Schalke's solid early start - built on deep defending when Madrid kept possession - had been undone and only Wellenreuther's diving save prevented Ronaldo a second with a dipping free-kick.
The Portuguese has now scored in 12 straight Champions League away games and Madrid should have should have taken further control minutes later but Benzema could only drive at the goalkeeper's legs when clean through. It took just 26 minutes for him to repay his manager's backing, beating Schalke goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther to the ball to head home. Ronaldo has a staggering 58 goals in 58 appearances in the competition but judged on his own incredible standards, the Fifa World Player of the Year's form was a hot topic at Ancelotti's pre-match news conference. Los Blancos have now won 10 straight games in the competition and with James Rodriguez to return from injury to assist Gareth Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo, they have a stockpile of talent to threaten retaining the trophy. While this result may not lead to such a convincing margin of victory, it was achieved with dominance from the start and Carlo Ancelotti's side ended with 61% possession. Los Blancos ended a 12-year wait to capture 'La Decima' - a 10th European Cup win - last season and thumped Schalke 9-2 on aggregate at the same stage of the competition. Marcelo capitalised, driving into the top corner, and the holders will take a healthy lead to Madrid on 10 March. He also created the second goal which arrived moments after Schalke's Felix Platte had smashed against the bar.