Inter’s defence of the Champions League is hanging by a thread after the Italians suffered a 5-2 thrashing at home to Schalke 04 in their quarter-final, first leg in Milan last night.

In a thrilling game Inter twice took the lead but saw their defensive frailties ruthlessly exposed and even finished with 10 men as Cristian Chivu was sent off for the second game in a row.

Dejan Stankovic, with possibly the goal of the season, and Diego Milito had both put the hosts in front.

But Joel Matip, Brazilian Edu with two, Spain legend Raul with his 70th Champions League strike and an Andrea Ranocchia own goal gave the Germans a near unassailable lead to take back to Gelsenkirchen next week.

The result continued Inter boss Leonardo’s miserable run of having never won at home in the Champions League as a coach in six attempts.

A pulsating first half began as it meant to continue with a stunning goal after just 27 seconds.

Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer came charging out of his area to meet the ball with a crowd-pleasing flying header to clear but Stankovic, just a couple of yards inside the Germans’ half, adjusted his body quickly and on the volley sent the ball straight back over the Schalke captain’s head and into the gaping open goal.

Schalke were level on 17 minutes as Kyriakos Papadopoulos had a free header from a corner but although his effort was weak and Julio Cesar stopped it with his feet, the ball broke kindly to Matip to blast home from close range.

The hosts went back in front on 34 minutes from a lovely move as Wesley Sneijder stood the ball up to the back stick and Esteban Cambiasso put a cushioned header back into the danger zone where Milito, for once onside, volleyed home.

But on 40 minutes Edu ran onto an inch-perfect through ball and although his initial shot was deflected, it almost deceived Cesar who could only weakly parry allowing the Brazilian to slide in the follow-up from a tight angle.

Attacks had been on top in the first 45 minutes and they were again after the restart as Milito got in behind the Schalke backline but surprisingly failed to hit the target.

And yet it was Schalke who took control as Farfan slipped in Raul who held off Ranocchia and shot past Cesar on 53 minutes.

Four minutes after that Ranocchia inadvertently directed a Jurardo cross past his own keeper as Inter started to implode.

Their task became even more complicated as Chivu received his marching orders on 62 minutes for a second booking.

Moments later Jurardo pinged a skimming low shot off the base of the post with Cesar beaten.

Inter did not survive for long though as a few seconds later Edu curled home a killer fifth that surely renders the second leg a formality.

Real Madrid put a giant foot in the last four with a thumping 4-0 home win over 10-man Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-final first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

A headed brace from Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor and late goals from Angel di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo put Tottenham to the sword in Madrid’s fifth straight home win in Europe and a four-goal lead gives Tottenham a mountain to climb in the second leg at White Hart Lane on April 13.

Tottenham, who last reached a European Cup semi-final back in 1962, were left to rue the early sending off of striker Peter Crouch on 15 minutes for a late lunge as Real made the ten men pay.

Real coach Jose Mourinho had seen his 150-match nine-year unbeaten home league record come to an end on Saturday with a 1-0 loss against Sporting Gijon, however, his team responded with a victory that puts the nine-time champions in the driving seat to reach the last four.

The Bernabeu home crowd were nervous after the shock loss to Gijon, but the hosts got off to the perfect start scoring after just four minutes.

Unfortunate Modric

A corner from the right found Adebayor in the penalty area and the striker planted a header goalwards and the unfortunate Luka Modric could not keep the effort out as it went between his legs.

It was a setback for the visitors, who were then reduced to ten men on 15 minutes with Crouch’s rash lunge on Marcelo earning him a second caution. Real dominated possession but a half chance from Ronaldo was all they had to show for their extra man.

Adebayor, well known to the Spurs fans from his Arsenal days, was inches away from heading in his second goal on 32 minutes but was centimetres away from converting Sergio Ramos’ unorthodox headed cross.

Ronaldo, shooting from everywhere, drilled a left-footed shot wide of the post early in the second half to sound out a warning.

On 57 minutes Real got the second goal they craved with a corner finding Marcelo who crossed and Adebayor was again unmarked to direct a header into the corner.

Adebayor almost got a hat-trick with another header before Argentine di Maria netted on 72 minutes cutting inside before bending a terrific shot into the corner with his left foot.

Ronaldo made it four in the closing minutes with a volley.

Last eight

Played yesterday

R. Madrid 4
Adebayor 4, 57; Di Maria 72; Ronaldo 87;
Tottenham 0

Red card: Crouch (T) 15.

Inter 2
Stankovic 1; Milito 34;
Schalke 5
Matip 17; Edu 40, 75; Raul 53; Ranocchia 57 og;

Red card: Chivu (I) 62.

Second legs: April 13.

Today
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Second legs: April 12.