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Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken of his delight at making a goalscoring return to the first team in Real Madrid’s 6-1 demolition of Schalke.

The nine-time European Cup winners showed why they are the favourites for this year’s competition during a devastating display in the first-leg of their last 16 tie with the Bundesliga outfit on Wednesday. Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema also grabbed two goals apiece as Los Blancos all but booked their place in the last eight.

Giving his reaction after the match, Ronaldo said he was happy to return to the side. His goals in Germany were his 10th and 11th of the Champions League campaign, moving him ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It took his tally to the season for 36 so far.

Ronaldo said: “I believe in myself and my ability and my teammates help me a lot and they give me the confidence to play at such a high level. I scored twice in the second half so I’m very happy.”

The 29-year-old also spoke of his frustration at being banned for three La Liga matches, but added he wanted to put that behind him and focus in the weekend’s Madrid derby instead.

“What happened has happened. I am frustrated by it, because what I did didn’t deserve a three game ban, but I am very happy to return and score twice. We are up for the derby, we are Real Madrid and we will give our best and try to win,” he stated.

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Plenty going on in the Madrid press today, with lots of reaction still to the 6-1 thrashing of Schalke in the Champions League.

Attention is also starting to turn to another huge game at the weekend – the Madrid derby. A Real Madrid win at the Vicente Calderon would open up a six point gap over Atletico de Madrid in La Liga, and do huge damage to Diego Simeone’s hopes of leading his team to the title in May.

Marca is sticking with the Champions League theme on its front cover this morning. In a poll amongst its readers, almost a quarter (24%) said they want Los Blancos to face Pep Guardiola’s Baynern Munich in the quarter finals. Last year’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund were second in the poll, while Olympiacos, who secured a magnificent win over Manchester United on Tuesday, were third.

AS leads with its big interview with Thibaut Courtois on the front page ahead of the city derby. The young Belgian keeper has impressed in his three years on loan at the Vicente Calderon, and there has been some talk that Los Rojiblancos’ more illustrious neighbours could make a bid should Iker Casillas or Diego Lopez leave in the summer.

But the 21-year-old played down the speculation, saying that if anyone wanted to talk to him about a transfer, the first thing they have to do is call Jose Mourinho at Chelsea – his parent club.

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Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has claimed Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata has agreed to join Premier League side Arsenal.

According to the Sky Sports journalist, the forward is happy with terms on offer from the Emirates Stadium side, and will push for a move when the transfer window opens. Ballague said the move would happen if the two clubs could agree a fee.

Taking to Twitter to report the news, Ballague wrote that Morata “push for Madrid to accept Arsenal’s offer”. In another tweet he urged his followers not to get too excited just yet, by adding the deal will happen “if – I repeat IF, I insist IF – the two clubs agree a fee”.

Spain Under-21 star Morata was heavily linked with a loan move to the Gunners in January, but the deal failed to materialise. The forward, who has scored three goals in 21 appearances for Los Blancos this season, has found himself down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabeu in recent weeks thanks to the emergence of Jese Rodriguez.

Morata is understood to be open to a move to Arsenal to play under Arsene Wenger, who has a reputation for turning young talent into world class players – such as Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Patrick Vieria in the past.

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Real Madrid is the club that has scored the most goals in the history of the Champions League. In fact, two Los Blancos’ players are among the all-time top scorers: Raul Gonzalez is the tournament’s historical better striker with 71 goals, and Cristiano Ronaldo is fifth with 59.

Some of those goals have been of special beauty or have had an special meaning. Since finding videos of matches played before the 90s is a difficult task, we have compiled the top ten Real Madrid goals in the competition since the European Cup became the UEFA Champions League in 1992. Here they are:

10. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Manchester United – 2013.
This might not be one of Ronaldo’s most difficult strikes, but the superb backheal wall pass by Mesut Ozil that started the play makes it deserve a spot among the ten best. Furthermore, it was Ronaldo’s first goal at Old Trafford since he left United, and it knocked the Red Devils out of the competition.

9. Ronaldo Nazario vs Manchester United – 2003.
The legendary Brazilian striker surely scored more beautiful goals during his stay at Real Madrid. However, he will never forget that night of April 2003 when he scored a hat-trick at Old Trafford to qualify Los Blancos for the semifinals despite loosing 4-3 against the home team. The third goal was an exquisite shot from outside the area.

8. Raul Gonzalez vs Barcelona – 2002.
The few times Real and Barca have met in the Champions League, they have delighted the world with vibrant matches. In the semifinals of 2002, after having humiliated the Azulgranas at their own stadium with a 0-2, Raul sealed the qualification for the final with this powerful strike to the top right corner.

7. Karim Benzema vs Ajax Amsterdam – 2012.
Last season, Los Merengues defeated Ajax twice in the group stage with the exact same result: 4-1. One of Madrid’s four goals in Amsterdam was this superb acrobatic shot by Benzema:

6. Roberto Carlos vs Roma – 2002.
In the 2002-03 season, Roma had one of their worst performances in the Champions League, earning only one point in the group stage. At Santiago Bernabeu, they lost 4-2. The fourth goal was one of Roberto Carlos powerful strikes from long distance.

