Real Madrid can take aggregate Schalke win into double figures

A ream of illustrious talent, ferocious attacking power and the world’s best footballer makes Real Madrid a potent 7/2 chance to win the Champions League. Another dominant display over first-leg whipping boys Schalke will only serve to shrink that price.

Having thumped six past the Bundesliga outfit in the away leg, with two goals apiece for front three Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, Real can be backed at 1/4 to win at home. Schalke are rated as 10/1 no-hopers for the game, with the draw at 11/2.

However, given the regularity with which Los Blancos pepper the opposition net in their own yard, the only betting option to take for the match revolves around Madrid’s number of goals.

In the last 16 games at Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid have only scored fewer than two goals on one occasion. That they struck six past this opposition in an away game doesn’t bode well for Schalke and the 7/4 on Ronaldo and co striking four or more this time around looks like free money.

In the aforementioned stretch of 16 outings, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have scored at least four goals six times and their goal scoring doesn’t dwindle when Champions League nights approach.

The club have the longest scoring streak in the competition’s history, having notched in their last 32 matches in the tournament. What’s more, in the three games in front of their own fans in the Champions League this season, they scored four goals twice.

Should the unthinkable happen and Die Knappen’s defence holds relatively firm in denying Madrid four or more strikes, then 21/20 on the hosts scoring either two or three looks a solid saving punt.

Goals are always likely when Ronaldo steps onto a pitch, though, and the Portuguese’s four-game scoring streak makes the 7/4 on him scoring the game’s first a sensible investment. Alternatively, it’s 1/3 he nets at anytime while a brace or better is available at 1/1.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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