Croatian midfielder Luka Modric has revealed his delight after making his long-awaited Real Madrid comeback on Tuesday evening.

The 29-year-old had been on the sidelines since last November with a thigh problem that he suffered on international duty.

Modric returned to action on Tuesday, however, in Real Madrid's 4-3 defeat to Schalke 04 in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash.

"It was very hard for me. I'm over the injury and am very happy. I was really excited, like when I first arrived," Marca quotes Modric as saying.

Real Madrid advanced into the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate despite losing the second leg.