Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid / Champions League – For the second season in the row these two teams will face each other in the Champions League and again in the round of 16, however, it is believed this time that Schalke has a slightly higher chance for overall victory. In the group stage this team had fought for the last round to reach the second place and it succeeded, while Real is the only team who have won all matches in the group stage and they come to Gelsenkirchen in a grand style. Schalke have started well the second part of the season in the Bundesliga but they lost on Saturday, while Real has certain problems, even though they won on Saturday. Their matches played last season were disastrous for Schalke as Real literally steamrolled them. It was especially bad in Gelsenkirchen, when the result read at the end 1-6, while in Madrid it was more tolerable 3-1 for Real. Begins: 18.02.2015 – 20:45 CET
Schalke 04
Schalke definitely didn’t have luck during the round of 16 draw as they got the current champion of the Europe, who on top of it was excellent in the group stage. However, right now it is not such a bad choice of the adversary as in the meantime Schalke have consolidated their play a bit, while the opponent become more vulnerable. This of course doesn’t mean that Schalke can be declared as favourite of sort, even in this match in Gelsenkirhen simply because it wouldn’t be an objective display of their capabilities. After all, Schalke was defeated on Saturday in the championship by Eintracht in Frankfurt and it was their first defeat after five rounds.
They had deserved more because of created chances but the hero of the match was the opponents’ goalkeeper. Regarding Schalke, they played again with what is now their trademark formation with three stoppers and it was not the defence to be blamed for the defeat, as it conceded only one goal, but the attack was one who disappointment. For this match coach di Matteo can count on Huntelaar, who is suspended in the Bundesliga but he will certainly play instead of Barnette, while the only dilemma is whether recovered Giefer goes between the goalposts or not.
Probable lineups Schalke: Wellenreuther (Giefer) – Howedes, Matip, Nastasic – Uchida, Fuchs – Kirchhoff – Hoger, Boateng – Choupo-Moting – Huntelaar
Real Madrid
This match doesn’t come at the right moment for Real but it might be eventually useful for the team to regain its shaken self-confidence. What Real showed in the group stage of the Champions League has clearly put them in the role of the first favourite but all that had happened last autumn, while now this team play much weaker and has increasing problems with injuries of important players. They are still the first in the standings but have only one point more than Barcelona and were easily defeated by Atletico two rounds ago.
Fortunately for them they hosted Deportivo on Saturday, who was a welcome sparring partner for a routine victory by 2-0 in an easy match. They didn’t impress anyone but they have won points and this was the most important. After the suspension Ronaldo is not fully ready, and this is the problem number one. Ronaldo is not the only one who is injured, there are also Ramos, J. Rodriguez and Modric from before. There is no Khedira too, but stopper Pepe has recovered and he should immediately get a place in the starting line-up.
Probable lineups Real: Casillas – Carvajal, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo – Illarramendi, T. Kroos – Bale, Isco, C. Ronaldo – Benzema
Schalke 04 – Real Madrid PICK
Matches between these teams played last season shouldn’t be some kind of criteria, as in this moment Schalke plays a lot tougher in the defence, while Real, especially it’s attack, is not in a particularly good shape. Therefore, we expect a much better resistance of the host and significantly less goals than a year ago.
Pick: Real Madrid (Win), Real Madrid (Handicap Win), Over 1.5, Over 2.5
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