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Ronaldo And Bale Shine As Madrid Hammer Schalke

 

Real Madrid virtually secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday night with a stunning 6-1 demolition of Schalke.

The nine-time winners had only won once before in 25 trips to Germany but victory was never in doubt at the Veltins-Arena with Real’s most potent attacking weapons coming to the fore.

Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo all scored twice as an insatiable Madrid left Schalke requiring a miracle at the Bernabeu in three weeks’ time despite Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scoring the goal of the night in time added-on.

Bale cut in on the right and found Ronaldo whose backheel took a deflection which found Benzema on the penalty spot and he made no mistake with a crisp finish in the 13th minute.         .

Schalke were playing their part but it was 2-0 for the visitors in the 21st minute thanks to the quick feet of Bale.

Benzema robbed Felipe Santana of possession and when the Welshman gathered the ball up he danced forward, beating two men before unleashing a quick shot which went in off the near post.

The home side desperately needed to find something in the second half and Kevin-Prince Boateng forced Casillas into a save from long range in the 47th minute with Max Meyer horribly miscuing his effort on the follow-up.

But it was 3-0 in the 52nd as Ronaldo got the goal he had been so close to before the break. Bale played the ball across to the Portuguese on the left and he dazzled Joel Matip with two step-overs before firing low past a helpless Fahrmann.

Five minutes later the score line was increased was as Ronaldo and Benzema exchanged passes, with the former Manchester United man releasing his team-mate in the box to fire across the goalkeeper and into the far corner for the fourth.

Real looked to be taking their foot off the gas after the goal and allowed Schalke to have possession but it was not long before Bale had his second of the night in the 67th minute.

Ronaldo was not to be outdone and had his brace in the 88th minute as substitute Isco and Benzema combined to release him and he calmly slotted past the keeper.

There was still time for former Real striker Huntelaar to net a stunning consolation when he volleyed home from the edge of the area after Christian Fuchs’ cross to see Casillas beaten for the first time in 10 appearances, but it is likely to be of little consequence.