Schalke break upfield quickly, before Choupo-Moting floats inside from the left flank. He tries his luck, but doesn't get clean connection with the ball.
90'
There are three minutes of stoppage time.
89'
Only a few minutes are left for Real Madrid to see out, with Casillas being much the busier of the two goalkeepers. Schalke appear fairly happy to head to the Bernabeu with a two-goal deficit.
87'
Schalke are attempting to push forward, but Aogo and Uchida remain in rather reserved positions. When Di Matteo's men have been out of possession, they've been incredibly negative. Real Madrid have been able to play out from the back with consummate ease.
85'
Illarramendi enters the game and replaces Isco.
Only five minutes are left on the clock, with Real Madrid coasting to a comfortable result here tonight. Isco is replaced by Illarramendi, with Ancelotti looking to keep things tight for the dying embers of the game.
83'
Due to his earlier knock, Carvajal is removed from the field of play, with Arbeloa having the last seven minutes to impress. Meyer clips a low ball into the box, in search of Choupo-Moting, but Real Madrid clear their lines with ease.
82'
Arbeloa enters the game and replaces Dani Carvajal.
81'
We're into the last ten minutes in Gelsenkirchen, with Meyer thrown into the fray for the dying stages. The substitute's first involvement is to be fed in behind, but he's caught offside easily. Moments later, Wellenreuther comes off his line brilliantly to deny Cristiano.
80'
M. Meyer enters the game and replaces M. Höger.
79'
Marcelo has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Cristiano Ronaldo.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! WHAT A STRIKE FROM MARCELO! The Brazil international takes a touch on the edge of the box, before hammering a strike into the top right-hand corner with his weaker foot! Without the net, that effort would still be rising! Unbelievable hit!
Minute
Description
78'
J. Hernández enters the game and replaces K. Benzema.
OFFSIDE! Benzema is slipped in behind the Schalke back three, but the Frenchman is caught some way the wrong side of his man. Ancelotti opts to make a change during the stoppage in play, with Chicharito taking to the field.
76'
Hoger breaks down the right-hand side, before he is baiting into a foul by Marcelo. Tensions are rising slightly inside the Veltins-Arena, with the home fans getting behind their side nervously. Not long remains for the hosts, who need a goal to put some gloss on this result.
74'
CROSSBAR! What a chance! Benzema wins a free kick, around 25 yards from goal, despite not much contact from his marker. Cristiano stands over the dead ball, before hoofing it into the wall disappointingly. Schalke break as a result, with Platte striking the bar, before Uchida tucks the rebound into Casillas' grasp.
72'
Just over from Isco! The former Malaga man unleashes a thunderbolt from 20 yards, after a wonderful flick from Bale! It dips just over the crossbar with Wellenreuther at the ball's mercy!
71'
Real Madrid have less than 20 minutes to hold onto a valuable Champions League result, with a clean sheet as good as it gets for Ancelotti's men. With things going well, the visitors haven't had to dip into the substitutes as of yet.
69'
Real Madrid appear to be quite happy with merely one away goal, given that their form at the Santiago Bernabeu has been impressive over the campaign thus far. Casillas is tested slightly by a long-range drive, but the veteran goalkeeper is able to pat down the ball with consummate ease.
67'
Side netting for Schalke! Hoger manages to break to the byline after good work from Choupo-Moting, but the midfielder can only slide in and direct the ball wide of the target! That was a huge opportunity for Die Konigsblauen. Moments later, Wellenreuther does well to claim a Cristiano cross.
65'
After a couple of minutes of treatment, Carvajal limps from the field. He will presumably want to continue, but Ancelotti has both Arbeloa and Nacho among his substitutes.
63'
J. Kirchhoff gets yellow.
Kirchoff picks up a yellow card for an awful tackle on Carvajal, leaving the former Leverkusen right-back in a heap on the floor and requiring treatment. Di Matteo is off his bench and asking for more from his players.
61'
Uchida whips in a cross, which is easily cleared. Real Madrid break, with Bale driving through the heart of the hosts' defence, but the Welshman's eventual pass out wide is too far behind Cristiano.
59'
Real Madrid are easily able to keep the ball in their own half, with the two Schalke forwards having little luck chasing lost causes. The hosts' back five is solid, but there aren't many options going forward as an immediate result.
57'
J. Kirchhoff enters the game and replaces R. Neustädter.
Neustadter is replaced by Kirchoff for the home side, with the former Bayern midfielder taking to the field due to an earlier yellow card for his teammate. With just over half an hour left to play, Schalke need to buck their ideas up.
55'
Di Matteo's bench is a hive of activity, with the Schalke coach perhaps thinking of changing things up somewhat. Wellenreuther is forced into action once again, claiming a cross with ease. Los Blancos are continuing to look more dangerous going forward.
