5 Bold Predictions for Real Madrid's Champions League 2nd Leg with Schalke

Real Madrid are all but assured of a place in the last eight of the Champions League following their relatively comfortable 2-0 victory away to Schalke in Wednesday’s first leg of their round-of-16 tie.

While it seems highly unlikely that the German side will be able to overturn their two-goal deficit—particularly at the Bernabeu, where Madrid have lost just once all season and only twice since the start of 2014—there are still reasons to keep an eye on the return match.

Here are five bold predictions for the second leg of Real Madrid’s Champions League last-16 tie with Schalke.

Schalke to Receive a Booking Within 15 Minutes

Associated Press

“We now have to believe we can do something in Madrid,” Schalke boss Roberto Di Matteo stated in the wake of Wednesday’s defeat, reported by UEFA. And if his side are to get themselves back into the tie, it is vital that they make a strong start at the Bernabeu.

To do so, they will have to push numbers forward, so there is certainly a danger of them being caught out on the counter-attack during the opening exchanges. They will be keen to avoid conceding early on and may resort to professional fouls in order to stem any potential breakaways.

Madrid’s Toni Kroos was booked within the opening 15 minutes of Wednesday’s match after bringing down Benedikt Howedes as the defender strode forward from the back. It would not be at all surprising to see a Schalke player carded within the same time frame in the return on March 10.

Felix Platte to Score

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther made just his third start for Schalke in Wednesday’s match, and the 19-year-old was soon joined by another rookie of the same age at the other end of the pitch when Felix Platte replaced the injured Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on 33 minutes.

Platte had previously played just 11 minutes of first-team football for Schalke, but he made a very good impression. He displayed good strength and a solid touch and did not look at all overawed by the occasion.

Indeed, he produced the home side’s best effort of the match, when his superbly struck effort from the edge of the area bounced back off the crossbar in the 74th minute.

Per Goal.com, Huntelaar’s injury is not as bad as first feared. Roberto Di Matteo confirmed afterward that nothing had been broken.

It is not known, however, how long the striker is likely to be out of action. If he is unavailable come March 10, Platte showed enough on Wednesday to suggest he could be Schalke’s primary goal threat at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid to Score More Than 2 Goals

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Madrid were in control for the majority of Wednesday’s match, with a defensively minded Schalke side rarely threatening for sustained periods. Their hosts seemed content to keep the score down once the first goal went in.

Schalke will, however, need to be a little more ambitious in the return if they hope to get themselves back into the tie. Doing so will inevitably open up a few more spaces in their defence, and there are few teams in world football as adept at taking advantage of such spaces as Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men defeated a more expansive Schalke side 9-2 on aggregate at the same stage of last year’s competition and will relish the opportunity to add a little gloss to this year’s aggregate score.

If their finishing is assured, Madrid are more than capable of scoring three or more times during the return leg.

Karim Benzema Will Be More Influential

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Per Marca, Karim Benzema had been suffering from the flu in the build-up to Wednesday’s match, and he was less influential than usual.

He had a low effort from inside the area well saved after being played in by Toni Kroos but was otherwise not heavily involved. Per WhoScored.com, he had fewer touches of the ball (35) than any other starting Madrid player.

With a couple of offsides and three unsure touches, it was not a night to remember for the Frenchman.

Back to full health and with more space to work in, he can be expected to perform much better at the Bernabeu.

Kevin-Prince Boateng Will Not Be Missed

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Kevin-Prince Boateng picked up his third yellow card of the competition on Wednesday and will therefore be suspended for the second leg in Madrid.

His absence is, however, unlikely to be greatly mourned following a performance in which he covered a fair amount of ground but provided very few effective contributions.

The 27-year-old slowed a couple of good break opportunities with poor first touches and, as per WhoScored.com, completed less than 80 per cent of his passes.

Neither of his shots on goal, both from long range, caused any real problems for Iker Casillas in the Madrid goal.

It was a little surprising to see Tranquillo Barnetta omitted from the starting XI on Wednesday, although Roberto Di Matteo perhaps felt Boateng’s physicality would be a bonus against such accomplished opposition.

He did make a couple of interceptions and tackles but not enough to make up for his offensive failings.

Barnetta might have been the better pick on Wednesday, and with Boateng suspended, he will have an opportunity to prove that in the return leg.