Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to get back into some sort of form when his Real Madrid side travel to Germany to face FC Schalke in the Champions League last 16 tonight. The Portuguese forward, who won his third Ballon d'Or last month, has failed to score in his last three appearances for Los Blancos as he continues to struggle with a persistent knee injury. However, Ronaldo will be confident of getting his name back on the scoresheet as it is almost a year to the day since Madrid walked out of the Veltins-Arena having put six past their Bundesliga opponent. Gareth Bale scored twice as Real hammered the Germans at the same stage of last year's competition. Karim Benzema and Ronaldo himself also netted twice to complete the thrashing. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's spectacular injury-time volley pulled a goal back, bit it was a mere consolation. Real boast a nine-match winning streak in the Champions League and have won seven of their last nine away games in the competition. It's all looking pretty ominous for new Schalke boss Roberto Di Matteo. The former Chelsea manager, who won the competition with The Blues in 2012, has made a very solid start to life in Germany. He has won 10 of his 18 games in charge and has lifted Schalke from 11th to 4th in the Bundesliga in next to no time. The Italian's task of toppling the current holders, who are still looking to become the only side in Champions League history to retain the title, has been made even harder as the likes of Julian Draxler (hamstring), Leon Goretzka (hamstring) and Jefferson Farfan (knee) will all be missing. Madrid will be without James Rodriguez (toe) and Luca Modric thigh.
