'm sure that will change if they can earn a free kick close to goal.

Real Madrid are attempting to mix up the play, but playing a long ball to Jese doesn't have the same effect as it would if Ronaldo was playing. They might be better off trying to string a move together.

Real have had a massive 65% of the possession so far, but they have only created one shot on goal, and that was arguably offside. Galatasaray have had one attempt themselves, but that went straight into Row Z.

It's still goalless between Juventus and Copenhagen. Galatasaray will be hoping that it remains the same for the next 66 minutes.

Galatasaray earn a free kick 35 yards out, but it's a shocking delivery, and Casillas easily claims.

RED CARD! Sergio Ramos has been sent off for Real Madrid! Umut Bulut got the better of the defender during a battle for a high ball, and Ramos tugged the striker back when he was clean through on goal, leaving the referee with no choice.

SUBSTITUTION! Ancelotti has reacted by bringing off Jese to replace him with Nacho, who will move into the back four. That's unfortunate for the young striker.

Apparently, that is the 17th time that Ramos has been dismissed during his career. That's a crazy stat! While things are going well for Galatasaray here, they will be disappointed to hear that Juventus have taken the lead against Copenhagen.

That sending off has definitely changed the mood in the stadium, and the mood of Ronaldo. He was earlier shown sharing a joke with a couple of teammates, but the attacker looks a lot more focused on the game now.

BOOKING! Felipe Melo has gone into the book for Galatasaray after going in late on Pepe. Bale has an opportunity from 35 yards out...

Well that was an action-packed 60 seconds. Firstly, Gareth Bale pinged a free kick into the top corner of the net, but the goalkeeper would have been disappointed with his efforts. However, less than a minute later, Galatasaray equalised after Umut Bulut got in behind the defence before sliding the ball past Casillas.

The confidence must be running through the Galatasaray team because Eboue has just attempted a shot from 30 yards. You can guess where it ended up.

It took a while to get going, but that sending off has really opened things up at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid are still creating as many chances as they did before they were reduced to 10 men, but Galatasaray look like they have more goals in them. It has all the ingredients for a terrific second half.

This isn't a huge fixture for Real Madrid given that they only need a point to qualify, but if there was ever a match for Gareth Bale to display the qualities that earned him his summer move, this is it. He usually relishes taking a game by the scruff of the neck, and he shown signs at the end of that half that he looked up for the occasion.

I wonder whether Roberto Mancini is already debating throwing Wesley Sneijder into the action. He hasn't played that much football of late, but he has the ability to win this game for the Turkish side. If they could sneak a victory tonight, they would only require a draw in their final match with Juventus.

The players are slowly but surely making their way back out. It will be interesting to see how both sides begin the half.

We are back underway in Spain.

Galatasaray are fast out of the blocks, and a cross from Bruma evades everyone at the back post. There appeared to be an easy tap-in for someone there.

Real Madrid retake the lead at the Bernabeu, and of all people, it's Alvaro Arbeloa who has the goal. Di Maria held onto the ball on the left before delivering it behind the Galatasaray defence for the former Liverpool defender to tap home from six yards.

BOOKING! Arbeloa goes from hero to villain in the space of three minutes, but it's such a harsh decision. The referee thinks that the Spaniard has dived in the penalty area, but his standing foot was clearly taken by the defender. Bemused looks all around...

Huge news coming from Turin. Copenhagen has equalised! That keeps everything extremely tight in the group, but there is still 33 minutes remaining.

SUBSTITUTION! Carlo Ancelotti has opted to introduce the experienced Xabi Alonso to try to tighten things up in midfield. Casemiro has departed the action.

CHANCE! Arbeloa nearly has a second! He really should have scored too. The ball reached the edge of the area, but after bringing the ball down, the right-back miscued a volley and it went wide of the far post.

Juventus has quickly restored the lead against Copenhagen. In fact, they have moved 3-1 ahead, thanks to a Vidal treble. There has been another goal in Spain...

That could be the game wrapped up the home side. It's a superb flowing move that includes fantastic link-up play between Isco and Arbeloa, and the ball finally arrives at the feet of Di Maria, who rolls the ball into the net from 12 yards.

Wesley Sneijder is on for Galatasaray, but you get the feeling that it could be too little, too late. Real Madrid are playing some outstanding football, and the visitors can't get anywhere near them.

SAVE! Unbelievable stop from Casillas! Eboue's cross to the back post is headed to Drogba, but just as it appears as though the former Chelsea man's header is going to hit the top corner of the net, Casillas threw out a hand to turn the ball over the bar.

SUBSTITUTION! Ancelotti makes his final change of the match, bringing on Carvajal for the impressive Marcelo. We are into the final 15 minutes of what has turned out to be an entertaining encounter.

Real Madrid win a free kick on the right, but they opt against sending the ball into the box. With the game almost done and dusted, they look prepared to see out the final 12 minutes.

Isco makes it four, and it's a sublime goal. The young Spaniard brought down a high ball with superb skill, before advancing past a defender. His attempted shot was blocked, but the ball fell kindly to him to sweep past another defender before rolling the ball into the bottom corner from six yards.

It's easy to forget that Real Madrid are down to 10 men. This second-half display has been incredible.

Galatasaray are going to find themselves down in third position by the end of the night. That means that Mancini's side are going to have to beat Juventus in their final group game.

I've lost count at the amount of times that Arbeloa has appeared in Galatasaray's penalty area. However, it looks as those he is going to have to be happy with just the one goal tonight.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

The referee blows the full-time whistle in Spain, and Real Madrid have sealed their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League with a comprehensive 4-1 success over Galatasaray.

Despite the sending off of Ramos, Real Madrid dominated after the break and they were full value for their victory. Galatasaray will be disappointed that they failed to come away with a result from the Bernabeu, and they will now need to beat Juventus in two weeks time.

That will be all from Sports Mole this evening. Thank you for joining us, and we hope you return for tomorrow's Europa League fixtures. Goodbye for now.