Played
February 15, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
Estadio de Mestalla — Valencia
Referee: A. Nikolaev
Attendance: 42703
February 15, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
Estadio de Mestalla — Valencia
Referee: A. Nikolaev
Attendance: 42703
17′
Roberto Soldado
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| Valencia | 1.73 | 1.80 | 0.00 | 1.67 | 4.33 | 1.70 |
| Draw | 3.50 | 3.20 | 0.00 | 3.60 | 1.28 | 3.60 |
| Schalke | 5.00 | 4.00 | 0.00 | 5.50 | 10.00 | 5.10 |
Champions League Preview: Valencia – Schalke
Los Che meet die Koenigsblauen in an intriguing last 16 encounter...
By Robin Bairner
Keep It Tight
While Barcelona and Real Madrid continue to catch the headlines in Spain, the steady performances of Valencia are easy to overlook. But los Che are one of the Primera Division’s form teams, having won seven of their last eight fixtures. Unai Emery’s outfit will be aiming to maintain their form in Europe as they aim for the Champions League quarter-finals.
Victory over Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon came by a 2-1 margin on Saturday evening. Jose Antonio Reyes gave los Colchoneros a third-minute lead, but Valencia were drawn back into the game thanks to goals from Joaquin in either half. Typical of los Che in recent weeks, the winner came late on, with the winger striking four minutes from time.
Speaking after the game, Valencia’s match-winner stressed the importance of the new-found resilience in his side, which allowed them to rebuff the advances of Atleti. “The step we have taken is important,” he told the media. “We have learnt how to suffer.”
The east coast club will attempt to take this form into Europe, with centre-back Ricardo Costa, a defender with experience of Bundesliga football, highlighting the importance of keeping a clean sheet at the Mestalla. “We want to win, but we have to think that there are two matches. We will try to win at home and avoid our opponents scoring,” he explained to Marca.
Valencia’s only Champions League defeat of the season came at home against Manchester United, but after negotiating the group stage in pretty convincing fashion, los Che will be confident of making further progress against their German opponents.
High Hopes
Schalke’s appeal this season has been in their erratic and unpredictable nature. Felix Magath’s side were given a big build-up going into the campaign, but having made great changes to the club’s personnel, they initially struggled to find form. Die Knappen came good in the autumn, easing their Bundesliga worries and progressing in the Champions League, and though the winter shutdown has rather hampered their momentum, the Gelsenkirchen side will be confident of coming good at the right time.
A weekend win was recorded over Freiburg, keeping the relegation wolf a relatively comfortable six points from the door. Jefferson Farfan was the only scorer on that occasion, finding the net four minutes into the second half to gift the Ruhr club the win.
“I am very optimistic,” Raul explained to Schalke’s official website when asked to consider Tuesday’s fixture. “Valencia are undoubtedly one of the biggest clubs in Spain and have in recent years has been to qualify for the Champions League. Nevertheless, I think we have very good chances of reaching the next round.
“In the group phase, our team has already shown what services they can perform. We also have the advantage that the return match is in the Veltins-Arena. Our fans are a very important factor in such games.”
Historically, the Mestalla is not a venue that should hold too many fears for Schalke, who have previously earned a 1-1 draw at the Spanish arena to progress in the UEFA Cup. This encounter has a good deal more riding on it, and has the potential to make or break the Germans’ season.
TEAM NEWS
Valencia
Several players are doubtful heading into this clash, including Juan Mata, Jeremy Mathieu and Cesar. Miguel Moya and Marius Stankevicious are definitely missing, while David Albela is banned.
Schalke
Christoph Moritz is Schalke's main injury absentee, though there are a string of squad men, including new signing Angelos Charisteas, who don't make the trip.
Anthony Annan and Tim Hoogland are ineligible for the fixture.
While Barcelona and Real Madrid continue to catch the headlines in Spain, the steady performances of Valencia are easy to overlook. But los Che are one of the Primera Division’s form teams, having won seven of their last eight fixtures. Unai Emery’s outfit will be aiming to maintain their form in Europe as they aim for the Champions League quarter-finals.
Victory over Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon came by a 2-1 margin on Saturday evening. Jose Antonio Reyes gave los Colchoneros a third-minute lead, but Valencia were drawn back into the game thanks to goals from Joaquin in either half. Typical of los Che in recent weeks, the winner came late on, with the winger striking four minutes from time.
Speaking after the game, Valencia’s match-winner stressed the importance of the new-found resilience in his side, which allowed them to rebuff the advances of Atleti. “The step we have taken is important,” he told the media. “We have learnt how to suffer.”
The east coast club will attempt to take this form into Europe, with centre-back Ricardo Costa, a defender with experience of Bundesliga football, highlighting the importance of keeping a clean sheet at the Mestalla. “We want to win, but we have to think that there are two matches. We will try to win at home and avoid our opponents scoring,” he explained to Marca.
Valencia’s only Champions League defeat of the season came at home against Manchester United, but after negotiating the group stage in pretty convincing fashion, los Che will be confident of making further progress against their German opponents.
 |
Schalke’s appeal this season has been in their erratic and unpredictable nature. Felix Magath’s side were given a big build-up going into the campaign, but having made great changes to the club’s personnel, they initially struggled to find form. Die Knappen came good in the autumn, easing their Bundesliga worries and progressing in the Champions League, and though the winter shutdown has rather hampered their momentum, the Gelsenkirchen side will be confident of coming good at the right time.
A weekend win was recorded over Freiburg, keeping the relegation wolf a relatively comfortable six points from the door. Jefferson Farfan was the only scorer on that occasion, finding the net four minutes into the second half to gift the Ruhr club the win.
