Schalke vs. Real Madrid: Players to Watch in Champions League Tie

In a rematch of last year’s Champions League round of 16 matchup, Real Madrid travels to Schalke tonight in the first leg of the round of 16.

Real Madrid is looking for the club’s seventh straight victory in Champions League play this season following wins in all six group matches. The club also comes in having won its previous match, 2-0, versus Deportivo over the weekend.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the turnaround between the 4-0 loss to Atletico and this past weekend’s 2-0 victory over Deportivo.

“After a result like the one against Atlético, it is all about turning things around as quickly as possible,” Ancelotti said to UEFA.com reporter Steffen Potter. “Against Deportivo, Cristiano Ronaldo was in good physical shape. He has not scored for a little while [a month or three games], but he will have a chance to rectify that soon enough.”

Schalke comes off a 1-0 loss to Frankfurt over the weekend but will have the services of Dutch striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar. The Dutch forward missed training last week following after being ill.

Players to Watch for Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo

The reigning FIFA World Player of the Year leads Real Madrid in scoring with 28 goals across league competition and has added five in Champions League play. Ronaldo scored twice in last year’s 6-1 first-leg victory over Schalke and added two tallies in a 3-1 win in the second leg. He has not found the back of the net since tallying twice in a 3-1 win over Getafe a month ago and will be looking to break that scoring drought against the German side.

Gareth Bale

Bale is the second member of Real Madrid’s three-pronged attack, scoring 10 goals and adding five assists in league play. He has tallied twice in Champions League play this season and was a key piece of the Madrid side that defeated Schalke in Champions League play last season.

Players to Watch for Schalke

Timon Wellenreuther

The 19-year-old goalkeeper has not allowed a goal in Bundesliga play across three matches but has yet to make an appearance in the Champions League. That lack of experience could prove disastrous for a Schalke side looking for redemption after last year’s 9-2 aggregate loss. Wellenreuther is head coach Robert Di Matteo’s third-choice keeper behind Fabian Giefer and Ralf Fahrmann, who will both miss the match due to groin and knee injuries respectively.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

The Dutch striker leads Schalke in Champions League scoring with three goals. He has added seven tallies in Bundesliga play, which is good for second on the team in scoring. He also had the club’s only goal in last year’s 6-1 loss.

Game Prediction

Real Madrid 3, Schalke 0

The visiting side has been dominant in group play, outscoring opponents 16-2 across six matches. Schalke found the back of the net nine times while allowing 14 goals and finishing with a 2-2-2 record in Group G play. Di Matteo suggests that his club could pull off the upset against Madrid and that they have learned from last season’s aggregate loss.

The firepower that Ancelotti’s side brings could prove too much for an inexperienced goalkeeper in Wellenreuther. While the young keeper has played internationally at the under-19 level, he has not suited up in Champions League play, which may prove to be the difference.