Schalke Shocks Real Madrid 4-3 At Home, But Los Blancos Still Advance [VIDEO]

The defending UEFA Champions got quite the scare on Tuesday evening when they were stunned at home by German side, Schalke in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 match. Despite losing the game, Los Blancos survived 5-4 on aggregate and will advance to the quarterfinals.

The shocking loss at the Bernabeu was Madrid’s first lost at home in the Champions League since April of 2011. Schalke’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Netherlands fame scored a brace for his team. After Schalke went up 4-3, they went all-out on the offensive attack to try and score the 5^th goal, which would have sent them on to the quarterfinals.

“Of course we are happy about our game today, but we could have achieved more,” said Huntelaar who used to play for Real Madrid. “We conceded too easily and we should have taken our lead into the break. They didn’t feel comfortable at all.”

Cristiano Ronaldo rounded back into form as the Portuguese striker scored a brace of his own for Real Madrid in the loss. Both goals were scored on brilliant headers, and his second goal tied him with Lionel Messi (75) for the most goals in Champions League history.

Karim Benzema also scored for Madrid, his 20^th goal of the season for the Spanish club. Real keeper Iker Casillas, was not his usual self on the night as he surrendered four goals for the second time this season. Fans in attendance waived white flags at Casillas and the team to show their displeasure. Madrid had won 21 consecutive matches against Schalke at home before today.

Christian Fuchs and Leroy Sane also scored for Schalke who were so close to pulling off what would have been one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history.

Fuchs beat Casillas to the far post in the 20^th minute. Ronaldo equalized off of a corner kick by Toni Kroos, and Hunteelar responded to give Schalke a 2-1 lead before Ronaldo equalized again after a cross from Fabio Coentrao.

Real Madrid took the lead 3-2 in the second half after Benzema streaked across the box and scored in the left-hand post. Sane equalized with a beautiful bender and Huntelaar’s second goal of the game in the 84^th minute, made for a dramatic and intense finish.