Real Madrid will return to the Bernabéu for their Champions League Round of 16 second leg with a 2-0 lead over Schalke 04. Cristiano Ronaldo broke his 200+ minutes scoring drought, and Marcelo scored another impressive strike as the Spanish giants grabbed two important away goals on Wednesday night.
3 things we learned from Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Schalke 04
Ronaldo and Marcelo sent Los Blancos back home with a commanding two-goal lead.
Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images
Schalke did a pretty solid job for 26 minutes, keeping organized defensively and taking advantage of Madrid's weakened midfield. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar even came within a whisker of beating Iker Casillas with after getting in between Madrid's central defenders.
Unfortunately for the Germans, all that good work was for nought. Cristiano Ronaldo slipped in between back line in the 26th minute, heading a well placed ball from Dani Carvajal right past 19-year-old "B" team goalkeeper, Timon Wellenreuther to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Another Schalke 19-year-old, Felix Platte, came within inches of scoring a spectacular goal in the 74th minute. The chance came on the break after Ronaldo put a free kick into the defensive wall, allowing Schalke to counter quickly. Iker Casillas was able to easily save the deflected follow-up shot from Atsuto Uchida, preserving Madrid’s lead.
Minutes later Madrid got their insurance goal when Marcelo hit the upper corner with a blistering shot from the edge of the penalty box. The ball eluded the diving Wellenreuther before skipping off the underside of the crossbar.
The second leg in Madrid will be played on March 10th. Kevin-Prince Boateng won't be available thanks to a yellow card suspension, after he was booked in the first half of Wednesday's match.
Schalke 04: Wellenreuther, Höwedes, Matip, Nastasić, Uchida, Neustädter (Kirchhoff 57’), Höger (Meyer 80’), Boateng, Aogo, Choupo-Moting, Huntelaar (Platte 33’)
Goals: None
Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal (Arbeloa 82’), Varane, Pepe, Marcelo, Lucas Silva, Kroos, Isco (Illarramendi 85’), Ronaldo, Benzema (Chicharito 78’), Bale
Goals: Ronaldo (26’), Marcelo (79’)
3 things
1. Madrid need Luka Modrić back. Look, we know this and if you've watched any of their games since his injury, you probably know this too. Toni Kroos isn't a holding midfielder, but having Modrić with him, pulling all the strings, makes it work. Isco, Lucas Silva, and Asier Illaramendi just can't cut it. Fortunately in this match, Madrid were still strong enough to see off Schalke, but against a better team, who knows. Chances are the Croatian will be back though before the next round.
2. Ronaldo is going to be just fine. Yes he’s struggled a bit in front of goal since the calendar turned over to 2015, but it’s not like that trend was going to last. His goal today was an excellent play, both in terms of his run and the header finish. He’s still pretty good at playing football.
3. Marcelo is so important to Los Blancos. I’ve said this before following Madrid matches, but you really can’t over rate the importance of the Brazilian to Madrid’s attack. He keeps defenses honest by helping provide width and a dangerous attacking option playing in behind Ronaldo, and he also scores ridiculous goals like he did in this match to likely put the tie out of reach for Schalke. So just how good is he? Even Zito Madu wouldn’t try to tell you he isn’t good anymore.
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