LONDON – Schalke and Real Madrid routed opponents in first-leg games Tuesday, putting them on the brink of reaching the Champions League semifinals.
Schalke defeated defending champion Inter Milan 5-2, and Madrid downed Tottenham 4-0. The second legs of the quarterfinals are April 13.
Schalke, struggling in the German league, enjoyed a big road victory. Raul Gonzalez scored once for the visitors to extend his competition-leading total to 70.
Madrid capitalized on the ejection of Tottenham's Peter Crouch in the 15th minute to ease past the English club. Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice and Angel Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo added a goal each.
In Wednesday's first-leg quarterfinals, it's Manchester United at Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk at Barcelona.
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