5 Reasons Real Madrid Are the Scariest Team Left in the Champions League

Eight teams remain in the Champions League, yet in reality it is probably six.

Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Galatasaray at the Bernabeu leaves the Turkish side on life support, waiting for Fatih Terim's nod of approval to be put down.

Juventus aren't quite at that stage yet, though something spectacular in Turin is needed if they don't want to end up in the same morgue.

Whichever four teams eventually make it to the semi-finals, the draw will be a guaranteed thriller, although any team that draws Real Madrid will have plenty of reasons to fear their time in the competition is coming to an end. Here are five reasons why...

Sometimes—normally in films, I must admit—you catch a glimpse of someone's eyes and you get that tingling feeling of a ruthless craziness emanating from the person.

That person is Real Madrid right now.

As each round has crept past, talk of La Decima has increased. The more the papers, the fans and the world talk about it, the more a monster is created in the Spanish capital.

They want their 10th European Cup, and they want it now. Lo and behold anyone who dares stand in their way.

In their pursuit of La Decima, at least for now, Jose Mourinho seems the perfect match for Los Blancos  because he also has that crazed look in his eye.

A European champion twice before—with Porto and then Inter Milan—the Portuguese coach is set on becoming the man who won it with three clubs from three different countries.

It didn't quite work out for him with Chelsea, and this could be his last crack at it with Real Madrid before a possible return to Stamford Bridge.

Whether or not he really is "The Special One" is still up for debate, but a Champions League with the Spanish giants will only serve to win more people over.

I know, he's definitely more than all right. He's actually pretty darn amazing, but he'd be more than willing to tell you that himself.

If defenders look journalists in the eye and tell them they don't mind which team they meet in the semi-final they may be telling the truth. However, a small part of them definitely won't want to meet Cristiano Ronaldo.

Nine goals have already been scored by the Portuguese international in Europe this season—he's added another 29 in La Liga.

He's scored in each knockout round so far and has developed a niche for scoring important goals in important matches. Ask Barcelona.

During the calendar year that we reside in, only Granada have cast a shadow over Real Madrid's impressive run of results.

Los Blancos have cranked it up a few gears. The league title may be beyond them, but that hasn't stopped them looking more and more like the title winning side of last year.

Already in 2013 they've met Barcelona three times—winning twice and drawing once—and Manchester United two times—recording a draw and a win.

Galatasaray were the latest to come under siege, beaten 3-0 in Madrid last week, and you get the feeling Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo and their friends aren't going to relent any time soon.

Real Madrid are becoming almost as synonymous with blistering counterattacks as Barcelona are with tiqui-taca.

This goal against Ajax a couple of seasons ago is still a particular favorite.

Any side that comes up against Los Blancos in the Champions League will be wary of this, scared even.

For five, even 10 minutes you can think you are on top, and then in one efficient swoop, Mesut Ozil, Angel Di Maria and Karim Benzema combine for Cristiano Ronaldo to put you 1-0 down.