“I am very optimistic,” Raul explained to Schalke’s official website when asked to consider Tuesday’s fixture. “Valencia are undoubtedly one of the biggest clubs in Spain and have in recent years has been to qualify for the Champions League. Nevertheless, I think we have very good chances of reaching the next round.
“In the group phase, our team has already shown what services they can perform. We also have the advantage that the return match is in the Veltins-Arena. Our fans are a very important factor in such games.”
Historically, the Mestalla is not a venue that should hold too many fears for Schalke, who have previously earned a 1-1 draw at the Spanish arena to progress in the UEFA Cup. This encounter has a good deal more riding on it, and has the potential to make or break the Germans’ season.
TEAM NEWS
Valencia
Several players are doubtful heading into this clash, including Juan Mata, Jeremy Mathieu and Cesar. Miguel Moya and Marius Stankevicious are definitely missing, while David Albela is banned.
Schalke
Christoph Moritz is Schalke's main injury absentee, though there are a string of squad men, including new signing Angelos Charisteas, who don't make the trip.
Anthony Annan and Tim Hoogland are ineligible for the fixture.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Valencia CF 2-0 Schalke 04
- 16.39 %
-
Valencia CF 2-1 Schalke 04
- 12.07 %
-
Valencia CF 1-1 Schalke 04
- 11.25 %
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Mar 9, 2011 | Schalke 04 3 - Valencia CF 1 |
|
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Feb 15, 2011 | Valencia CF 1 - Schalke 04 1 |
|
Valencia CF
   |
||
| Jun 1, 2013 | Sevilla 4 - Valencia CF 3 | LIGA |
| May 26, 2013 | Valencia CF 1 - Granada 0 | LIGA |
| May 18, 2013 | Getafe 0 - Valencia CF 1 | LIGA |
| May 12, 2013 | Rayo Vallecano 0 - Valencia CF 4 | LIGA |
| May 4, 2013 | Valencia CF 4 - Osasuna 0 | LIGA |
Schalke 04
 |
||
| May 18, 2013 | SC Freiburg 1 - Schalke 04 2 | GER1 |
| May 11, 2013 | Schalke 04 1 - VfB Stuttgart 2 | GER1 |
| May 3, 2013 | Borussia Mönchengladbach 0 - Schalke 04 1 | GER1 |
| Apr 28, 2013 | Schalke 04 4 - Hamburg 1 | GER1 |
| Apr 20, 2013 | Eintracht Frankfurt 1 - Schalke 04 0 | GER1 |
| Returns: | Valencia £43.30 |
|
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| Returns: | Draw £36.00 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 | |
| Returns: | Schalke £100.00 |
|
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| 13 | Guaita | Goalkeeper |
| 22 | Jérémy Mathieu | Defender |
| 3 | David Navarro | Defender |
| 20 | Ricardo Costa | Defender |
| 23 | Miguel Brito | Defender |
| 5 | Mehmet Topal | Midfielder |
| 24 | Tino Costa | Midfielder |
| 10 | Ever Banega | Midfielder |
| 9 | Roberto Soldado | Striker |
| 23 | Aritz Aduriz Zubeldia | Striker |
| - | Alejandro Domínguez | Striker |
| 2 | Bruno | Defender |
| 7 | Joaquín | Midfielder |
| - | Vicente Rodríguez Guillén | Midfielder |
| 6 | Hedwiges Maduro | Defender |
| - | César | Goalkeeper |
| 18 | Jordi Alba | Defender |
| 11 | Pablo Hernández | Midfielder |
| 1 | Manuel Neuer | Goalkeeper |
| 13 | Lukas Schmitz | Defender |
| 21 | Christoph Metzelder | Defender |
| 4 | Benedikt Höwedes | Defender |
| 22 | Atsuto Uchida | Defender |
| 18 | Jurado | Midfielder |
| 32 | Joel Matip | Midfielder |
| 24 | Peer Kluge | Midfielder |
| 17 | Jefferson Agustin Farfán | Striker |
| 25 | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | Striker |
| 7 | Raúl | Striker |
| 33 | Mathias Schober | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Hans Sarpei | Defender |
| 17 | Hao Junmin | Midfielder |
| 8 | Ali Kharmi | Midfielder |
| 9 | Edu | Striker |
| - | Mario Gavranovic | Striker |
| 31 | Julian Draxler | Midfielder |
| Roberto Soldado | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 9 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Roberto Soldado has been the man for the Champions League for Valencia to date, notching five goals in the competition already. A big, strong presence in attack for los Che, the 25-year-old Spaniard is a player Schalke will have to keep a close eye on in the penalty box. He’s scored braces in each of his last two European starts at the Mestalla.
| Raúl | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 7 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Raul makes his return to Spain with Schalke, and the veteran Real Madrid attacker will be keen to prove that he has lost none of his effectiveness. Has been a key catalyst in Schalke’s offensive unit at times this season, operating in a role just off a central front man, where his nous and experience is allowed to come to the fore. Was simply magnificent when die Koenigsblauen beat Lyon 3-0 in the autumn.
13 
22 
3 
20 
23 
5 
24 
10 
9 
23 
0 
1 
13 
21 
4 
22 
18 
32 
24 
17 
25 
7 Valencia would do well not to underestimate Schalke, who have proven themselves to be a dangerous force. The Bundesliga outfit have largely saved their best football for the Champions League this term, which makes then a dangerous prospect, but the Spaniards should have too much on Tuesday.
Results
Times In BST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
12 | 0 |
|
Robert Lewandowski Striker Dortmund |
10 | 1 |
|
Thomas Müller Striker Bayern |
8 | 1 |
|
Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
8 | 0 |
|
Burak Yılmaz Striker Galatasaray |
8 | 0 |
