UEFA Champions League Last-16: Real Madrid Hit Schalke for Six, Chelsea Nick an Away Goal at Galatasaray

Real Madrid got the rest of European clubs worried with a hammering display against Schalke 04 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 clash.

The Los Blancos’ forward line of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema proved a mouthful to handle for the Schalke defence who soaked in 6 goals with all the aforementioned three grabbing a brace each.

The Germans clean sheet lasted only until the 13th  minute when Karim Benzema slotted home to put Madrid in the lead before record signing Gareth Bale made it 2-0 with a trademark goal in the 21^st minute.

Cristiano Ronaldo joined the cast 7 minutes after the interval, the Ballon d’Or winner leaving Joel Matip in sixes and sevens before unleashing a left-footed shot past Schalke custodian Ralf Farhmann.

The hosts were finding it hard to contain Carlo Ancelotti’s attacking trio who made it four just five minutes later, Benzema finishing off a back heel from Ronaldo before Bale rejoined the scoring swansong with a left footed finish off Sergio Ramos’ defence piercing pass. Ronaldo finished off the embarrassment for the hosts with his second and 11^th in Champions League this season in the 89^th minute.

For all the goals scored by the visitors, it was however the hosts who netted the goal of the night (and goal of the season contender), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar pummeling in a lovely volley from outside the area to give Jens Keller’s men a consolation goal and the fans something to cheer about. At 6-1 (Schalke's worst ever home defeat in Europe) Real Madrid are guaranteed progress into the quarterfinals with the return leg clash at the Bernabeu on March 18 just a formality.

Chelsea’s tie against Galatasaray is tipped in the balance heading into the second leg after the two sides shared a 1-1 draw in Istanbul. Fernando Torres scored the crucial away goal for Jose Mourinho’s Blues with just minutes on the clock but were unable to grab another goal against the Turkish side who equalized in the 65^th minute to ensure the spoils were shared.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!