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European Champions League

Schalke ’04 0 – Real Madrid 2

Schalke: Wellenreuther; Uchida, Höwedes, Matip, Nastasic, Aogo; Neustädter (Kirchhoff 57’), Höger (Meyer 80’), Boateng; Choupo-Moting, Huntelaar (Platte 33’). 5-3-2.
Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal (Arbeloa 82‘), Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Lucas Silva, Kroos, Isco (Illarramendi 85’); Bale, Benzema (Chicharito 78‘), Cristiano Ronaldo. 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 26. Ronaldo. Got in front of keeper to head long Carvajal cross in to the net.
0-2. 79. Marcelo. Picked up Ronaldo pass and curled right foot shot past keeper.

The Champions League is back, Real Madrid kicking off the knock-out stage with a 0-2 victory at Schalke ’04. Casillas had to make an early save from Huntelaar (who later went off injured), but Cristiano Ronaldo headed Ancelotti’s side into the lead from a Dani Carvajal cross midway through the first half. Young keeper Wellenreuther made good saves from a shot by Benzema and a Ronaldo free kick before the break, and Isco fired a shot over the top after Bale put him through early on in the second half. The German side went close to levelling it though with a quarter of an hour to go, Platte firing a shot against the crossbar and Uchida’s follow up deflecting off a defender into the hands of Casillas. However a few minutes later Ronaldo cut past two defenders and played the ball through for Marcelo to fire a right-foot shot in off the crossbar, giving his team a tenth win in a row in the competition. A victory in the return leg at the Bernabeu in three weeks time would make it eleven, beating the previous best set by Bayern Munich just over a year ago.