UCL: Real beat Schalke, Danilo saves Porto

Sport360 staff 03:55 19/02/2015
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  • Real Madrid's two goal-scorers Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo celebrate during their win over Schalke in the Champions League.

    Real Madrid equalled the longest winning run in Champions League history as they beat Schalke 2-0 in Wednesday's last-16, first-leg clash in Gelsenkirchen.

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    Cristiano Ronaldo's 73rd goal in the competition set the defending champions on their way in the first half, before Marcelo sealed victory with a stunning 79th-minute strike into the top corner.

    It was the 10th consecutive win in the tournament for the visitors, equalling a record set by Bayern Munich just two years ago.

    Ronaldo's perfectly placed header lit up a first half that was otherwise lacking in clear-cut chances, the Portugal international losing Joel Matip to score his 58th Champions League goal in as many games for Madrid.

    Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 73rd Champions League goal to level with Lionel Messi

    Having scored six on the road against Schalke at the same stage last season, Real pushed for further goals in the second half, but their attacking play was largely devoid of the quality normally on show from the 10-time winners of Europe's premier competition.

    Roberto Di Matteo's side had posed some threat in the final third in the first half and came closest to getting on the scoresheet in the 74th minute as Felix Platte crashed a volley against the crossbar.

    The visitors raised their game after that scare and Marcelo ensured a two-goal advantage heading into the second-leg in the Spanish capital on March 10.

    Marcelo celebrates with Carlo Ancelotti after sealing Real Madrid's win over Schalke by scoring his side's second.

    Danilo's 79th-minute penalty gave Porto a deserved equaliser as their 1-1 draw at Basel moved them a step closer to the Champions League quarter-finals.

    Wednesday's first leg of the round of 16 clash in Switzerland was completely dominated by the visitors, who fell behind in the 11th minute to a Derlis Gonzalez strike.

    That would prove be Basel's only meaningful attack of the game though, as two-time winners Porto ramped up the pressure, with Cristian Tello denied a leveller by the offside flag late in the first half.

    Danilo (r) celebrates after scoring for Porto from the penalty spot against Basel in the Champions League.

    Casemiro was next to have a goal chalked off, after his flick from a corner was ruled out for interference on Basel goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.

    Porto were celebrating for an extended period following the goal but, following consultation from his officials, referee Mark Clattenburg correctly ruled that Vaclik had been impeded by both Jackson Martinez and Ivan Marcano in his attempt to save the effort.

    Julen Lopetegui's men finally got back on level terms with 11 minutes to play, however, after Walter Samuel was penalised for a handball from Danilo's cross.

    Samuel's intervention was not deliberate but it was a clear penalty, with Danilo dispatching the spot-kick into the bottom-left corner to give his side an all-important away goal.

    Porto will now be favourites to progress to the last eight when they host the second leg on March 10.

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