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Raul double fires Schalke to 3-1 win over Hapoel

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-10-21 10:03

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany - Spanish striker Raul scored twice to help steer Schalke 04 to a 3-1 win over Israel's Hapoel Tel Aviv in their Champions League Group B encounter on Wednesday.

Schalke 04's Raul celebrates a goal against Hapoel Tel Aviv during their Champions League soccer match in Gelsenkirchen October 20, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Raul, the competition's all-time top goal scorer, struck after only three minutes, combining well with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, before adding his 68th Champions League goal from close range early in the second half.

These were Raul's first European goals for Schalke with his last effort coming almost a year ago to the day when Real Madrid played AC Milan last October. Fellow Spaniard Jose Manuel Jurado completed their win with a fine finish in the 68th minute before Etey Schechter pulled one back in stoppage time.

The result leaves the German club, who are struggling in the Bundesliga, on six points from three games.

Schalke coach Felix Magath opted for a full-out offensive formation, with Raul and Huntelaar at the top and Jurado and Jefferson Farfan in an offensive midfield role.

The move paid off almost instantly when Jurado found Huntelaar at the edge of the box with the Dutchman letting the ball slide through his legs for Raul to fire in.

Jurado set up Huntelaar with another fine pass in the box but the Dutch international was denied by Hapoel keeper Vincent Enyeama.

The visitors had to wait 43 minutes for their first shot on goal as Schalke's defence held tight with central defender Benedikt Hoewedes back after sitting out a one-match suspension.

The Germans could have added another early in the second half but Huntelaar hit the bar twice with two consecutive headers from a metre out.

The 33-year-old Raul was in no mood to miss, however, when he was set up inside the area by substitute Ivan Rakitic, drilling in his second goal of the evening in the 58th minute.

Rakitic then found Jurado with a pinpoint pass and the Spaniard obliged firing in Schalke's third goal.