Champions League 2015: Updated Predictions, Live Stream Info for Round of 16 Leg
Real Madrid's bid to defend the UEFA Champions League trophy won last season, received a boost when Los Blancos were again handed Schalke 04 in the last 16. Madrid demolished the Bundesliga club 9-2 on aggregate at this stage last season, including a 6-1 win in Germany.
Meanwhile, Basel's meeting with FC Porto may look like the least glamorous tie of the round. But it still features a pair of clubs who are well-established old hands in this competition.
Here's the schedule information for both games:
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Date: Wednesday, February 18.
Time: 7:45 p.m. (GMT) / 2:45 p.m. (ET)
Live Stream: Sky Go. Fox Soccer 2Go.
Predictions
Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid
Schalke's plan to avoid another drubbing will hinge on a more balanced approach. That's according to club skipper Benedikt Howedes.
The burly centre-back stated his side wants to cause Los Blancos problems but won't be reckless going forward, per an interview with the Bundesliga's official site:
"That's precisely what we aim to do - get at them.
...
The key will be to make sure we aren't so naive again, like last season. We were too attack-minded then, especially in the home game because we wanted to show them what we could do. If you do that against Real, then you're almost inevitably going to get taken apart.
"
This is going to be a tough needle to thread for Schalke boss Roberto di Matteo. He may preach a cagier game, but if Schalke cede too much possession and space to Madrid, they'll quickly be punished again.
It's not hard to see why considering the ample attacking talent in the Los Merengues squad. Few teams in European football boast riches on a par with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez and Isco.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has a knack for fitting numerous mega stars into team structures that work. His current squad certainly has the pace and imagination to savage Schalke on the break.
Lightning-fast counters were the key to last season's six-goal salvo. Di Matteo has to find an answer this time.
During his spell as Chelsea boss, the Italian oversaw several upsets in this competition during the 2011/12 season. Specifically, the semi-final triumph over Barcelona and beating Bayern Munich in the final.
But Di Matteo will have to conjure something really special to get the better of the 10-time European Cup winners.
Prediction: Schalke 1-3 Real Madrid
Basel vs. FC Porto
Basel's veteran team may struggle to repel a young, dynamic and free-flowing Porto squad. One of the Portuguese side's current stars in the making is winger Yacine Brahimi.
He's already courting interest from Premier League rivals Manchester City and Manchester United, per Spanish site Fichajes.net (h/t Metro reporter Jamie Sanderson).
The interest is understandable considering Brahimi's electric pace and dazzling trickery. He's already been touted as Porto's next mega-money sale by Sky Sports writer Adam Bate.
Brahimi's combination with powerful and prolific striker Jackson Martinez, also a Premier League target, per MailOnline reporter Luke Augustus, is certainly a potent one. The duo could destroy a Basel defence that will be missing linchpin Fabian Schar, according to Goal.com writer Jack Davies.
But while Schar is a big loss, you can still count on Basel being stout on home soil. In particular, 36-year-old centre-back Walter Samuel will need all of his experience and aggression to subdue Porto's pacy and fluid forward line.
Prediction: Basel 1-1 Porto
Madrid won't send out a warning as ominous as the one they delivered to the rest of the competition at this stage last season. But Ancelotti's men will still power through again to set up a relatively serene second leg.
As for Basel, they won't be able to contain Porto for 90 minutes. Surrendering the away goal will prove a major blow for the Swiss champions, as not many teams fare well in Porto's formidable Estadio do Dragao.
