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Rediff.com  » Sports » Champions League: Lucky Real scrape through; Porto rout Basel

Champions League: Lucky Real scrape through; Porto rout Basel

March 11, 2015 09:15 IST
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Holders Real Madrid survived a huge scare when they lost 4-3 to Schalke 04 in the Champions League on Tuesday but squeezed into the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate thanks to record European marksman Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF leaves the pitch after losing the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match to FC Schalke 04 at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF leaves the pitch after losing the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match to FC Schalke 04 at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday. Photograph: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti did not mince his words after the Champions League holders managed to get past Schalke 04 into the quarter-finals by the skin of their teeth on Tuesday and were whistled off the pitch.

Real Madrid slumped to a stunning 3-4 home reverse to the battling Bundesliga side, who came within a goal of pulling off a remarkable upset after losing last month's first leg in Gelsenkirchen 2-0.

"There are problems across the board," the Italian told a news conference.

"In attack, in defence, in a lack of fight, motivation and concentration," he added.

"It is not good for our image and that of the club. The whistles were totally justified.

"We have to work harder and focus more. We have to have more of everything."

It was the latest poor performance from Ancelotti's expensively-assembled team, who surrendered top spot in La Liga to Barcelona when they were beaten 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao at the weekend, and their first home defeat in Europe's elite club competition since April 2011.

In recent weeks, Real have been a shadow of themselves and Ancelotti said Tuesday's showing confirmed the team were playing "very badly".

Ronaldo did score twice on Tuesday, taking his tally in European competition to a record 78 goals, but it did not mask what was a generally disappointing showing from the team.

Lopetegui hails 'fantastic' Porto after Basel rout

FC Basel's Behrang Safari (right) reacts at the end their Champions League round of 16 second leg match against Porto at Dragao stadium in Porto on Tuesday

FC Basel's Behrang Safari (right) reacts at the end their Champions League round of 16 second leg match against Porto at Dragao stadium in Porto on Tuesday. Photograph: Miguel Vidal/Reuters

Porto's four fantastic goals showed the gulf in class with their Champions League victims Basel, who were outgunned in every department in their last-16 second leg on Tuesday.

Julen Lopetegui's side were in scintillating form to beat their sorry Swiss opponents 4-0 on the night, with excellent long-range strikes, to complete a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Porto, who along with Chelsea are the only unbeaten sides still in the competition, showed they will be an unwelcome draw for the more-fancied teams left in the last eight.

"This is all about continuing to grow, not about one game but about a whole season and making sure it comes to a satisfactory end," Spanish coach Lopetegui told reporters.

"As far as the game was concerned, we showed a huge amount of ambition and also great quality from our boys. This is a very young side and to win so well in such a big game shows the quality running through our squad...

"It involved fantastic work with much ambition from the players. It is not just my work, but the tremendous work of my players."

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Source: REUTERS
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