Apart from Bale’s ambitions, Madrid will be able to call on the firepower of Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who returns from a three-game ban. PHOTO: AFP
Real Madrid are targeting a rare win in Germany when they take on Schalke 04 in Wednesday’s Champions League last-16, first-leg clash, the Spanish giants’ Gareth Bale says.
Having scored 20 goals in the group stages, Madrid are looking to improve on their dreadful away record in Germany as they take on Schalke for the first time.
“We know the Champions League is a big competition with all the best teams in it, so we know it is going to be difficult,” said the 24-year-old Wales winger.
“I think we are ready, we believe we can win every game so we’ll go over there and hopefully come back with the win.”
The Spanish league leaders are unbeaten in 26 games in all competitions, dating back to last October, and are clear favourites against the Royal Blues of Gelsenkirchen, who are fourth in the Bundesliga.
Madrid will be able to call on the firepower of Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who returns from a three-game ban.
The injury doubts are left-backs Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao as neither played in the 3-0 win against Elche on Saturday, so Alvaro Arbeloa could deputise if neither are fit.
Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos are also expected to return after being suspended and rested respectively at the weekend.
Meanwhile, coach Jens Keller, who hopes to have captain and centre-back Benedikt Hoewedes fit, has said Schalke will not be intimidated by the star-studded Real.
“We want to pull off a small miracle,” he said.
“We’re not just going out there to swap shirts with Real’s stars,” said Keller defiantly, referring to Bayer Leverkusen’s drubbing by Real’s Spanish rivals Barcelona at the same stage in the competition two years ago.
Chelsea brace for Drogba reunion in Istanbul
Chelsea renew acquaintances with former hero Didier Drogba and an old rival in Roberto Mancini when they go to Istanbul to take on Galatasaray for the first-leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday.
Drogba was the hero of Chelsea’s 2012 final victory against Bayern Munich, scoring a late equaliser to force extra-time and then netting the decisive penalty in the shoot-out that followed.
But the powerful Ivorian centre-forward was also one of the cornerstones of Jose Mourinho’s first spell in charge at Stamford Bridge, with the pair arriving at the same time in 2004.
“It’s a strange feeling,” said Mourinho, having previously expressed a wish that the clubs would come out of the hat together before the draw was made.
“We know him well and that means there will be no friends during the game. We have respect for a real legend of this club before the game and after the game, but we have a job to do.
“It’s in his nature to win and to score, but we have to stop him.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2014.
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