 |
| Getty Images |
Cristiano Ronaldo is available for the first leg of Real Madrid's Champions League last-16 tie against Schalke following a three-match domestic ban.
The Portuguese, 29, was shown a red card in the 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao. on 2 February.
In Ronaldo's absence, world-record signing Gareth Bale has started Real's last three league games, scoring twice.
"We'll need a little miracle," said Schalke coach Jens Keller of his side's chances against the Spanish giants.
Schalke lie fourth in the Bundesliga, 21 points off leaders Bayern Munich, and drew 0-0 at home to Mainz on Friday.
Keller can take hope from nine-time European Cup winners Real's miserable record on German soil.
Real's 4-1 defeat in the first leg of last year's Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund was their 18th defeat in 25 visits to German opposition.
A 3-2 win away to Bayer Leverkusen in the 2000-01 tournament is their only win away to a German club.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas says he and his team-mates must be prepared for the different challenge that Schalke will set compared to their domestic Spanish opposition.
"Being a German team, Schalke has great physical presence," he said.
"It is mounting a comeback in the Bundesliga. It stuttered a little early on but it is turning things around and is now back in the top four.
"But we are giving away few chances on goal and playing solid in attack, and certain players are really on form."
One of those in form is certainly Ronaldo who has scored 31 goals in 26 games for Real this season, including nine in the group stages.
He has also scored in the home and away legs of Real's Champions League last-16 ties in the last two years.
Bale, signed from Tottenham for £85m in September, has been less prolific, but manager Carlo Ancelotti believes the Welshman's long-range strike in the 3-0 win over Elche on Saturday has given him new self-belief.
"He had no confidence before that incredible goal and after it, he played an entirely different game,'' said Ancelotti.
"He played well enough before the goal but fantastic afterward."
No comments:
Post a Comment