5. Luis Figo vs Manchester United – 2003.
That hat-trick the Brazilian Ronaldo scored at Old Trafford made Los Blancos qualify for the semifinals thanks to Los Merengues 3-1 victory over United in the first leg. Figo opened the scoreboard with this delighful and classy touch.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Olympique Marseille – 2009.
In the 2009-10 season, Real lead Group C beating Milan, Marseille and Zurich. Ronaldo scored a total four goals against the French team: two at Santiago Bernabeu and another brace in Marseille. In their visit to the French city, the Portuguese scored in the fifth minute with this extraordinary free-kick shot from more than 30 metres.

3. Raul Gonzalez vs Anderlecht – 2002.
The legendary number 7 scored many of his classic tip-shot goals in the Champions League. Perhaps the most beautiful and most meaningful was this one against Anderlecht in the group stage. Madrid won 4-0 and the eternal captain scored Real’s 700th goal in the competition with this impressive tip.

2. Raul Gonzalez vs Manchester United – 2000
Los Merengues conquered Old Trafford in the quarterfinals of the 1999-2000 season after having drawn without goals at Santiago Bernabeu. Raul scored one of Real Madrid’s most remembered goals ever, although very few fans actually know it was him who netted it. What sticks in the fans memory is Fernando Redondo’s superb backheel dribbling and his brilliant play that allowed Raul easily score from inside the area.

1. Zinedine Zidane vs Bayer Leverkusen – 2002
Real Madrid won their ninth Champions League in a vibrant season, in which they scored some of the best goals of their history. However, no one is stuck in the fans’ minds as deeply as Zidane’s magnificent volley in the final against Leverkusen. The goal that gave Los Blancos the title is often reffered to as the best in the Frenchman’s career and one of the best in the history of the tournament.

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Schalke centre back Benedikt Howedes has said Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo showed just why he is considered by many to be the best footballer on the planet during his virtuoso display in the Champions League.

On his return to the team following suspension in La Liga, the 29-year-old grabbed two goals in an emphatic 6-1 win. It was Los Blancos’ second ever win in Germany in  26 attempts, and all but guarantees them a place in the last eight of the competition.

Ronaldo, who is now the leading scorer in the tournament with 11 goals in six games, had a  hand in two of Madrid’s other goals. Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema also scored twice as Carlo Ancelotti’s men sent out a warning to the rest of Europe.

Speaking after a torrid evening on the pitch, Howedes said Ronaldo proved why he won the Ballon d’Or. “Ronaldo was everywhere. He proved that he is the best player in the world. He not only scored goals, but he put in an incredible performance overall,” he stated.

He admitted it was a frustrating evening, and despite the fact Schalke are all but eliminated, he assured fans that the team would go to the Santiago Bernabeu and exit the competition with the heads held high.

“We simply didn’t have enough quality to compete against a team like Real Madrid, who were a class above us this evening,” he said.

And he continued: “Obviously it’s an unfortunate experience. We were brave going forward, but after their lead, Real waited for us to make mistakes and then punished them clinically. We will try our best in the Bernabeu and try to exit with our heads held high.”

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Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has said the club only has one aim this season in the Champions League – to win it.

Speaking to the press after the demolition of Schalke in the first leg of their last-16 tie, Bale said everyone in the squad is focused on lifting the trophy with the big ears in May, ensuring the club’s 10th European Cup.

The 24-year-old Welshman netted twice in the 6-1 win, his 13th and 14th goals of a very productive season since his arrival in the Spanish capital. Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a brace on his return to the side, while the third player in the iconic BBC trio, Karim Benzema also found the back of the net twice.

Klaas Han Huntelaar scored a sensational goal for the hosts, but it was scant consolation as the Bundesliga side face elimination from the tournament, even with the second leg to come in Madrid in three weeks.

Talking to Sky after the final whistle, Bale said: “It was a great performance. We were fully prepared and ready for this match. It is a great result.
It is a team game and we work very hard for each other on the pitch. I think this is a key for this team to have improved this year.”

“We are in it to win it. We want to win every competition we play. We know it is not going to be easy, because there are many great teams fighting for it. But we will give it a try,” he added.

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AC Milan will need to coffer up Riccardo Montolivo if they want to see Casemiro pull on the red and black jersey.

The Italian international has become one of the Rossoneri’s best players since arriving from Fiorentina in 2012 and has already been named club captain.

According to Fichajes.net the only chance Milan have of snaring Real Madrid’s highly-rated youngster Casemiro is if Montolivo is included in the deal.

The 22 year-old Brazilian was signed from Sao Paulo in 2013 but a lack of playing time could see the midfielder leave in the coming months.

AC Milan are eager to start a new cycle at the San Siro and Casemiro could become a fantastic deputy to Nigel de Jong.

Montolivo would add a great deal of depth to Real Madrid’s midfield juggernaut and potentially give them some competition for Xabi Alonso.

