Real hit Schalke for a six

Gelsenkirchen (Germany): Real Madrid cruised to a rare victory on German soil as they romped to a 6-1 win at Schalke 04 in Wednesday’s Champions League’s last 16, first leg clash.

Real are now all but guaranteed a quarter final place even with the return leg to come in Madrid on March 18 after Karim Benzema (13, 57th minutes) and Gareth Bale (21, 69th minutes) both scored braces. Cristiano Ronaldo also scored twice, in the 52nd and 89th minutes, on his return from a three game suspension to see him take over from Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the competition’s top-scorer this season with 11 goals.

Netherlands striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored a 91st minute consolation goal for Schalke, but it couldn’t prevent them suffering their heaviest defeat in European competition.

Carlo Ancelotti's Real are now unbeaten in their last 27 games dating back to October. "After the early goal, we started getting a lot of room, that was the reason for our perfect night," said the Italian.

The huge victory went some way to correcting Real’s terrible away record in Germany as they made the Royal Blues of Schalke look anything but regal.

This was only Real’s second win in 26 visits to Germany after 18 defeats, including their 4-1 drubbing at Borussia Dortmund in last season’s Champions League’s semifinal.

Real needed just 13 minutes to take the lead at the Veltins Arena as their star studded attack clicked into gear.