53'
Cristiano and Benzema almost manage to combine on the edge of the penalty area, before Nastasic intervenes to put the ball behind. Real Madrid win a corner, but Kroos' delivery is claimed well by Wellenreuther.
52'
Platte is robbed of possession at the vital moment! Schalke get some joy down the left flank once again, before the young substitute is found and takes a first touch and shapes to shoot! Varane intercepts well.
50'
Cristiano tries to slide a pass in behind for Bale to chase, but a timely interception is made on the edge of the Schalke penalty area. The hosts break, with Aogo whipping in a cross from the left, but Casillas claims with ease.
48'
Kroos drives from deep, before flicking a pass infield to Benzema. The Frenchman takes a touch, but fails to get a shot away. Real Madrid are on the offensive from the very start.
46'
We are back underway in the second half at the Veltins-Arena! Real Madrid have a 1-0 lead given to them by Cristiano Ronaldo, with Die Konigsblauen needing to limit the amount of away goals registered by Ancelotti's men this evening.
45' +2
R. Neustädter gets yellow.
Neustadter picks up a yellow card very late in the half, with Cristiano deciding to shoot from the resulting 40-yard free kick. It bobbles ten yards wide of the left-hand post.
45'
Cristiano works his way down the right, before whipping in a cross, but Matip makes a timely clearance in front of his own net. Kroos then musters up a shot from range, but curls the ball high and wide of the target.
43'
Another long ball is pumping forward in search of Benzema, but Wellenreuther is quick off his line to collect possession. Schalke then break forward, but Choupo-Moting is tackled on the edge of the penalty area.
41'
Bale and Cristiano combine down the right flank, with the former beating two players before whipping in a near-post cross! Despite Matip appearing to clear the ball behind for a corner, the linesman points for a goal kick.
39'
Unlucky for Cristiano! The Portuguese goalscorer races down the right-hand side after a good ball forward from Kroos, but Wellenreuther rushes out brilliantly to deny the former Sporting Lisbon striker! The Schalke goalkeeper is enjoying his first half here.
37'
Real Madrid look to be in control of this contest, with Schalke's back five limiting what effect their midfield can have on proceedings. Before long, Di Matteo might just have to pump some additional ideas into the middle and final third.
35'
Great save from Wellenreuther! The goalkeeper springs to his left brilliantly, pushing the ball away from the top right-hand corner to deny Cristiano! The rebound is whipped back into the box, but Matip hacks away a scrappy clearance.
34'
K. Boateng gets yellow.
33'
F. Platte enters the game and replaces K. Huntelaar.
Felix Platte takes to the field for the home side, with the young striker having rather large boots to fill. Huntelaar looks very aggrieved as he leaves the field, with the former Ajax striker's injury record well documented. Real Madrid earn themselves a free kick on the edge of the box, with Boateng booked for his part in a collision with Cristiano.
31'
Kroos plays a great ball through to Benzema, with the Frenchman cracking an effort towards goal that Wellenreuther is just about able to deal with. The Schalke goalkeeper scrambles back to pounce upon the rebound.
30'
Half an hour on the clock and Meyer is already warming up on the sideline for Huntelaar. The Netherlands international appears to have pulled up slightly, which might signal a slight change in formation for the hosts.
28'
Di Matteo might just have to tinker with his gameplan ever so slightly, given that Schalke now have to close an early deficit. Carvajal breaks down the right once again, with the right-back causing all kinds of problems.
26'
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Dani Carvajal.
GOOOOOOOOOOAL! CRISTIANO GIVES THE AWAY SIDE THE LEAD! The Portuguese forward is able to flick a header over the onrushing goalkeeper, after a wonderful left-footed delivery from Carvajal. Real Madrid have a valuable away goal!
25'
Good strike from Huntelaar! The Dutch striker fires a low drive towards the bottom right corner, but Casillas gets down smartly to his left to parry the ball to safety.
24'
Cristiano cuts in from the left-hand side, before unleashing a terrible effort some way before the far post. The Portugal international hasn't had a great impact on proceedings thus far.
22'
This has been a very cagey start to proceedings, with Schalke quite clearly unwilling to concede first. Should los Blancos manage to earn themselves some away goals, it would stand Der Konigsblauen in poor stead for the return leg.
20'
Di Matteo's system is working so far, with Real Madrid being limited to a few hopeful long shots and big switches out wide. In doing so, however, Schalke are limiting their offensive potency quite extremely. Aogo is picked out in space on the edge of the box, but the left wing-back blasts high and wide.
