MADRID, Spain (Reuters) – Holders Real Madrid survived a huge scare when they suffered a stunning 4-3 defeat at home to Schalke 04 yesterday but squeezed through to the Champions League quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate.

A first-half Ronaldo double and a goal from Karim Benzema early in the second half saw Real through to the last eight but Schalke can consider themselves unlucky not to progress.
Striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice for the visitors, including a late winner on the night, after Christian Fuchs had put the German side in front, with Leroy Sane also on target.
After Real comfortably won last month’s last-16, first-leg in Gelsenkirchen 2-0, Schalke came out fighting at the Bernabeu and took a deserved lead in the 20th minute when Fuchs’ shot ricocheted into the net off Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Ronaldo levelled from a Toni Kroos corner five minutes later before former Real striker Huntelaar, who moments earlier had struck a fierce shot against the crossbar, put Schalke 2-1 ahead when he followed up Max Meyer’s saved effort.
Ronaldo struck again from Fabio Coentrao’s cross on the stroke of halftime — the Portugal captain’s 75th Champions League goal putting him level at the top of the all-time scoring chart with Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.
Both sides continued to attack at every opportunity in the second half and Karim Benzema made it 3-2 in the 53rd minute before Schalke substitute Leroy Sane curled a shot past Casillas in the 57th to make it 3-3.
Huntelaar set up a nervous finish for the home fans when he smashed a brilliant effort in off the bar six minutes from time but Real held out to claim a place in the draw for the last eight on March 20.

REAL OUTPLAYED
Real were looking for a convincing performance after defeat at Athletic Bilbao at the weekend cost them top spot in La Liga but they were outplayed for long periods by an impressive Schalke unit. Both sides were pushing forward in search of goals, which made for an entertaining spectacle but allowed the visitors plenty of chances to counter attack.
Benzema’s goal to make it 3-2 shortly after halftime, when he picked up a loose ball and darted across the penalty area before firing into an empty net, seemed to have settled the tie but Sane’s brilliant leveller gave Schalke renewed hope. Chances were still coming thick and fast at both ends.
Schalke midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta came close in the 62nd minute and Real fullback Alvaro Arbeloa burst through in the 65th but was denied by a fine save from Timon Wellenreuther. Ronaldo’s brace took his tally in European competition to a record 78 goals, surpassing Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (76) and former Real striker Raul (77).
He also matched Messi’s record of 20 Champions League doubles and took his tally for the season to 41 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions. Real’s defeat meant they missed a chance to set a record for consecutive victories in Europe’s elite club competition.
They matched the mark of 10 straight wins set by Bayern Munich in 2013 when they beat Schalke in the first leg.

By Iain Rogers