Madrid-bound Schalke relish Champions League test
Schalke 04 insist they are relishing heading to Spain to face holders Real Madrid tomorrow in their Champions League last-16, second-leg clash with nothing to lose.
The Royal Blues lost the first-leg 2-0 at home when Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo netted for Real to give the Germans an uphill battle in Madrid for a place in the quarterfinals.
To compound Schalke’s problems, they were hammered 3-0 at neighbours Dortmund last Saturday as they created just three chances compared to their hosts’ 31 in a lifeless display.
But they warmed up for their Madrid sojourn with a convincing 3-1 win at home to Hoffenheim on Saturday for their first victory in five games.
Teenage midfielder Max Meyer profited from two Eric Choupo- Moting crosses to score for Schalke either side of half-time after Austria leftback Christian Fuchs had given the Royal Blues a 12th-minute lead.
Germany winger Kevin Volland pulled a late goal back to give Hoffenheim a glimmer of hope, but Fuchs said Schalke have nothing to lose at Real’s Bernabeu.
“We travel now to Madrid in a positive frame of mind, no one will bet on us, so maybe there is a chance for us,” said the 28-yearold.
Fellow goal-scorer Meyer wants Schalke to learn their lesson having conceded a poor late goal, but said he is enjoying scoring after claiming three goals in his last two games.
“Personally, I had a lot of fun on the pitch and I am delighted that I could help the team with two goals,” said the 19-year-old attacking midfielder. If we keep playing like that, we’ll also score lots of goals in our forthcoming games.”
And Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka, who made his first appearance of the season following a long injury lay-off from the bench, said Schalke must take their chances in Madrid.
“The way the fans received me was sensational and gave me goose bumps,” he said having come on for the last half an hour.
“Now we are getting ready for the match in Madrid and we definitely want to put in a good performance there. I’m looking forward to the duel, you don’t get matches like that every day.”
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich moved 11 points clear in the Bundesliga as Thomas Mueller scored twice in their 3-1 comeback win at Hanover 96.
It was the perfect preparation for Bayern’s Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk as a stunning first-half free-kick by Spain star Xabi Alonso and a Mueller penalty saw Bayern hit back after Japan midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake had given the hosts a shock lead.
It was only the fourth time Bayern had gone behind in Germany’s top tier this season. But Bayern made sure of the three points when Franck Ribery’s pinpoint cross was headed home by Mueller on 72 minutes to give Bayern their 19th win in 24 league matches.
Pep Guardiola’s Bayern face Donetsk at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Wednesday, with a Champions League quarter-final place at stake, having been held to a goalless draw in their last-16, first-leg tie in Ukraine. — AFP