RONALDO SEETHES AFTER SCHALKE LOSS
Star beats Raul record Porto still unbeaten in Champions League
MADRID – Two-goal hero Cristiano Ronaldo may have become the record scorer in European competition on Tuesday, but the Real Madrid forward was left seething by another poor performance from the stuttering European champions.
Television cameras captured a grim-looking Ronaldo shaking his head and apparently mouthing “disgrace” to Karim Benzema shortly before the end of Real’s 4-3 defeat to Schalke 04 at the Bernabeu, the holders squeaking through to the quarterfinals 5-4 on aggregate. PORTUGAL – Porto remained unbeaten in the Champions League this season and qualified for the quarterfinals for the first time since 2009 as they defeated Swiss side Basel 5-1 on aggregate on Tuesday.
Goals from Yacine Brahimi, Hector Herrera, Casemiro and Vincent Aboubakar combined for a 4-0 win at the Estadio do Dragao, and continued Basel’s
Ronaldo’s two first-half headers had helped keep hopes of a record-extending 11th European crown alive and took his tally in European competition to a record 78 goals – surpassing Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (76) and former Real striker Raul (77).
However, they were one of the few bright spots in a generally weak showing that came hard on the heels of the 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao at the weekend that cost Real top poor form in Portugal as their coach Paulo Sousa endured a miserable return to his homeland.
The first leg had finished 1-1 three weeks ago in Switzerland.
Porto coach Julen Lopetegui said he was both happy and proud at his side’s passage into the last eight.
“You have to applaud the spot in La Liga.
The reverse to Schalke was their first home defeat in the Champions League in 22 matches since April 2011, and the players were whistled off the pitch by the angry home fans, many of whom waved white handkerchiefs in the traditional sign of discontent.
Ronaldo gruffly announced to reporters he was not going to speak to the media again until the end of the season – leaving captain and goalkeeper entire team for this fantastic performance against a very difficult opponent who came here determined to qualify,” said Lopetegui.
The Swiss champions have yet to win on six trips to Portugal while Sousa, a former Benfica and Sporting Lisbon midfielder, saw his side fail again in their bid to reach the quarters for the first time. Iker Casillas to try to explain the team’s recent slump.
“The team has again failed to reach the level of recent months but what’s important is that we realise that,” the Spain international said.
“We have to understand the Madrid fans and today we weren ’ t up to the standards of Real Madrid and the Champions League last 16.
“We were made to sweat too much, but what we have to do is be more united than ever.”
Real have little time to set things right with a trip to Barca for the La Liga “Clasico” on March 22.
Herrera, who scored the third goal, added: “We showed a lot of confidence right from the start of the match and we were determined and conscious of what we had to do.
“I think that the result shows that the team played very well, but that’s the Champions League ... you can’t be distracted because any team can hurt you.”