Metzelder: Schalke coming into form at the right time

Mar 12, 2013 5:00:00 PM

The former Real Madrid man feels the club is moving in the right direction and they can still beat Galatasaray despite being without Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for the match

EXCLUSIVE
by Stefan Doring

Schalke defender Christoph Metzelder believes the club are coming into form at the right stage of the season as they prepare to face Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Gelsenkirchen outfit beat local rivals Borussia Dortmund 2-1 to go fourth in Bundesliga, and head into the second leg of the last-16 tie against the Turkish champions locked at 1-1.

Jens Keller's side are unbeaten in their last five matches, and while Metzelder is happy with the club's form, he still feels they need to improve again to progress to the quarter-finals.

"We are on an upswing at the moment. The team improved in the last few weeks and we stabilised our performances," he said.

"Nevertheless we have to stay humble. The success came and went during the whole season. We have to step on the gas against Galatasaray."

The Veltins-Arena outfit have been hit by an injury to striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, with the Netherlands international stretchered off in Saturday's win over Dortmund, but Metzelder believes his Finnish replacement can step up to the plate.

He added: "It's of course a setback for us, playing without Huntelaar. He was in a very good shape in the last few games. Now Teemu Pukki has to take his chance, and we know he can do this."

The victory in the Ruhr derby was one of the most exciting matches of the season thus far, and Metzelder thinks it was a great advert for German football.

He continued: "That was a high-class match and promotion for Bundesliga football. Solely, the drama in the last few minutes was unique."

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Champions League final - LIVE!

German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.

8:43 PM BST

Jay Jaffa is watching the game surrounded by German fans and he's picked up what he has described himself as a tremendously "precise" prediction from one supporter.

"We've had boos, moans and groans throughout the half from fans unhappy with Bayern's resurgence. The loudest cheers of all have been saved for Roman Weidenfeller though, after two exceptional saves from Arjen Robben. There's no doubt, in this pub at least, that the support lies with Dortmund and a friendly chap named Andreas believes BVB will come out on top, insisting: 'We will get stronger as the game goes on and Lewandowski will score in the final 10 minutes.' About as precise a prediction as you can get!"

8:40 PM BST

Bayern have really come into the game and have had some great chances, but, for my money, Dortmund shaded that opening 45 minutes. They also shaded the poll Goal ran on Facebook earlier. We asked you who would win at Wembley tonight and 55 per cent of you sided with the underdogs. It really will be fascinating to see if Klopp's men can pull this off in the second half, which is just five minutes away.

8:36 PM BST

Half-time at Wembley and we're still scoreless. Quite how is beyond me, because both sides have had some wonderful chances but both Neuer and Weidenfeller have proven unbeatable up until this point. It really does look like it's going to take something special to break the deadlock.

Arjen Robben has looked the man most likely, having had two one-on-ones already, but Goal Germany's Tim Rohn says the Dutchman has annoyed his team-mates no end during that opening 45 minutes.

"There were two chances in which Robben should have passed into the middle. But he decided to take both himself - without success. Mandzukic was furious on one occasion, while Muller just shook his head. Robben's selfishness pleases only Dortmund's fans."

8:31 PM BST

WEIDENFELLER SAVES WITH HIS FACE! Robben gets in on goal again, this time after Hummels fails to deal with a long ball over the top. The Dutch winger lets rip but Weidenfeller gets his mush in the way and the ball flies away to safety. The Dortmund shot-stopper knew little about that but, you have to say, both goalkeepers have done wonderfully well thus far to keep this one scoreless.

8:28 PM BST

Right, let's check in with Dortmund fan Stefan Dorin, who, unsurprisingly, is loving the fact that Jurgen Klopp's men have given their massive travelling contingent plenty to shout about in the opening 40 minutes.

"Great game! Borussia clearly is clearly dominating the match and, of course, the stands. But it's a shame that the score is still 0-0. But it's good to see our team standing up to Bayern again, especially in midfield. The tension is immense, though!"

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