However any move for the 29 year-old looks unlikely at this stage as neither side seem willing to let their players leave in the first place.

Casemiro has made a total of 16 appearances for Real Madrid so far, a stark contrast to the 50 matches he appeared in for Sao Paulo over the course of a single season.

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

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Real Madrid put in perhaps their most devastating performance of the season last night as they thrashed Schalke 6-1 book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League barring a miracle for the Bundesliga side in three weeks time.

Unsurprisingly, the Madrid press has plenty of coverage of the match, and there is much focus in the BBC trio of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano, who all scored two goals each. Barbaric, Bestial, Colosal, screams Marca’s front page.

The six goals last night mean the three have scored 70 goals between them this season – 36 for Ronaldo, 20 for Benzema, and 14 for Bale, who is enjoying a very productive first season at the Santiago Bernabeu since his move from Tottenham Hotspur last summer. Ronaldo’s double also sees him overtake Zlatan Ibrahimovic to become the competition’s leading scorer this year, with 11 goals in six games.

AS also looks at the performance of Iker Casillas, who made a stunning stop from Julian Draxler when the score was still 1-0. The World-Cup winner was finally beaten though and conceded his first goal since November 27. Former Real Madrid forward, Klaas Jan Huntelaar rifled in an unstoppable effort at the end of the game, meaning Iker Casillas’ record for not conceding stands at 952 minutes.

 

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Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo -the so called BBC- scored two goals each as Real Madrid booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with an emphatic 1-6 victory against Schalke 04.

Los Blancos improved their woeful record on German soil, where they had only won once in 25 matches. The hosts were clearly inferior and they will travel to Madrid for the second leg knowing that qualifying for the next round is almost impossible.

It quickly became clear that Schalke were facing an uphill struggle. Cristiano Ronaldo sent a backheel pass for Bale, but the ball deflected off a defender and arrived to Benzema, who made no mistake from inside the area.

The Germans could have changed the game in the next minute Julian Draxler met a cross inside the box, but Iker Casillas made a brilliant save and Max Meyer sent the follow-up above the bar.

Benzema had one of the best performances of the season. In the 20th minute, he made a great effort to steal the ball from Felipe Santana and hand it to Bale. The Welshman scored another superb goal –he netted one of the best goals of the season last weekend against Elche– after dribbling past two defenders and curling one to the bottom corner.

Los Merengues were in total control and they could have scored three or four goals more before half time. Angel di Maria was denied a clear chance as the offside flag went up, Ronaldo smashed the post with a powerful shot and Benzema sent an effort inches wide of the crossbar.

Ronaldo scored his 10th goal in six Champions League games this season, driving past Joel Matip in a stunning play and flashing an effort into the far corner.

Things got embarrassing for Schalke as the Portuguese sent a brilliant pass for Benzema and the Frenchman rounded the goalkeeper to make it 0-4.

The hosts were completely demolished and Bale scored the fifth for Los Merengues curling a strike into the bottom corner after picking up a pass from Sergio Ramos.

The defeat could have been even more humiliating for Schalke, but goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann made a few good saves before scored his 11th Champions League goal of the season with only one minute to go.

Former Real Madrid striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar ended Iker Casillas record of minutes without conceding a goal in stoppage time. The Dutch scored the best goal of the night, and probably the best so far in the tournament, rattling a wonderful volley into the top corner from outside the box.

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Schalke 04 Real Madrid match preview

Attention switches to the Champions League tonight, with Real Madrid visiting Schalke in the first-leg of their last-16 encounter.

Real head into the match on a 26-game unbeaten run, and welcome the return of star man Cristiano Ronaldo, who has sat out the last three La Liga fixtures through suspension. The Portugal captain has scored nine goals in just five Champions League group games so far this campaign and looking to overtake Zlatan Ibrahimovich as this season’s top scorer.

If that wasn’t enough for the Schalke defence to think about, they will have to contend with Gareth Bale too, who Carlos Ancelotti has said will start over Jese Rodriguez. It means the BBC trio (Bale, Benzema and Cristiano) is together again for the first time in a month.

It won’t all be plain sailing for Los Blancos though – they have a terrible record in Germany – just one win in 25 in all visits to the country. And Schalke possess some dangerous players in their midst. Although they have come unstuck against the bigger teams this season, losing twice to Chelsea in the group stage, and suffering defeats to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in their domestic league, they did beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in last season’s Champions League.

Julian Draxler has recovered from a hip injury and should take his place in the staring line-up, while Los Blancos will be facing a familiar face in Klaas-jan Huntelaar, who spent six months in the Spanish capital.

Probable Line-ups:

Schalke 04 (4-2-3-1): Fährmann; Kolasinac, Höwedes, Matip, Hoogland; Neustädter,  Boateng; Draxler, Meyer, Farfan; Huntelaar

Real Madrid (4-3-3): Casillas; Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe, Arbeloa; Di Maria, Alonso,  Modric; Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale

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