Wobbling Real Madrid limped into the Champions League quarterfinals after losing at home to Schalke last night.

Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar struck twice to end his former club's 21-match unbeaten run at the Bernabeu in the competition but the German side could not force the goal in the last six minutes which would have taken them into the quarter-finals.

Unhappy fans waved white handkerchiefs to show their displeasure at the end and the 4-3 loss took the gloss off another record-breaking night for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portugal international twice equalised with first-half headers with the second, moments before half-time, taking him level with Lionel Messi as the Champions League's joint-highest scorer with 75.

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti refused to dress up the result.

"I'm very sorry. As everyone saw, we played very badly, it isn't good for our image and that of our club. I'm very sorry. The whistles were totally deserved. This is going to motivate us for the games to come. I still have complete faith in this team and in the squad. I know what it's capable of producing. Right now it isn't.

"We have to work harder and focus more. We all know that we played badly. We have no problem saying so. It's the truth. We want to do better. Nobody likes moments and games like these. I've spoken to the players."