Madrid: Holding a 6-1 lead from the first leg, Real Madrid can finish off its one-sided Champions League series with Schalke on Tuesday. Madrid's attacking firepower was on display in the lopsided win in Gelsenkirchen, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema leading the way.
Benzema is unlikely to be available for the return match in the Spanish capital. Here are five things to know about the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium:
BENZEMA OUT
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is unlikely to play against Schalke after the France international appeared to tweak his right leg in Saturday's 1-0 victory at Malaga.
Benzema is enjoying one of his most productive campaigns at Madrid, with 21 goals in all competitions, but coach Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to risk his first-choice striker with a crucial Spanish league match with Barcelona looming on Sunday.
Madrid's big lead could also allow Ancelotti to rest defender Raphael Varane with Barcelona in mind.
RONALDO RECORD
Already Portugal's all-time leading scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo can surpass Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskas next.
Ronaldo set the scoring mark for his national team last week, and now sits only two goals shy of matching Puskas' 242 goals scored for Madrid in competitive games.
Ronaldo has netted 11 goals in the Champions League this season, leaving him three shy of matching the record 14 scored by Barcelona rival Lionel Messi in the current format of the competition.
Jose Altafini of AC Milan scored 14 in the 1962-63 European Cup campaign.
MAKING A MARK
The generous advantage secured by Madrid means coach Carlo Ancelotti can rotate his squad, and that will give some fringe players an opportunity heading into the final stretch of the season.
Holding midfielder Asier Illarramendi could get a rare start ahead of Xabi Alonso, while steady substitutes Isco and Jese Rodriguez may also get a start.
Ancelotti is likely to start Fabio Coentrao in defense with Madrid's fullback core missing Alvaro Arbeloa because of injury.
"The team is playing consistently," Ancelotti said after Madrid stretched its unbeaten run to 30 games in all competitions at Malaga. "There are some games where you have to rely on other qualities."
GLASS HALF FULL
Despite being routed by Madrid in the first leg, Schalke has moved up to third in the Bundesliga since the winter break.
"Unfortunately, the 6-1 has pushed our good season into the background," Schalke captain Benedik Hoewedes said. "That's why we want to leave a good impression in our last outing in the competition."
Schalke hasn't won in Spain since the 2005-06 season.
HUNTELAAR RETURNS
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has returned from a knee injury and scored nine goals in 10 appearances this season, which is one more than he scored in 20 games while playing for Madrid five seasons ago.
But the Netherlands striker may not even come up against his former club despite scoring the lone goal in the first leg as coach Jens Keller could rest him with a showdown against second-place Borussia Dortmund coming up.
Schalke must finish in the top three to clinch a direct spot into next season's Champions League.
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