Real Madrid3 Ronaldo 21′, 74′ Morata 75′ FC Schalke 04 1 Hoogland 31′ FT 90 +3 HT 1-1 (agg 9 - 2) Real Madrids Cristiano Ronaldo scores 18 March 2014 Last updated at 22:02 GMT Share Facebook Twitter print By Saj Chowdhury BBC Sport Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid reached the Champions League last eight with a 9-2 aggregate win over German side Schalke. The forward opened the scoring in the 21st minute when he converted Gareth Bales square ball from close range. Schalke levelled when Tim Hooglands low shot took a big deflection to beat keeper Iker Casillas. Ronaldo scored his 41st this season with a low shot before Alvaro Morata tapped in the Spanish clubs third. In the build-up to Tuesdays game, Schalke manager Jens Keller admitted the tie was over after his sides 6-1 capitulation at home two weeks ago. Ronaldo stat attack Has scored more than once for the fifth time in his last seven Champions League appearances With 13 goals, this is his best return in a single Champions League season He is also one shy of Barcelonas Lionel Messi who scored 14 during the 2011-12 season On that day the Bundesliga clubs brittle defence was broken many times against a Real side at their most rampant. A rejigged Los Blancos performed with slightly less bluster on their home pitch, although their second string still looked more dangerous than Schalkes first. Spanish youngsters Morata, Isco and Nacho made the most of their first-team chances, although forward Jeses night ended in the eighth minute when he was carried off on a stretcher after defender Sead Kolasinac had crashed into him. It was later revealed the 21-year-old suffered a cruciate ligament injury and is set to miss the rest of the season. Jeses replacement, £85m-man Bale, provided the assist for Reals first when his precise low delivery was converted by Ronaldo. It took Schalke until stoppage time in the first leg to score their solitary goal, on Wednesday it came in the 31st minute. Real Madrids Jese Jese was stretchered off in the first 10 minutes - it was later announced he suffered a cruciate injury There was a huge element of luck about it, with full-back Hooglands low strike from 20 yards spinning off the studs of Sergio Ramos and past Casillas. That was one of two clear opportunities in the match for the side from Gelsenkirchen - the other was a low strike from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar which drifted inches wide. Real had chances to improve their advantage in the 10 minutes before and after the interval with Isco and Morata denied by Ralf Fahrmann before the keeper made a good block to keep out Ronaldos header. It appeared that Schalkes number one might escape with conceding just one goal at the Bernabeu as Real eased off after the break. However, his hopes were shattered in two explosive minutes. First, Ronaldo, following more good work from Bale, ran 30 yards before drilling in before Morata swept in Bales pass, after Ronaldos shot had rebounded off the bar. The Portuguese showman later came close to equalling Lionel Messis Champions League record of 14 goals in one season when his shot hit the post. But he will get another chance as Real underlined their tag as one of the strong favourites for the title.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 08:54:55 +0000
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