Ra�l scored his 71st goal in European competition as Schalke recovered from a goal down to force a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Valencia at the Mestalla.
The former Spain international, playing his first game on Spanish soil since leaving Real Madrid last year, tucked away the equaliser in the 63rd minute.
The outcome might have been even better for the German side if Junmin Hao had finished a chance in injury-time which was saved by Vicente Guaita. The visitors were then reduced to 10 men at the death with the dismissal of Lukas Schmitz.
Valencia had plenty of chances to put the game ? and potentially the tie ? out of reach after Roberto Soldado had put them ahead in the first half, however they could not take advantage and will face a tough trip to Gelsenkirchen.
Both sides attacked from the off and Guaita was called into action in the fourth minute when Jos� Manuel Jurado swung in a free-kick from the left forcing the Valencia goalkeeper to punch the ball away under pressure.
Schalke should have taken the lead in the ninth minute when Klaas-Jan Huntelaar found himself unmarked as Valencia appealed for offside but he completely miskicked.
However, it was Valencia who scored first. J�r�my Mathieu overlapped on the left wing and crossed into the near post where Soldado had lost his marker, and the striker sent a first-time right-footed shot into the bottom right corner.
Schalke kept plugging away and Mehmet Topal was powerless to stop the ball hitting his hands in front of his face in the penalty area before Guaita had to be alert to push Peer Kluge's looping header on to the bar, but they were having problems dealing with Valencia's attacking play.
Tino Costa unleashed a fierce shot from long range which startled Manuel Neuer as Valencia ended the first half in the ascendancy. Aritz Aduriz lost his marker in the area but his shot was more like a backpass and Valencia were penalised when Ra�l equalised.
The ball was played in from the left by Jurado and Ra�l nipped across David Navarro, took a touch and placed the ball under the goalkeeper.
But Valencia must have been frustrated to find themselves on level terms given their dominance of goalscoring chances. Aduriz had a feeble attempt at a chip after being played in but Schalke were a far different proposition in the second half and they had a chance to take a 2-1 lead in the tie.
Hao found himself with just the goalkeeper to beat. He unleashed a firm, low shot which Guaita did well to turn aside before Schmitz was sent off, although the referee had to be alerted by one of his fellow officials that he had been booked twice.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/15/valencia-schalke-champions-league
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