Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 9-2 aggregate victory over Schalke, thanks to a 3-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Ronaldo put Real ahead on the night when he swept home Gareth Bale’s low cross on 21 minutes, but Tim Hoogland’s deflected effort brought the visitors level before half-time.
It took until 16 minutes from time for Ronaldo to put Madrid back in front as he collected a loose ball from Bale and stormed forward to drill low into the net for his 13th Champions League goal of the season.
And Bale was the creator once more for his side’s third moments later when he squared for Alvaro Morata to fire home after Ronaldo had struck the bar.
Ronaldo came within inches of his hat-trick and equalling Lionel Messi’s record of 14 Champions League goals in a season again seven minutes from time, but he had to settle for just a double on the night as his low left-footed effort came back off the post and rebounded to safety.
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