Schalke almost pulled off one the greatest Champions League comebacks of all time when the Germany team beat the reigning Champions League holders, Real Madrid, 4-3 at the Bernabeu, but lost the leg 5-4 on aggregate.
Both sides started brightly in this round of 16 clash at the Bernabeu, Max Meyer almost gifted Schalke a shock lead when the creative midfielder burst down the left wing with acres of space, the German played the across the box to Choupo-Moting, but his first time effort sailed over the bar. Schalke came close again in 11th minute when the Real Madrid defence crumbled, allowing Fuchs to whip the ball into Hoger, however his volley rocketed off the palms of Iker Casillas. Madrid were attempting to create chances primarily through Isco and Bale but the Schalke back 3 cleared every threat the Los Blancos attempted, but in the opening 15 minutes, Madrid were the weaker side, allowing the German side to stroll through their defence with ease.
Schalke finally got their reward in the 20th minute when Fuchs’ gave the visitors a well-deserved lead. Barnetta crossed the ball from outside the box, aiming for Huntelaar, however the Dutch striker allowed the ball to find Christian Fuchs’ unmarked inside the area, and the wing back, fired the ball past Casillas to give Schalke a lifeline. However, their lead didn’t last long when Cristiano Ronaldo equalised for the reigning Champions League holders, the Ballon d’Or winner leaped up to meet a Toni Kroos header, and Wellenreuther stood no chance as Ronaldo headed the ball past the 19-year-old keeper.
Huntelaar almost scored against his former team when the ball fell beautifully for the striker, but his volley crashed of the upper 90 of the bar, but moments later Huntelaar gave Schalke the lead again when Meyer fired a low shot that was parried away by Casillas, Huntelaar dashed onto the lose ball and fired the ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-1 to Schalke with 5 minutes to go till half-time. Schalke looked like to end the half with the upper hand, but Ronaldo ruined the party with another headed goal, Coentrao crossed the ball to the Portuguese winger and Ronaldo once again put Madrid on level terms, with the final touch of the first half.
Real Madrid took the lead in the second half for the first time of the night when Karim Benzema burst through the Schalke defence and danced his way around the keeper, before coolly finishing the ball to give Madrid a 3-goal advantage in the 52nd minute, it didn’t last long as Schalke substitute Sane pulled one back for the visitors, the 19-year-old debutant beautifully curled the ball past a motionless Casillas from 18-yards-out to make the score his second ever goal for Schalke, and to make the score line 3-3 with under 40 minutes to go. Barnetta came close for Schalke in the 61st minute when the midfielder’s shot from a tight angle forced a save from Casillas to keep the score at 3-3.
Wellenreuther was called into action again when Arbeloa found himself running on goal, but the fullback’s shot was well saved by the 3rd choice goalkeeper, the 19-year-old keeper then pulled of a fantastic save in the 69th minute to deny Toni Kroos good strike from 20-yards out. Schalke took the lead for a third time when Huntelaar latched onto a Sane pass, and the Dutch striker ran through on goal fired the ball past Casillas and off the under bar of the crossbar to score his second goal of the match. Sane almost sealed the deal moments later when his shot from over 25-yards out was well saved by Casillas to keep Real Madrid’s Champions League dreams alive. Howedes came close to sending Schalke to the quarter-finals when the ball fell perfectly to the centre back, but his volley was well saved again by the captain, Casillas.