News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 12 years ago
Rediff.com  » Sports » Champions League: Schalke, Real on goal-spree

Champions League: Schalke, Real on goal-spree

April 06, 2011 07:09 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Schalke 04 were the unlikely trailblazers on a night of 11 Champions League goals when they thumped Inter Milan 5-2 to become the first team ever to score five in one match against the reigning European Cup holders.

In the night's other high-scoring game Real Madrid beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 at the Bernabeu stadium to inflict Spurs' record defeat in European competition and leave the first two quarter-finals virtually over before next week's second legs.

Spurs faced an almost impossible task for most of the match after striker Peter Crouch was sent off in the 15th minute.

The result left Real coach Jose Mourinho already looking towards a possible semi-final against arch-rivals Barcelona, who host Shakhtar Donetsk in their first leg on Wednesday.

"If we have to play against Barcelona we have to train well with 10 men because every time I go there, it's the same story," he told Sky Sports.

With Schalke and Real all but through, Tottenham and Inter must stage incredible comebacks to make the last four after both finished with 10 men and were punished for defensive lapses.

Inter will travel to Germany next week knowing they have almost certainly lost the crown they won under Mourinho while Spurs have a mountain to climb at White Hart Lane.

The game at the San Siro was the second in the Champions League to produce seven goals this season after Inter beat Spurs 4-3 there in the group stage.

STUNNING WIN

This time though Schalke, who have had a mediocre season in the Bundesliga and replaced coach Felix Magath with Ralf Rangnick three weeks ago, recovered from conceding a first minute goal to Inter and stormed back for a stunning win.

The Italians went ahead in the first minute when Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer ran out to head clear and Dejan Stankovic calmly volleyed it into the net from just inside Inter's half.

Joel Matip equalised and, although Diego Milito briefly restored Inter's lead, two goals from Edu, one from Raul and an Andrea Ranocchia own goal put Schalke in control of the tie.

Inter's night got worse when defender Cristian Chivu was sent off for his second yellow card just past the hour mark.

Trouble started for Spurs before kickoff when winger Aaron Lennon was taken ill after the teams left their dressing rooms.

The London side quickly found themselves a goal down to an Emmanuel Adebayor header after four minutes and a man down after Crouch's dismissal for a second yellow card 11 minutes later.

Adebayor, who made a habit of scoring against Spurs when he played for their arch-rivals Arsenal, doubled Real's lead with a second header before Angel Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo completed the rout in the closing stages.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024