Steaua Bucuresti-Schalke 04 Statistical Preview

Probable Lineups

Team News

Steaua Bucuresti

• Steaua’s 1-1 draw with Pandurii Târgu Jiu at the weekend was their third successive in all competitions and has seen them knocked off top spot of Liga I.
• The Romanian side rested a number of first teamers in the stalemate, but head coach Lauren?iu Reghecampf will be expected to name his strongest possible XI.

Schalke 04

• Schalke’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Eintracht at the weekend means they’ve lost just the once in their last 7 league games and they’ll be looking to take that form into the Champions League.
• Jens Keller has a number of injury worries ahead of the trip to Romania, with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Chinedu Obasi, Marco Höger and Timo Hildebrand all sidelined, while Kyriakos Papadopoulos continues to struggle to shake off a knee injury.
• Schalke know a win here, and results going their way, will see them secure a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Match Facts

• Steaua Bucuresti have failed to win their last 7 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).
• Prediction
• Steaua currently foot Group E, but will be confident of securing a win over an out of form Schalke side. The Romanian’s may not have picked up a win in the first 4 games, but know a victory will give them the belief to secure passage from their group.
• Schalke have lost their last 2 Champions League fixtures, although both of those came against Chelsea. The Bundesliga side will look to return to winning ways at the expense of Steaua and know victory in Romania, and Chelsea defeating Basel, will see them earn a place in the knockout stages of Europe’s elite competition.
• Despite their injury worries, Schalke are expected to pick up the win here which will see Steaua knocked out of the Champions League.

Steaua Bucuresti 0 – 2 Schalke 04