Real Madrid beat Schalke 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 match, springing back to life after a dull form of late. More importantly, star striker, Cristiano Ronaldo who was under pressure to score after going goalless for three consecutive games, opened the chart for Madrid with a sharp header in the 26th minute.
The Ballon d’Or winner who was in a lull, woke up to his form, pretty brisk. He scored the first and also set up the second goal for Marcelo who finished it in emphatic fashion.
Ronaldo can now breathe a sigh of relief having tossed the goal-drought monkey off his back. He has now scored 58 goals in 58 Champions League games. This is an achievement in itself.
Carlo Ancelotti’s trust in the Portuguese captain finally paid off when Ronaldo’s mighty header went past Timon Wellenreuther and into the goal. There was no stopping the Madrid juggernaut from then. The Los Blancos enjoyed possession and had complete control over evey aspect of the game, lest the fear of a Schalke comeback. However, a Marcelo stunner into the top corner of the net in the 79th minute silenced the crowd at Gelsenkirchen and sealed the match for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid go into the second-leg of the round of 16 match with a two-goal advantage over Schalke. Also they will be playing at home which will add to their advantage.
In another distinction to the club’s existing plethora of records, Real Madrid are now on par with Bayern Munich for being unbeaten in 10 consecutive Champions League games. Bayern had a run of 10 consecutive wins in the Champions League in 2010.