FC Schalke 04 - Manchester United Preview

FC Schalke 04 - Manchester United Preview

Sir Alex Ferguson's side aiming for win to set up first ever two-legged success against German opposition

Premier League leaders have yet to concede goal on their travels in Europe but head to Veltins-Arena to face a Bundesliga team with a perfect home record in the competition


Schalke (4-4-2): Neuer; Uchida, Metzelder, Howedes, Sarpei; Baumjohann, Matip, Papadopoulos, Jurado; Edu, Raul.


Benedikt Howedes is a doubt for the hosts and could join an injured list which includes Peer Kluge, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Christian Pander, Mario Gavranovic, Christop Moritz and Tim Hoogland.

Manchester United (4-4-2): Van der Sar; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Giggs, Park; Rooney, Hernandez.

The vistors are expected to bring Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs back to the starting line-up after they were all rested at the weekend. Rafael may get the nod at right-back whilst striker Dimitar Berbatov is a doubt and Darren Fletcher is still to return to full fitness after a virus.


Schalke have won every single one of their home matches in the Champions League this season.
Striker Raul (pictured right) has won the Champions League three times, all as a Real Madrid player, as many times as United have won the competition.
This is Schalke’s first ever appearance in the last four of the Champions League and also their first ever tie against Manchester United.
Schalke currently sit 10th in the Bundesliga, 29 points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.
Ralf Rangnick's side warmed up for the semi-final with a 1-0 home defeat to Kaiserslautern
Manchester United are yet to concede a goal on their travels this season, and have won four and drawn one of their five away games.
Ryan Giggs is the sole survivor of the Manchester United team that famously defeated Bayern Munich 2-1 in the 1999 Champions League final courtesy of late goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham. Paul Scholes was suspended and missed the final at Camp Nou.
The Red Devils have never won a two-legged knockout tie against German opposition. They have lost all four attempts, most recently against Bayern Munich last season in the quarter-finals.
Michael Owen scored a hat-trick on his last appearance on German soil. The striker bagged all three goals as United beat Wolfsburg 3-1 in the group stages last season.
Sir Alex Ferguson has led United to six Champions League semi-finals, his record is won three, lost three.


Source : www.goal.com