Mourinho springs Essien surprise

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho sprung a surprise by dropping Alvaro Arbeloa in favour of Michael Essien at right-back for his side's Champions League quarter-final first-leg against Galatasaray. Otherwise Mourinho named an unchanged side from that which won 2-1 away at Manchester United to book their place in the last eight, with Karim Benzema leading the attack. Diego Lopez kept his place in goal despite Iker Casillas' return from a hand injury and Xabi Alonso also returned after being rested in recent weeks due to an ongoing back problem. Galatasaray meanwhile named two former Real players in their side as Hamit Altintop and Wesley Sneijder returned to the Bernabeu. And up front Didier Drogba, who scored the decisive penalty to win the competition for Chelsea last season, partnered the competition's joint-top scorer in Burak Yilmaz. Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Diego Lopez; Michael Essien, Sergio Ramos (capt), Raphael Varane, Fabio Coentrao; Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira; Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil, Cristiano Ronaldo; Karim Benzema Coach: Jose Mourinho (POR) Galatasaray (4-3-1-2): Fernando Muslera; Emmanuel Eboue, Dany Nounkeu, Semih Kaya, Albert Riera; Hamit Altintop, Selcuk Inan (capt), Felipe Melo; Wesley Sneijder; Burak Yilmaz, Didier Drogba Coach: Fatih Terim Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (NOR) From: AFP