Keeping It Real

Nobody is expecting a repeat of last season’s 6-1 victory for Real in this fixture but we could still prosper from backing the reigning champions to triumph but with both teams to score - a 7/4 shot with WilliamHill.

The reasons for supporting the away win are fairly easy to point out. Carlo Ancelotti’s boys have emerged victorious in seven of their last nine away matches in the competition; in that sequence they beat Bayern Munich 4-0 and Liverpool 3-0.

All together Los Blancos have won their last nine Champions League fixtures, scoring 25 times in the process.

But since the turn of the year Real have shown their vulnerable side. They lost 2-1 to Valencia before city rivals Atletico knocked them out over two legs in the Copa Del Rey. Then to make matters worse, the same arch-rivals beat them 4-0 in their most recent away match on 7 February.

The holders are badly missing Sergio Ramos and it is his absence which makes me believe that Schalke will score in defeat here.