Champions League winners Real Madrid beat Schalke on aggregate 5:4, despite losing to German side 3:4 at Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday. Carlo Ancelotti's men made it to the quarterfinal stage thanks to a 2:0 win in the first leg.
Croatian international Luka Modrić came off the bench in the 58th minute, replacing Sami Khedira.
He was received with standing ovations, with Modrić saying: "I am happy to leave this difficult period and injury behind. I am thrilled, I have been excited about my return in the same way as before my first match for Real Madrid. I would like to thank everyone for the support".
Modrić was injured in November 2014, in the European qualifier against Italy. His comeback is also good news for Croatia head coach Niko Kovač ahead of the Norway encounter in Zagreb on 28 March.
