Schalke v Real Madrid: Visitors look good for victory in the Veltins

Cristiano Ronaldo has been carried by his team mates recently, but they should still get over the line at the Veltins Arena

Real Madrid are not quite in the form to repeat last season's thrashing of Schalke, but Tobias Gourlay still makes them firm favourites this time around...

Schalke v Real Madrid
Wednesday 19:45 (Live on Sky Sports 5)
Schalke 8.27/1, Real 1.454/9, The Draw 5.24/1

Match Odds

For a record 18th consecutive season, Real Madrid have made the Champions League last 16.

In each of the most recent four campaigns, they've gone all the way to the last four and, just like when these two met at the same stage last season and Real won 9-2 on aggregate, Schalke do not look like a team to stop them.

This time around, Real emerged from the group stage with a perfect W6-D0-L0 record, while Schalke conceded 14 times across their six group matches - more than anyone else still left in the competition.

Carlo Ancelotti is without some important players - Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez and perhaps Pepe - but Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, who each scored twice in last season's 6-1 win at the Veltins Arena, are all ready to go again.

Schalke have a lengthy injury list too. Julian Draxler and Jefferson Farfan, who started last year's game, are on it, while ex-Real striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been serving a domestic ban and hasn't played yet this month.

With help from new signings like Matija Nastasic, Roberto Di Matteo - new to Schalke this term - has tightened the defence a little. They've kept clean sheets in 5/8 Bundesliga home games, winning just as many, but first-choice keeper Ralf Fahrmann is now out for the season.

The visitors are not in prime form - they've scored four goals in only one of their last eight La Liga games, compared to 8/12 before then - but Schalke are depleted and it's hard to argue with Real's favouritism.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

Real have scored in 26/27 Champions League away games and there is little doubt they will hit the back of the net at some point on Wednesday night.

Both teams have scored in 5/6 of their first-leg away games - a 1.784/5 shot this time - with the most recent four all delivering Over 2.5 Goals, which is the 1.558/15 favourite this time.

Starting with this fixture a year ago, there have been goals at both ends in 6/8 of Schalke's European games.

Real conceded just twice in their six group games, but have leaked in 5/6 on the road in La Liga recently. Since Carlo Ancelotti moved to the Spanish capital, 24/31 of their Liga away matches have brought Over 2.5 Goals, including 11/12 this term.

With understudy Nacho set to start in heart of Real's defence and Schalke perhaps having to use third-choice 19-year-old keeper Timon Wellenreuther, the case for Over 2.5 Goals is enhanced. 

Match Odds and Over/Under 2.5 Goals 

On their own, neither Real Madrid nor Over 2.5 Goals have prices to get excited about.

Put them together in one bet, however, and by kick-off you should be able to get something like even money for both of these worthy favourites to come home.

To Score

Cristiano Ronaldo will lead the market as usual, but the Portuguese's form has dipped a little. Since mid-December he has scored in only 3/10 appearances across the Club World Cup, La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

In this season's Champions League, he has hit five in six games, while team mate Karim Benzema has scored just as many in one fewer appearance.

Ronaldo retains the advantage of taking penalties, but his French colleague will be available at a longer price.

Best Bet
Back Real Madrid/Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.01/1