Date: Tuesday, 18 March Venue: Santiago Bernabeu Date: 19:45
Team News
Real Madrid are without striker Karim Benzema, who picked up a thigh strain during his side's 1-0 victory against Malaga at the weekend. However, he is expected to be fit for this weekend's El Clasico. Ancelotti confirmed in his press conference that the attacking trio for the second-leg would be Alvaro Morata, Jese Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo- electing not the rest the Ballon D'or winner despite the comfortable margin. Schalke have a fairly long injury list and will without notable players, including Jefferson Farfan, Felipe Santana and Atsuto Uchica. Manager Jens Keller identifies his side have no chance of progressing to the quarter-finals of the competition but he will play a strong side, using the game as an opportunity to give experience to his young side.
Key Stats
Real Madrid currently top La Liga by a three point margin and the Spanish giants have won eight of their last ten matches, including the 6-1 drubbing of Schalke in the first-leg of this tie. They are one of only two unbeaten sides left in the competition- the other is Madrid rivals Athletico. They've won 13 of their last 15 Champions League games on home soil, as well as scoring in each of their last 32 games in the competition. Their tally of 26 goals this season is the highest in the entire competition. Schalke have only scoring seven goals in the Champions League this season and require at least six in order to achieve the greatest comeback in Champions League history. Each of their goals this season have come in the second-half. However, the Germans have only managed to score one goal away from home in the competition this season but striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has five goals in his last seven Champions League starts.
Likely Line-Ups
Real Madrid Casillas, Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Modric, Alonso, Isco, Jese, Morata, Ronaldo Schalke Fahrmann, Hoogland, Matip, Papadopaulos, Kolasinic, Boateng, Neustadter, Draxler, Meyer, Goretzka, Huntelaar
Match Preview
Real Madrid are three points ahead of the chasers in La Liga and have won eight of their last ten games in all competitions, including a 6-1 drubbing of Schalke in the first-leg. They've gone 30 games unbeaten and are expected to extend that record tomorrow. The 'BBC' strike force Real Madrid boast will be separated for the visit of Schalke but Cristiano Ronaldo will play, as Carlo Ancelotti believes it is the perfect practice ahead of the El Clasico this weekend- where the striking trio will be reunited. Real showed their ability last time out when they smashed 6 goals past the sorry German side on away soil and it is extremely possible that we may see a similar rout in Spain, as Schalke struggle on the road in Europe and Real Madrid are formidable at the fortress they have created. Nobody expects Schalke to get anything from the game and for good reason, as they are five goals off an equal aggregate scoreline and conceded an astonishing six away goals in the first-leg. There is only pride left for the Germans to play for. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Julian Draxler are Schalke's best chance of getting anything from the game and the duo will need to be in top form, though this is easier said than done. One goal for Schalke would be an achievement. Prediction 3-0 source- bbc football
Josh has had work featured in the Evening Gazette and on Newcastle United website. He is a Multimedia Journalism student at Teesside University and runs a successful sports blog. He also enjoys films, comics and TV, writing about anything he can. Josh has recently started writing his first of what he hopes will be many books.
