On Tuesday, the second leg matches of the Champions League quarter-finals will take place. Gelzenkirchen's "Schalke" will try to overturn the 0-2 defeat against Madrid's "Real" away, while "Porto" and "Basel" will settle scores in Portugal (1-1).
"Real" - "Schalke"
The royal club has fallen into a pit in the Spanish championship, but in the Champions League everything is going smoothly for them - Carlo Ancelotti's players will aim to secure their record-breaking 11th consecutive victory.
After triumphing for the 10th time in last year's May in the strongest club tournament in the world, "Real" has no other goal but to repeat their impressive success.
The Madrid team will also chase another achievement - to repeat the record and win the European trophy for the 12th time in a row at home.
However, Madrid fans have reason to worry - after losing to Bilbao's "Athletic," the "La Liga" leader's throne has been taken over, and due to an injury series, "Real's" game has become unbalanced.
"Our team is focused on the goals we are fighting for. We have little time to correct mistakes and solve problems.
It's strange to say, but we have problems in the attack, although at the beginning of the season we scored many goals," said "Real" coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Meanwhile, "Schalke" would not want to remember last year's round of 16 series against "Real," which ended with an overall result of 2-9.
Last weekend, Roberto Di Matteo's players finally secured a victory after a five-match wait when they defeated "Hoffenheim" 3-1.
Christian Fuchs, who scored the first goal, hoped to make a sensation in Spain.
"We are going to Madrid with a fighting spirit. No one will say that we will succeed in turning events in the right direction, but there is always a chance," the Austrian said.
Defender Luka Modric, who recovered from an injury, may return to the "Real" squad, but Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez are still not guaranteed to play. Meanwhile, the Germans will have to do without the suspended Kevin-Prince Boateng.
"Porto" - "Basel"
Twice Champions League winner "Porto" can boast of excellent form.
In the local championship, they defeated "Braga" 1-0, extending their winning streak to six victories.
However, the Portuguese will have to figure out how to cope without injured striker Jackson Martinez.
It is expected that Cristian Tello, who has been showing good form, will try to influence the team's performance.
He was the only one to score against "Braga" and recently scored a hat-trick against "Sporting."
"Porto," along with "Real" and London's "Chelsea" clubs, has not yet experienced defeat in the Champions League this season and will try to reach the quarter-finals for the second time after their triumph in 2004.
"Basel" coach Paulo Sousa returns to his homeland. The Swiss have only once reached the quarter-finals among the top eight strongest European clubs since 1974 and have never celebrated a victory in Portugal.
Last weekend, "Basel" defeated "Thun" 3-0, securing their third consecutive victory and continuing to lead the Swiss league.
They will be without the suspended Marek Suchy and injured Ivan Ivanov in their squad.
