Champions League: Schalke v Real Madrid – in pictures

There are flags and banners aplenty at Veltins-Arena courtesy of the Schalke fans, top, and the Real Madrid fans who have made the journey Photograph: Patrik Stollarz/Getty Images

The visitors are on the back foot as soon as the game starts and are lucky not to go behind in the first minute when the ball is flung into the box and the unmarked Benedikt Howedes heads wide from 12 yards out Photograph: Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images

How Schalke will rue that miss after Real Madrid take the lead in the 13th minute coutesy of a smart finish by Karim Benzema. The goal was made by Gareth Bale who quickstepped past his marker, before driving inside, ominously on to that fearsome left foot. However instead of shooting he played a pass inside to Cristiano Ronaldo, who was in the D with his back to goal. He tried a backheel, possibly intended for Bale, but it hit the unwitting Felipe Santana and deflected through to Benzema. He was onside and he swept a confident, firm finish past Ralf Fahrmann with his right foot Photograph: Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images

He's quite pleased with that tidy finish Photograph: Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images

Farfan romps forward from midfield, breaking behind Real’s defence on the right. He then hooks a cross into the six-yard box from the byline and a slight deflection took it into the path of Julian Draxler, who is no more than four yards out, right in front of goal. However Draxler was too casual with his cushioned finish and Iker Casillas somehow made himself big enough to parry it out Photograph: Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images

Soon Real Madrid are two up. Santana faffed around and allowed Benzema to nip in and prod a pass inside to Bale, who suddenly had a huge amount of space to run into. He still had a lot to do, though. Faced by Santana, he dropped a shoulder and ducked back from his left to right. Sead Kolasinac then tried to stop him but failed. Even though it looked like the ball was going to get stuck under his feet, he kept zigzagging through the defenders ... Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP

Then, as Santana lunged in the area, Bale somehow stabbed a beautiful shot inside Fahrmann’s near post from 15 yards out. What a goal Photograph: Helios de la Rubia/Real Madrid via Getty Images

Cue the trademark(ed) celebration Photograph: Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images

Early in the second half, Real counter again. Bale cut in from the right and found Ronaldo to his left. Ronaldo was one-on-one with Joel Matip and an array of stepovers left the defender with twisted arms and legs. It looked like Ronaldo had forced himself a bit wide but he just let rip with his left foot, absolutely battering the ball past Fahrmann and into the far corner Photograph: Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images

Just five minutes later it's four as Benzema dashes inside from the right and lays it off to Ronaldo, who lazily flicks the ball back into his path. Benzema had a bit to do but took the ball away from a wheezing Santana, rounded Fahrmann and then rolled the ball into the empty net from a tight angle Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

And now it's five. Sergio Ramos lopes forward unchallenged from the park and carves Schalke open with a lovely pass through to Bale on the right. He races through, away from poor Kolasinac, opens up his body and curls a first-time finish past the advancing Fahrmann with his left peg Photograph: Roland Weihrauch/EPA

With just one minute to go Cristiano Ronaldo rubs salt in Schalke's wounds when Roman Neustadter loses the ball to Benzema in his own half and the Frenchman quickly knocks it through to Ronaldo. He holds off Matip, skips merrily past Fahrmann and finishes with ease. It's 6-0, what a drubbing! Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP

Ronaldo celebrates Photograph: Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images

However just one minute later there is yet another goal, this time it's for Schalke, and what a belter it is. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar gives Schalke’s fans something to shout about by watching a ball drop out of the sky and then belting a glorious volley in off the underside of the bar from 18 yards out. Wow Photograph: Sky Sports

A penny (or should that be a sixpence) for your thoughts Mr Faehrmann Photograph: Ronny Hartmann/AFP/Getty Images

Joel Matip, left, Benedikt Hoewedes, Max Meyer and Leon Goretzka, right, all look shellshocked and bewildered as they trudge off the pitch after their drubbing. Final score: Schalke 1-6 Real Madrid Photograph: Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images