Why Real Madrid Are Huge Favourites in Champions League Last-16 Tie over Schalke

Real Madrid could hardly have asked for a better tie in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League than Schalke.

Instead of drawing the likes of Juventus, Manchester City or Arsenal, the group-winning Champions League holders—currently the most in-form team in all of Europe—drew the runners-up with the worst goal difference and the joint-lowest points total (excluding Basel, against whom they could not be drawn).

While Schalke are not without quality in certain areas, the gulf in class is staggering—simply too big for the Royal Blues to surpass over the two legs.

As shown in the below table, were the Champions League group stages to be compiled into a single league, then Madrid would be first having won every game, 15 places higher than their German opponents. 

WhoScored.com handily sum up how the two teams fared in their groups in this infographic.

Madrid have won their last 20 games in all competitions, a run of form that almost defies belief.

In that time, Los Blancos have scored a phenomenal 75 goals, an average of almost four per game, and conceded just 10.

Madrid simply exude strength in every area of the pitch. 

Their front three—Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale—have a combined total of 52 goals and 21 assists in La Liga and the Champions League already.

Not to mention their terrifying pace.

Bale's blistering goal against Barcelona in last season's Copa del Rey final (shown in the video below) will live long in the memory:

Their midfield of James Rodriguez, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos is so creative, so adept in possession and so decisive that they can hardly be said to have missed Angel Di Maria or Xabi Alonso. 

There's no higher praise than that.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Even their defence, so often their Achilles heel in recent years, has managed 13 clean sheets in all competitions this season.

To make matters worse for Schalke, their style plays directly into Madrid's hands.

Per WhoScored.com, the Royal Blues concede an average of 16.1 shots each game, a frightening figure when Real Madrid's shot conversion rate is taken into account:

WhoScored also report that Schalke's weaknesses include defending against skilful players, which Madrid have in abundance; defending against attacks down the wings, which Madrid are exceptional at; and conceding set pieces in dangerous areas, which Madrid are proficient at scoring.

In their recent group game against Chelsea (shown in the video below), the Germans' defence was carved open time and time again.

Against a team as ruthless as Los Blancos, there's no reason to believe that the same won't be the case when the two sides meet in February.

Indeed, the pair met at the same stage of the competition last season.

Madrid won 9-2 on aggregate.

This included a 6-1 thrashing in Gelsenkirchen in which Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema each netted a brace (including a typically brilliant counter-attacking goal at 2:22 in the below video).

The victory was only Madrid's second away win in Germany at the 25th attempt; however, later in the tournament they would travel to Munich and stun Bayern with a 4-0 humbling.

For Los Blancos, the curse of away matches in Germany appears to be lifted.

For Schalke, as determined as they'll be to avenge the humiliation, the result could play on their minds and the last thing they'll need is to be nervous.

Another possible hindrance to the Germans could be the January transfer window.

Simon Jones of the Daily Mail reports that Schalke captain Benedikt Howedes is one of Arsenal's top targets as they search for a new centre-back.

Howedes is the linchpin of the Royal Blues' defence, and if he were to move clubs in January, he would take with him Schalke's faint hopes of keeping Madrid out.

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

Even with Howedes, Madrid remain huge favourites.

Their imperious form looks only set to continue into the new year, and with the world-class talent available to Madrid, they'd have been considered favourites no matter the draw. As it happens, this is doubly the case against Schalke, whose defence Madrid can capitalise on to devastating effect. 

With Real bidding to defend their title after winning La Decima in May, Carlo Ancelotti's men will not be careless enough to let slip against anyone other than a fellow contender, namely Bayern, Barca or Chelsea.

As noted by Bleacher Report's Tim Collins, Madrid's warm-up for the round-of-16 clash includes games against three of La Liga's top five—Valencia, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid—so Los Blancos will be thoroughly focused.

Real will start the tie in typically intense fashion, and if they're as ruthless as they were in the tie last year, it could be a formality by half-time.

Madrid will surely take a step closer to lifting the trophy again.