Poacher Raul rescues Schalke on return to Spain

VALENCIA, Spain - Raul marked his first match in Spain since leaving Real Madrid with a trademark poacher's strike to rescue a 1-1 draw for Schalke 04 in its Champions League last-16, first leg in Valencia on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old striker, who netted Real's third goal in a 3-0 win over Valencia in the 2000 final, scored just after the hour to cancel out a 17th-minute effort from another former Bernabeu favorite, Roberto Soldado.

His goal extended Raul's record tally in the three major European club competitions to 69 and came on his return to his native country after swapping La Liga for the Bundesliga at the end of last season.