Ronaldo, Real Madrid blank Schalke in Champions League

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany — Cristiano Ronaldo ended a brief goalscoring slump to help holder Real Madrid beat Schalke 2-0 in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Ronaldo headed home in the 26th minute of the first leg match, after going three matches without a goal in the Spanish league. He also set up Marcelo for the second goal in the 79th.

“Clearly he lives to score and it was an important goal — and a good reaction at an important stage of the season,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

Real Madrid routed Schalke 6-1 last season at the same stadium with a ruthless attacking performance, advancing 9-2 on aggregate. Madrid went on to win a record 10th title and is seeking to become the first repeat Champions League winner.

This time, Schalke defended much better but did not threaten much either.

The closest it came to scoring was in the 74th, when Felix Platte, making his Champions League debut, fired a volley from the edge of the area against the crossbar.

“It’s a disappointing result. Neither team had many chances but they scored,” Schalke coach Roberto Di Matteo said. “If Platte had scored, the match might have gone our way.”

The second leg in Spain is on March 10.

AP

Maher Taki