Raul strikes to give Schalke draw at Valencia

Raul celebrated his return to Spain with a goal to rescue a 1-1 draw for Schalke 04 in their Champions League last-16, first leg at Valencia on Tuesday

The 33-year-old former Real Madrid striker extended his record tally in European club competitions to 69 when he netted just after the hour to cancel out a 17th-minute effort from another ex-Real player, Roberto Soldado.
“The team is prepared for the return leg,” Valencia forward Soldado told Spanish television. “We have our weapons and we hope to use them in Germany.
“We are among the 16 best teams in Europe and we want to be among the best eight. I hope my goal helps us make it into the next round.”
Valencia controlled play for long periods but squandered a number of chances and will be disappointed not to have converted their superiority into an advantage for next month's second leg in Gelsenkirchen.
Schalke's Lukas Schmitz was sent off for a second caution deep into stoppage time.
Raul and Soldado were two of four former Real players on the Mestalla pitch, with striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and defender Christoph Metzelder also featuring for Schalke.
After a cautious start from both teams, Huntelaar fluffed a chance to put the visitors ahead when he failed to connect with an attempted close-range volley in the ninth minute.
It was Metzelder's mistake that led to Valencia taking the lead when he lost possession and Jeremy Mathieu crossed for Soldado to clip the ball past keeper Manuel Neuer from six metres.
Raul then showed his experience to find space inside the penalty area and send a low left-foot shot across keeper Vicente Guaita into the far corner of the net.