CRISTIANO Ronaldo struck a brace as Real Madrid warmed up for Sunday’s El Clasico by comfortably confirming their place in the last eight of the Champions League with a 3-1 home triumph over Schalke.Los Blancos came into the contest boasting an emphatic 6-1 lead from the first leg and they took little time in adding to their tally when Ronaldo opened the scoring on 21 minutes.
The Portugal star finished off a slick move down the right involving substitute Gareth Bale and Alvaro Morata by firing in from close range.
The hosts looked all set to open the flood gates, but after Morata twice fluffed clear-cut chances, the German outfit pushed forward and grabbed a shock equaliser.
Tim Hoogland took advantage of some poor closing down to let fly with a speculative shot that took a wicked deflection off Sergio Ramos on its way into the corner of the net.
Real rarely got out of first gear but remained the greater threat with Ronaldo, Isco and Morata all going close before they finally sealed victory with two goals in a minute.
First, Ronaldo made it 13 in the competition so far this term with a trademark run and shot that flew in at the near post, before Morata tucked home at the second attempt after the Portuguese star had thumped the bar.
Ronaldo almost equalled Lionel Messi’s record of 14 Champions League goals in a single season five minutes from time but saw another thumping shot crash back off the post.
The 9-2 win on aggregate was a club record for the Spanish giants, but their night was somewhat soured by the news that Spain U-21 star, Jese looks set for a spell on the sidelines after being carried off on a stretcher with suspected cruciate ligament damage in the opening stages of the game. (Eurosport)