Schalke’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (left) and Benedikt Hoewedes warm up during a training session at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, yesterday. The FC Schalke 04 face Real Madrid in an UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match in Gelsenkirchen today.
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany: Real Madrid are targeting a rare win in Germany when they take on Schalke 04 in today’s Champions League last 16, first-leg clash, the Spanish giants’ Gareth Bale says.
Having scored 20 goals in the group stages, Madrid are looking to improve on their dreadful away record in Germany as they take on Schalke for the first time.
“We know the Champions League is a big competition with all the best teams in it, so we know it is going to be difficult,” said the 24-year-old Wales winger.
“I think we are ready, we believe we can win every game so we’ll go over there and hopefully come back with the win.”
The Spanish league leaders are unbeaten in 26 games in all competitions, dating back to last October, and are clear favourites against the Royal Blues of Gelsenkirchen, who are fourth in the Bundesliga.
But Madrid have prevailed just once in 24 previous away matches against German opposition, losing 17 times, including a 4-1 drubbing at Borussia Dortmund in last season’s semi-final first leg when Robert Lewandowski hit all four goals.
That said, Schalke’s form this season has been erratic and they have won only five of their last 11 home encounters against Spanish opponents, suffering four defeats.
Madrid will be able to call on the firepower of Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who returns from a three-game ban.
The injury doubts are left-backs Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao as neither played in the 3-0 win against Elche on Saturday, so Alvaro Arbeloa could deputise if neither are fit.
Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos are also expected to return after being suspended and rested respectively at the weekend.
Schalke were denied a fifth straight league win when they were held to a goalless draw at home to Mainz on Friday.
There was good news, though, for Schalke as Arsenal-target Julian Draxler came off the bench to make his return after two months out with a foot injury.
“As a young boy you dream about facing teams like Real Madrid so we’re all really up for it,” said the 20-year-old.
“I’m happy to be back out on the pitch, but I think I’m still some way off my best form.
“That was the first lengthy lay-off of my career, so I’m a bit impatient, but I know I need more time.” AFP
Chelsea braced for Drogba reunion
ISTANBUL: Chelsea renew acquaintances with former hero Didier Drogba and an old rival in Roberto Mancini when they go to Istanbul to take on Galatasaray for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie today. Drogba was the hero of Chelsea’s 2012 final victory against Bayern Munich, scoring a late equaliser to force extra-time and then netting the decisive penalty in the shoot-out that followed.
But the powerful Ivorian centre-forward was also one of the cornerstones of Jose Mourinho’s first spell in charge at Stamford Bridge, with the pair arriving at the same time in 2004.
“It’s a strange feeling,” Mourinho said, having previously expressed a wish that the clubs would come out of the hat together before the draw was made.
“We know him well and that means there will be no friends during the game. We have respect for a real legend of this club before the game and after the game, but we have a job to do.
“It’s in his nature to win and to score, but we have to stop him.”
For Mourinho, coming up against Drogba is nothing new - his Real Madrid side beat Galatasaray 5-3 on aggregate in last season’s quarter-finals despite Drogba scoring for the Turks. The tie will also see the Chelsea manager come up against Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder, who was the driving force of his Inter side that won the Champions League in 2010 and moved to Istanbul last year.
There is also the enticing prospect of seeing Mourinho in direct confrontation with Mancini, the man he replaced as coach of Inter in 2008, and the man who locked horns with the London club during his tenure at Manchester City.
Beyond the sub-plots, though, Sneijder believes Galatasaray’s inside knowledge on Mourinho’s methods gives them a good chance of springing a surprise.
“Mourinho knows us well and that is an advantage but the same applies for us, we know Mourinho very well, perhaps better than the Chelsea players know us,” said the 29-year-old, who also told Turkish media that his former mentor had called him immediately after December’s last-16 draw.
Chelsea did not exactly convince en route to winning their Champions League group ahead of Schalke 04 and Basel, losing both meetings with the Swiss side.
However, without the distraction of European football over the winter, they have emerged as serious contenders to win the Premier League title, a 12-match unbeaten run putting them top of the table, a point ahead of Arsenal. AFP