18'
Los Blancos break down the right-hand side, before Lucas Silva unleashes an effort from around 25 yards out. The former Cruzeiro man can only fire some way wide of the bottom left-hand corner.
16'
Aogo and Boateng combine well, with the former playing a wonderful backheeled flick around the corner to his teammate. Schalke's wing-backs are getting a little bit braver, pushing upfield somewhat to provide their team with some width while they have possession.
14'
The resulting free kick is thumped into the wall awfully, with Pepe managing to head clear. The home fans and players alike claim for handball, but they haven't really got a case. Real Madrid are seeing more possession, but haven't managed to carve out any clear-cut chances.
13'
Choupo-Moting forays down the left-hand side, but is robbed of possession very quickly, as Der Konigsblauen struggle to retain the ball in the opposition half. Schalke do manage to win a free-kick just under 30 metres from goal, however.
11'
Hoger works his way down the right-hand side, before swinging in a cross that was too close to the goalkeeper. Casillas claims easily at the near post. Los Blancos break as a result, with Benzema working his way to the left byline, but the former Lyon man runs the ball straight out of play.
9'
T. Kroos gets yellow.
Schalke have plenty of men spare at the centre of their defence, with Benzema and Cristiano readily swapping positions. Kroos picks up an early yellow card, for cynically blocking off Howedes. Despite his complaints, the referee cautions the Germany international.
7'
Bale whips in a dangerous ball from the right-hand side, but Nastasic is able to scramble a clearance away. Real Madrid continue to see all of the early possession, with switches being dealt with aerially by Schalke, for the most part.
5'
Benzema is found with a quick ball over the top from Marcelo, but the Frenchman was caught easily offside by a fairly high line from Der Konigsblauen. Neither Huntelaar nor Choupo-Moting have had a touch of possession as of yet.
3'
The away side look to build from the back from the very start, with Schalke happy to drop right back. As it stands, Cristano and Bale are being marked by Schalke's wing-backs, with Benzema having three men to contend with centrally.
1'
We are underway in the first half at the Veltins-Arena! Schalke are in their royal blue, while Real Madrid don their rather shocking pink away number.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Real Madrid's visit to Gelsenkirchen, as Roberto Di Matteo's side look to upset the apple cart in Champions League action. Los Blancos will still have their 4-0 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the back of their minds, with Carlo Ancelotti's men gunning for away goals. Schalke certainly have a task on their hands tonight, as their face the tournament's holders.
I'm Simon Harrison and I will be keeping you up to date with all of the action from the Veltins-Arena, as the hosts attempt to earn themselves a valuable share of the spoils. Di Matteo appears to be tinkering with his system this evening, with a three-at-the-back formation looking to be on the cards for Die Konigsblauen. They will need to put on quite a show to repel Real Madrid's star-studded forward line.
TEAM NEWS: Dennis Aogo and Atsuto Uchida look to be set to ply their trade at wing-back for the evening. Winter signing Matija Nastasic starts at the heart of the back three, with Benedikt Howedes and Joel Matip flanking the Serbian international. Roman Neustadter and Marco Hoger will hope to allow Kevin-Prince Boateng the opportunity to act creatively in midfield. Eric Choupo-Moting and Klaas Jan Huntelaar lead the line for the hosts.
TEAM NEWS: Pepe returns to first-team action for the away side, with the Portuguese international partnering Raphael Varane in defence. Lucas Silva debuts in the centre of midfield for los Blancos, with Isco providing offensive drive alongside Toni Kroos. Asier Illarramendi is dropped to the bench as a result, with James Rodriguez sidelined through injury. Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are the notable forward trio for the visitors. Sergio Ramos is another injury absentee.
Real Madrid starting line-up (4-3-3): Casillas; Carvajal, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo; Lucas Silva, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Cristiano.
Real Madrid substitutes: Navas, Hernandez, Arbeloa, Nacho, Jese, Illarramendi, Alvaro Medran.
The two teams take to the field, with plenty of blue and white on show inside the stadium! There's choreography depicting Raul, a club legend for both Real Madrid and Schalke, but that might be the only thing the two sets of fans will agree on over the course of the evening! After the Champions League anthem, we will be ready to get underway.
HALF TIME! Real Madrid head into the break with a 1-0 lead over Schalke, with a header from Cristiano breaking the deadlock. Di Matteo's men have been fairly solid at the back, with Wellenreuther playing well in between the posts for Die Konigsblauen, but are lacking any kind of offensive ideas.
FULL TIME! Real Madrid enjoy a professional 2-0 win in Gelsenkirchen, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo grabbing the all-important goals for Ancelotti's men. That's half the job done for los Blancos, with Di Matteo having plenty to think about ahead of the return fixture. That's all we have time for, I've been Simon Harrison and I hope to see you again next time.
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