Valencia and Schalke will face off on Tuesday. Lets have a look at how each side measures up.
Valencia
Gunning for glory in La Liga, Valencia has been working quietly in the Spanish Primera Division under the shadow of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Currently third in the La Liga standings, Valencia are unbeaten in their last five competitive fixtures.
During these fixtures, Los Che’s have scored 11 goals which means that their offensive line up has been functioning at maximum capacity. After parting ways with David Silva and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Villa-c10629 in the summer transfer window, Valencia were being touted as the
next big flop in their domestic league.
However the likes of Juan Mata and Joaquin Sanchez have improved their game drastically over the past eight months to keep Valencia in contention for a UEFA Champions League spot. In the group stages, Valencia finished their group at the second place spot
whereas Manchester United finished first.
Their round of sixteen fixture against Schalke might prove to be a step too far for Unai Emrey’s team as their thin squad has been tested to its fullest extent thus far in all domestic competitions in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011.
Schalke
Schalke prepare to take on Valencia after winning their last Bundesliga encounter against Freiburg. Felix Magath’s team has been on a terrific run of form as they have won three out of their last five matches.
The German club has Raul Gonzalez in their line-up and the ex-Real Madrid talisman knows where the back of the net is in the UEFA Champions League due to his exploits in the European Cup with Los Blancos.
After finishing top in their group in the UEFA Champions’ League group stages, the German side is now set to experience a tough Spanish test in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863. Schalke’s lack of experience in the UEFA Champions League might work against them as their first leg
against Valencia is scheduled to take place at Estadio de Mestalla.
Team News
Valencia have several injury issues going into the matchup against Schalke. The Spanish giants are set to make a late decision on the fitness levels of Juan Mata and Cesar. Los Che’s will be without the services of Marius Stankevicious. Furthermore, David
Albelda is set to miss the match against Schalke due to his suspension.
Expected Valencia line up: Guaita, Alba, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roberto-Soldado-c31367, Aduriz
Alternatively, Schalke will be without their right back, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Manuel-Neuer-c23424 are both expected
to start for the German minnows, who have shown a tendency to surprise in the UEFA Champions League thus far.
Expected Schalke line up: Neuer, Metzelder, Papadopoulos, Uchida, Escudero, Jurado, Schmitz, Karimi, Farfan, Raul, Huntelaar
Key Players
All the responsibility on Valencia’s side rests on their winger Joaquin Sanchez. The Spanish national team midfielder has shown maturity and character in the 2010-2011 club football season thus far and with two goals against Atletico Madrid in their latest
La Liga tie, he is also the man in form at the moment.
On the other hand, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gonzalez-c15099 will be the man to watch out for on Schalke’s front. The ex-Real Madrid striker has a surreal goal scoring record in the UEFA Champions League with 68 goals in 140 games. The ex-Real Madrid target man has already scored two
goals in a total of six matches in the UEFA Champions League in the 2010-2011 version of the tournament.
Valencia’s offensive force has been hampered by injuries to Mata and Albelda but they still have what it takes to get a favourable result against Magath’s team. Prediction: 1-0 to Valencia.
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