Champions League Round-Up: Schalke scare Real, Porto cruise past Basel

Sport360 staff 02:25 11/03/2015
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  • Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's brace threatened a major upset

    Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a brace for Schalke as the German side earned a remarkable 4-3 victory at Real Madrid only to crash out of the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League 4-5 on aggregate.

    Elsewhere, Porto eased to a 4-0 home victory over Basel to book their berth in the quarter-final stage thanks to goals from Yacine Brahimi, Hector Herrera, Casemiro and Vincent Aboubakar.

    Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have been under pressure of late and the Real crowd’s discontent was only worsened by a terrible defensive display against Schalke which saw the reigning champions clinging on in the final minutes despite coming into the game with a two-goal advantage.

    Cristiano Ronaldo helped bring his side level twice

    Even when Christian Fuch’s gave the German side an early first-half lead, few expected Real to encounter too many difficulties in coming through the tie — particularly when Cristiano Ronaldo ensured Schalke would need a third with a header just minutes later.

    Yet, Real Madrid’s suspect defending continued as Huntelaar first threatened to punish a wayward Raphael Varane backpass before smashing a shot from 25-yards against the bar.

    Huntelaar, though, was not to be denied for long and snuck in to restore Schalke’s lead just five minutes before the break and once more leave Los Blancos rocking. Familiar saviour Cristiano Ronaldo, though, ensured that the scores were once more level at half-time with yet another towering back-post header.

    When Karim Benzema coolly struck minutes into the second period, the tie once more looked to have been settled. However, 19-year-old midfielder Leroy Sane capped a wonderful performance with a curled effort past the stranded Iker Casillas.

    Worse was still to come for Real, though, as Huntelaar pounced upon a Luka Modric error to smash home a winner via the crossbar. However, while Sane forced Casillas into a wondeful late save on an otherwise terrible night for the veteran, Schalke were unable to force a fifth goal which would have secured success over the two ties.

    In Oporto meanwhile, Porto strolled to success over Paulo Sousa’s combative Basel side who finished the game with only 10 men as Walter Samuel saw red for two second-half yellow cards.

    Julen Lopetegui’s side took the lead through a stunning free-kick from Brahimi before midfielders Hector Herrera and Casemiro also scored fine goals to send Porto three goals clear.

    The victory was rounded off by Cameroonian striker Aboubakar as the Portuguese earned a first quarter-final berth since 2009.

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