90 minutes separate Real Madrid from clinching their ticket to the Champions League quarterfinals when they face Schalke 04 this Tuesday at Santiago Bernabeu. The German squad must overcome a 0-2 loss to avoid it.
Carlo Ancelotti and his team return to their home turf just days after losing against Athletic Bilbao and dropping out of first place in La Liga. The same team that won its last 22 games in 2014 is off to a bumpy start this year.
The home team can still brag about aiming to win a record setting eleventh straight UCL game, but the form they are in suggests that anything could happen. Los Merengues may find some comfort in knowing Sergio Ramos could play.
Carlo Ancelotti won’t listen to any comments that come from outside the team’s locker room. Surveys may suggest that Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo should not play at the same time, but for the Italian manager that’s not even an option.
Schalke knows that this could be their best chance to beat the Spanish giants. The German side is coming off from a 3-1 win against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga where they stand in fifth place.
Their coach Roberto Di Matteo knows he is facing a very difficult challenge. He has hopes that the BBC continues their rough streak. Matteo claims that his team must be well organized if they want to cause trouble at the Bernabeu.
Kevin-Prince Boateng is the only man suspended prior to this game for Schalke, which also has six players out due to injuries. Last year both teams faced in the same stage of the competition for a 9-2 aggregate win favoring Real Madrid.
If Madrid wins the game they would also match a UCL record of 12 straight home victories. Will Schalke allow that to happen?
Real Madrid vs Schalke 04 team sheets
Real Madrid's lineup: Casillas, Varane, Pepe, Coentrao, Khedira, Ronaldo, Kroos,Benzema, Bale,Arbeloa,Isco.
Schalke's lineup: Wellenreuther, Howedes, Matip, Nastasic, Hoger, Neustadter, Fuchs, Barnetta, Meyer, Choupo-Moting, Huntelaar.
Real Madrid's subs: Navas, Marcelo, Chicharito, Nacho, Modric, Jese, Illarra.
Schalke's subs: Wetklo, Uchida, Ayhan, Sobottka, Goretzka, Sané, Kehrer.
Détails du match, résultat et infos sur la première diffusion
Ce match est terminé. Voici les détails de la première diffusion du match en direct.
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