Real Madrid v FC Schalke: Champions League match preview

A look ahead into Tuesday night’s last-16 second leg tie at the Bernabeu

Gareth Bale celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria after scoring in the 6-1 rout of Schalke three weeks ago (GETTY IMAGES)

Only a miracle would see German side FC Schalke advance into the next stage of the Champions League. The German’s were taught a footballing lesson at the Veltins Arena, being humiliated 6-1, with Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronald and Gareth Bale helping themselves to two goals apiece to ensure The Merengues had one foot into the last eight of the competition.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side sit pretty at the top of La Liga, three points ahead of second placed Atletico Madrid and have opened up a four point gap on Barcelona in third. After last week’s away win at Malaga in the league, Madrid extended their unbeaten run to an incredible 30 games. With the title in sights, Cristiano Ronaldo and co will be hoping to land their first Champions League title since 2002 and clinch their 10th overall.

Meanwhile, Jens Keller’s Schalke side are going steadily in the league, sitting third and one point behind fellow Champions League competitors and last year’s finalists Borussia Dortmund. The Germans qualified for the knockout stages in second placed, behind Chelsea and finishing ahead of Swiss champions FC Basel and Romanian outfit Steaua Bucharest. Dutch striker, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will be returning to Real Madrid where he spent one season in 2009, making 20 appearances and scoring nine goals. However, his side will be playing merely for pride in this already settled tie.

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KICK-OFF: Tuesday 7:45pm

PREVIOUS MEETING

FC Schalke 1 (Huntelaar) Real Madrid 6 (Benzema 2, Ronaldo 2, Bale 2)

STATS

Real Madrid are one of only two teams still unbeaten in the Champions League this season, alongside Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid have won 13 of their last 15 Champions League games at the Santiago Bernabeu, drawing the other two. Barcelona are the last team to defeat the Merengues in Madrid (27 April 2011).

Real Madrid have scored in each of their last 32 Champions League games, the longest run in the history of the competition. The last time they failed to find the net was against Barcelona on 27 April 2011 (0-2). They are the top scorers this season (26 goals).

Each of Schalke’s seven goals in the Champions League this season have been scored in the second-half.

Schalke have only scored one goal in three away games in the Champions League this season.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has scored five goals in his last seven Champions League starts.

ODDS

Real Madrid win: 1.22

FC Schalke win:15.00

Draw: 7.00

TV: 7.30pm, Sky Sports 1