How Twitter Reacted to Schalke's Crazy Champions League Win over Real Madrid

Real Madrid might be suffering from stuttering domestic form at present—they lost at Athletic Club on Saturday and struggled to a stalemate with Villarreal the week before, thus giving up their place at the top of the table—but the reigning European champions were certainly in the driving seat prior to their round-of-16 second-leg clash with Schalke on Tuesday.

Not only did Los Blancos have the lead from a very comfortable 2-0 win in Gelsenkirchen in the first leg, but they boasted an 11-2 aggregate score over Schalke from their past three ties, thanks to the punishment they handed out in last season's round of 16.

Yet a beleaguered Los Blancos side found themselves on the cusp of being eliminated from the competition during a seven-goal thriller that favoured the hosts. 

Despite being the underdogs in the matchup—and despite troubles in Madrid on Monday evening—Schalke's fans were in positive spirits for their trip to the Bernabeu...

"

Schalke fans in Madrid. 10.03.2015 pic.twitter.com/k0ujSEx085

— Shark (@WSH1906) March 10, 2015"

"

Schalke fans in good spirits at the Bernabeu. Props! #RMAS04 #UCL http://t.co/SEk4fsBron

— M.A.J (@UltraSuristic) March 10, 2015"

La Real's talisman Cristiano Ronaldo was clearly in a good mood prior to kick-off too... 

Die Konigsblauen's 4,000-strong army of supporters in the stadium were in full voice in the early stages as their team got off to a positive attacking start. Gareth Bale, however, started off quietly, choosing to pass on occasions where he would have shot previously and showing a general lack of confidence...

"

State of Bale at the moment, feel for him tbh, over thinking and worrying too much, not playing freely at all

— David (@Jagsy10) March 10, 2015"

"

Bale has a chance to shoot from the outside of the area but chooses to pass . Is the criticism getting to him?

— Football Tips (@footballtips) March 10, 2015"

There was plenty of banter surrounding the Welshman's haircut, too...

"

I'd only take Bale back if he got a haircut

— Nabil (@Hotspurred) March 10, 2015"

In the 20th minute, conversation was very quickly turned away from the coiffure of the world's most expensive player to Christian Fuchs, who was gifted acres of space in the Real Madrid area to give the visitors a shock lead...

"

GOAL FUCHS! Real Madrid 0-1 Schalke pic.twitter.com/gXth4ChIlB

— Football Live Goals (@FootyLiveVines) March 10, 2015"

Most of the reaction was based around his name sounding a bit sweary...

The hopes of the Germans and the intense whistling of the home side, however, were short-lived. Five minutes later, Ronaldo found the back of the net with one of his trademark headers to make the aggregate score 3-1...

"

Ronaldo doing what Ronaldo does. #UCL pic.twitter.com/WMtgcECjkg

— World Soccer Shop (@worldsoccershop) March 10, 2015"

The goal was also a record-breaker...

"

RECORD: Cristiano Ronaldo (77) is now the player with most European goals. pic.twitter.com/fnlHZMszdH

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@RonaIdoStats) March 10, 2015"

Five minutes before half-time, the Germans took the lead once again when Max Meyer's shot was parried into the path of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar...

"

20 - Real Madrid have just offered 20 million Euros for this Schalke striker they've never heard of. Huntelaar.

— OptaJoke (@OptaJoke) March 10, 2015"

A few minutes before the referee blew for the half, the end-to-end thriller gifted us another goal. Ronaldo delivered yet another world-class header...

"

VINE: O vôo de Cristiano Ronaldo para empatar o jogo. http://t.co/LuQaM2DAOz

— Papo Europeu (@papoeuropeu) March 10, 2015"

"

Some say Ronaldo is still flying and scoring headers.

— Troll Football (@Troll__Football) March 10, 2015"

"

Ronaldo's anticipation on crosses....

— Ryan Babel (@Ryanbabel) March 10, 2015"

At half-time, much of the chatter on Twitter concerned La Real's disappointing performance...

"

Madrid's defending is poor

— Tyler Brampton (@Brampton_Tyler) March 10, 2015"

"

2 poor goals for Shalke to concede, should be well ahead, Madrid are poor!

— Jed Morris (@morris_jed) March 10, 2015"

Max Meyer was also trending after an excellent first 45...

Iker Casillas was also trending but for the opposite reason...

"

Casillas is all over the place... pic.twitter.com/ZYRjF0QAGf

— Troll Football (@Troll__Football) March 10, 2015"

"

Jose Mourinho watching Casillas awful performance like... https://t.co/baVYadCAFr

— ChelseaTalk (@TheBlues_Talk) March 10, 2015"

"

Is Casillas better than Cech and Courtois? Me: pic.twitter.com/H9TwP3FG8R

— Nathan (@Costawrap) March 10, 2015"

Seven minutes into the second half, Karim Benzema put Real Madrid ahead for the first time in the match when he made a neat run in front of Schalke's back line to slot home...

Five minutes after Madrid appeared to have put the tie to bed, Schalke scored goal No. 6 of the evening. The equaliser was a beautiful finish from 19-year-old Leroy Sane...

"

Sane witha stunner! 3-3... https://t.co/saPPGv1trc

— Troll Football (@Troll__Football) March 10, 2015"

"

La defensa del Madrid en el gol de Sane pic.twitter.com/pAv9jaVLvu

— Ale Padín (@alepadin) March 10, 2015"

Los Blancos were really made to sweat in the 84th minute when Huntelaar was able to get past the defence and slot home a fantastic strike. Just one more goal would have put the Germans in the quarter-finals...

"

GOAL!! Huntelaar scores his 2nd tonight. GAME ON!! Real Madrid 3-4 Schalke https://t.co/QQFyU7BWfk

— Footy Vines (@FutbollVines) March 10, 2015"

Despite a few threats from the Germans, Real Madrid managed to hang on throughout three minutes of injury time for a 5-4 aggregate win. The holders progressed to the quarter-finals but could take very little pride from the result.

On the other hand, the 4,000 fans who travelled to Spain would have been thrilled with what they witnessed.

"

The last time Real Madrid conceded 4 goals at home in a Champions league match was against Bayern Munich in 2000.

— Cristian Nyari (@Cnyari) March 10, 2015"

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