Real Madrid were stunned 4-3 by Schalke at the Santiago Bernabeu but held out 5-4 on aggregate in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, For Cristiano Ronaldo it was a record breaking night as the Current World player of the year breaks Raúl's all-time goal record in UEFA club competition! but a heart skipping one for the Spanish giant, Real Madrid vs Schalke ended in a thrilling 3-4 scoreline! Real just make it through to the next round thanks to them having won on 5-4 aggregate.
Carlo Ancelotti decided to make few changes to his side that lost to Athletico Bilbao during the weekend La Liga fixture as Alvaro Arbeloa, Fabio Coentrao and Sami Khedira started the game and Luka Modric marked his long-awaited return from a hamstring injury with a place on the bench, having been sidelined since representing Croatia in mid-November.
However, it was the German team who started most positively, with Los Blancos firmly on the back foot and looking a far cry from their usual selves.
Consequently, Christian Fuchs gave Schalke the lead with a powerful, left-footed shot in the Madrid box, but their advantage lasted merely a few minutes, Ronaldo responding almost immediately with a bullet header from a corner.
The European champions were then expected to grow as the match wore thin, but the Royal Blues refused to buckle in the Santiago Bernabeu as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar first smashed the crossbar, before burying a rebound against his former club shortly after.
Nonetheless, it was up to Ronaldo again to rescue his Madrid teammates from a potentially sticky situation with another powerful header on the stroke of half-time, leaving the restart finely poised.
The only time Madrid had the lead in the game was when Benzema score his Sevnth goal of the campaign but Shalke responded well with a beautiful strike from Sane who is just 19 years of age, the youngster was also instrumental as he forced the Madrid Midfield and defence line into multiple of errors one which led to Modric tackle that led to passback gifted Huntelaar a free pass at goal, and the Dutchman duly took his chance with aplomb.
Nonetheless, there was to be no late Schalke show and Madrid unconvincingly trudged into the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite club competition.
Real Madrid 3-4 Schalke Line-up(5-4 agg.)
Ronaldo 25, 45, Benzema 52 (R) Fuchs 20, Huntelaar 40, 84, Sane 57 (S)
Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Varane, Coentrao; Khedira, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
Schalke: Wellenreuther; Nastasic, Matip, Howedes; Barnetta, Hoger, Neustadter, Meyer, Fuchs; Huntelaar, Choupo-Moting (Sane 29)
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