Date: Tuesday, October 22 Venue: Veltins Arena Kick-Off: 19:45 BST Can Chelsea draw level with Schalke at the top of Group E of the Champions League?
Team News
Schalke will be without a number of high profile players as they prepare to welcome Chelsea to the Veltins Arena for their Champions League Group E clash. The German side will be without star striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as well as winger Jefferson Farfan, however, midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has returned from a knee injury. Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole has not made the trip to Germany after failing to recover from a rib injury. However, former Bayer Leverkusen attacker Andre Schurrle has travelled as part of a 21-man group. (BBC)
Key Stats
Schalke are unbeaten in their last 13 Champions League games in the group stages (9 wins, 4 draws). Chelsea have only won one of their seven away Champions League games in Germany (including the 2012 final v Bayern Munich). It was against Vfb Stuttgart in February 2004 (1-0). Chelsea have only failed to score once in their last 22 Champions League games, against Juventus in November 2012 (0-3). Schalke have won their two opening games for the first time in a Champions League campaign and are three points above Chelsea in Group E. (Eurosport)
Chelsea will be hoping for more success in Germany when they return to the country for the first time since their Champions League win over Bayern Munich to face Schalke tonight. The Blues have had an indifferent European campaign thus far - defeat against Basel and a win against Steaua Bucharest has left them third in Group E and any hope of qualifying for the knock out stages as winners could vanish tonight. Schalke will know a win at home would virtually guarantee them safe passage through to the latter stages of the competition but they will have to do so without several key players, most notably Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The striker will be a huge miss for the Germans tonight, as will winger Jefferson Farfan. However, coach Jens Keller says his side have nothing to fear.
"Just a glance at Group E, as well as our recent results in the Bundesliga, give us self-confidence. "We're at home and Chelsea are going to feel that from the very first minute."