beIN SPORTS

By Phil Kitromilides ( @PhilKitro )

Scoring six goals in Germany is as common as a mother of sextuplets winning the lottery. If last season's 6-1 thrashing of Schalke at Veltins Arena was a freak result, then Wednesday's 2-0 victory over the side from the Ruhr Valley was a less eye catching but equally important success for Real Madrid.

Prior to kick off there had been whispers of a potential upset given Madrid's sluggish start to the year and the traditional difficulties they had suffered when playing on a German soil over the last three decades and when Schalke began the game relatively well in terms of nullifying Los Blancos' attacking play, the creeping sensation that it might be a frustrating evening for the holders began to grow. 

And then Cristiano Ronaldo appeared.

The World Player of the Year ended his mini goal drought with a fine header from an even better Dani Carvajal cross and from the minute the ball hit the back of the net Schalke seemed to crumble as an opponent. It did not help the hosts that striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar had to be replaced early on after picking up an injury and with the Dutchman off the pitch Schalke barely threatened. 

As a contest it was pretty uninspiring and the game will not live long in the minds of neutrals, yet for Real Madrid it turned into a hugely encouraging evening. Cristiano Ronaldo ended talk of a dip in form with a goal, an assist and a display of constant involvement. "Cristiano was born to score goals," ventured Carlo Ancelotti after the game and the forward duly exercised his birthright for the 58th time in a Real Madrid shirt in the Champions League.

Lucas Silva started his first game for the European champions and acquitted himself admirably, playing with what his manager deemed "personality" and showing a dynamism which will no doubt benefit the Madrid midfield.

Pepe returned from injury and was a towering presence in defense winning aerial duels and crunching challenges as if he had never been away. Most fundamental of all was the result itself, which seems to have been overshadowed a little given the margin of victory in last year's meeting.

To go away from home in Europe and keep a clean sheet is an excellent achievement. Add to that an away goal, and things look even better. Score two away goals without conceding and you have had an extremely good day at the office. 

Madrid did not sparkle in Gelschenkirchen like they did last year but they were never likely to. The merit in overcoming tough tacking Teutonic opponents in their own backyard should however not be forgotten and the result achieved at Schalke means players and fans alike can now look forward to the second leg at the Bernabeu next month with genuine confidence of making the quarter finals.