Galatasaray hold Chelsea to a Draw as Real Madrid Demolish Schalke 04 In UCL
Real Madrid virtually secured their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League 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.
Elsewhere in Europe, Chelsea were frustrated not to leave Turkey victorious but Fernando Torres’ away goal gives Jose Mourinho’s men a decent chance of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.
Having seen Manchester United follow Arsenal and Manchester City in losing their last-16 first-leg ties 2-0, the west Londoners refused to wilt under the intense pressure brought by the raucous Turk Telecom Arena crowd.
The Blues had looked on course for victory after Torres netted in a dominant first-half display, only for Roberto Mancini’s side to produce a much improved performance after the break and earn a 1-1 as poor defending allowed Aurelien Chedjou to strike home.