Real Madrid will look to close out its Champions League round of 16 matchup against Schalke 04.
The Spanish side enters the match with a 6-1 aggregate lead; that lead should be more than enough to sustain the team in the second leg. Schalke would need to win 7-2 to eliminate Real Madrid. Los Blancos have a record of 12 wins and one loss at home in 13 Spanish League tilts; the team has conceded a total of 10 goals at home in those 13 games. Real Madrid won all three Champions League matches in the group stage against teams including Juventus, Galatasaray and Copenhagen; the team conceded a total of two goals in those three home matches.
The odds are clearly not in Schalke's favor. In three Champions League road games this season, the team has scored a total of one goal and has one win, one draw and one loss. Moreover, the team has a road record of six wins, three draws and four losses in the Bundesliga with 22 goals scored and 23 conceded.
Schalke's big weapon is Julian Draxler who nearly scored in the first leg; Madrid goalie Iker Casillas made an acrobatic save to keep the score at 1-0 and Madrid would go on to expand on its lead.
Madrid's 6-1 lead offers coach Carlo Ancelotti some flexibility regarding his lineup, especially with a key game against Barcelona upcoming this weekend.
"We are going to make some changes because we have had a game with a lot of physical effort, we have travelled, and we have not rested much," said Ancelotti, according to ESPN. "To allow a good recovery for all the players we will make some changes. There are players who are tired. So will make some changes tomorrow."
Ancelotti revealed that Jese, Alvaro Morata and Isco would all get chances to start for the team.
"Morata, Jese and [Cristiano] Ronaldo are the three who will play up front tomorrow," Ancelotti said. "Tomorrow Isco will play [in midfield]. He has to get used to this position, which is a bit different, above all with defensive aspects. But both he and I are confident that he can play in that position."
Other players that will get a chance to start include Fabio Coentrao, Nacho Fernandez and Asier Illarramendi. Ronaldo enters the match with 11 goals in the Champions League; he is just three behind Lionel Messi for the most in a tournament and could easily surpass or tie that total with a solid performance on Tuesday.
Morata has played 13 games this season but has seen his spot on the depth chart drop with the Jese; the latter has five goals and four assists for Madrid in 18 matches for the club.
Player to watch: This match is just a formality but it will be interesting to see how many goals (if any) Ronaldo scores. He missed a plethora of chances in the first leg despite scoring twice. He should have more chances and could potentially put more in the net on Tuesday.
Prediction: Madrid wins 4-0.
The match kicks off at 2:45 p.m. EST and can be streamed online on Fox Soccer 2 Go. It can also be viewed on Fox Deportes.
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