Ronaldo 'goal drought' ends as Real punish Schalke
After three games without a goal Ronaldo was not himself – but he banished all doubts last night
Schalke 0 Real Madrid 2. Cristiano Ronaldo is back. That was the message from Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti after watching his star striker find the net in the 2-0 defeat of Schalke in the Last 16 Champions League clash.
Ronaldo had been without a goal in three games – a veritable famine for a player who recently scooped the Fifa Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season – and one or two voices were beginning to wonder if all was not well with the Portuguese ace.
It took Ronaldo just 26 minutes to silence the doubters as he out-jumped Schalke keeper Timon Wellenreuther to head home Dani Carvajal's cross.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It was goal number 58 in 58 Champions League appearances for Ronaldo, an extraordinary tally and one that put the holders on course for their tenth straight win in the Champions League (equalling Bayern Munich's record, set in 2013).
Wellenreuther prevented Ronaldo scoring a second with an athletic save from a dipping free-kick and Schalke's task was made all the more difficult when they lost striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to injury at the end of the first-half.
The Germans should have equalised when Felix Platte hit the woodwork with the goal at his mercy, and their profligacy was punished ten minutes from time when Real made it 2-0. This time Ronaldo was the creator and Marcelo the finisher with the Brazilian full-back slamming the ball into the top corner of the Schalke net.
It is clear that Cristiano Ronaldo lives to score goals," declared Ancelotti at the end of a match that all but guarantees Real passage into the last eight. "He scored, he played well and gave an assist. It's not a problem for us if he doesn't score for a game or two but it's obvious that the goal did him good…Cristiano is back."
The win means Real remain the only side with a 100 per cent record in this season's Champions League and Ancelotti expressed his satisfaction with the result without getting carried away.
"My team put in a good performance," he reflected. "Our attitude was good as well. The intensity of this match was not very high, it was more a game of patience. We were waiting for our chances and, overall, were able to control things quite well."
In the evening's other Champions League tie, Danilo equalised from the penalty spot for Porto as they drew 1-1 in Basel. The Swiss side had taken the lead through Gonzalez on 11 minutes but in a bad-tempered game that saw nine players booked, the visitors came away with a share of the spoils thanks to the late penalty.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
The 'Swiss model' shaking up the Champions League
In The Spotlight Uefa says the new format offers 'greater excitement' but critics say boredom is guaranteed
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The European Super League: a 90th-minute reprieve?
Why everyone's talking about A European court ruling has potentially breathed new life into the breakaway football league
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League final: Man City vs. Inter predictions and preview
feature Can Guardiola’s team finally win the Champions League and complete a historic treble?
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Where will Cristiano Ronaldo go next?
feature Portugal captain has been linked with a mega-money move to Saudi Arabia
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Reactions to Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘explosive’ interview with Piers Morgan
feature Portugal captain feels ‘betrayed’ by Man Utd and believes he’s being forced out of the club
By Mike Starling Published
-
What next for Cristiano Ronaldo? How the relationship with Man Utd turned sour
Under the Radar Portugal star has ‘almost certainly’ played his last game for United as he is dropped for Chelsea clash
By Mike Starling Published
-
Uefa Champions League 2022-2023 guide: group stage draw and key dates
feature Liverpool face Rangers while Man City’s Erling Haaland has a reunion with Dortmund
By Mike Starling Published