uefa champions league preview Valencia vsSchalke 04 leg-1

The UEFA Champions League match between Valencia and Schalke 04 is perhaps the most evenly matched of all of the Round of 16 ties in the competition. Though Schalke started their campaign in the Bundesliga very poorly, they have been much better over the last couple of months and they were great throughout group stage play in the Champions League. Valencia have been consistent, if not spectacular, and currently sit in the top four places in La Liga, poised to return to the Champions League for next season. Both teams have a wealth of options at their disposal, with Unai Emery possibly having the most interesting managerial dilemma between the two gaffers. Valencia have utilized both a 4-4-2 and a 4-2-3-1 formation for portions of this season. This stems from the dilemma between controlling the center of the pitch and being able to play Roberto Soldado and Aritz Aduriz together. This weekend, Emery opted for the former option with mixed results. Though they were able to win their match against Atletico Madrid, Los Che just barely managed to steal the three points. Considering how poor Atleti have been recently, it’s not a great sign for a team who has aspirations of making a deep run in Champions League.
In that match, the band of three attacking midfielders behind the striker, Soldado to start the match, was Joaquin, Pablo, and Jordi Alba. Juan Mata was unavailable for the match, while Vicente was left to the bench. Because of the absence of Ever Banega and the aforementioned players, Tino Costa took his place in midfield alongside Mehmet Topal. Valencia seem likely to play a similar midfield on Tuesday, but with Mata returning from injury, one member of the starting band of three behind Soldado will likely be dropped.
While Schalke did well in the group stages of this tournament, they will be coming into their tie with Valencia with a slightly different squad. Jermaine Jones has been sent packing to Blackburn after falling out with Felix Magath, while Ivan Rakitic was sold to Sevilla on account of him only having six months remaining on a contract he had no intention of renewing. They have been replaced with Ghanaian international Anthony Annan and Iranian international Ali Karimi. Time will tell if they are adequate replacements for the two departed former stars.
Schalke could opt to leave out either Klass-Jan Huntelaar or Raul in order to put an extra man in midfield on the road, but it seems unlikely that Felix Magath would want to pull one of his best two players against a team that arguably out-classes his on pure talent. Much will be asked of his central midfield pairing, whoever they may be, against Valencia if Los Che opt not to play 4-4-2.
Los Che looks good to get a win in the first leg at home on Tuesday, but don’t put it past them to concede an away goal that makes the away leg a much tougher prospect. Valencia should control the midfield, but succumb to the talents of Huntelaar, Raul, and Jefferson Farfan on at least one occasion.
Valencia projected starting XI: Panadero; R. Costa, Stankevicius, Maduro, Bruno; Topal, A. Costa; Pablo, Joaquin, Mata; Aduriz
Schalke projected starting XI: Neuer; Uchida, Hoewedes, Metzelder, Schmitz; Farfan, Kluge, Matip, Jurado; Raul, Huntelaar

Prediction: Valencia 3, Schalke 1

Tibi/worldsoccerreader