Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 9y

Schalke can shock Real Madrid, says coach Roberto Di Matteo

Schalke are confident that Real Madrid will not inflict a repeat of last season's 6-1 Champions League drubbing in Gelsenkirchen.

Coach Roberto Di Matteo has shored up Schalke's defensive confidence, with the team having conceded only six goals in the 10 games following November's 5-0 Champions League loss to his former club Chelsea.

Di Matteo's 3-5-2 system has helped make them harder to beat, and the coach told the club's official website: "We'll be playing against one of the best teams in the world, but we're going into the game with the mindset that we want to win.

"We believe in ourselves, and we can win the game. We have experience against tough opposition, and every team has weaknesses. It'll be a test to see where we stand on the international stage."

Schalke skipper Benedikt Howedes said he believed the team "might have played too naive and wanted to attack" in last year's thrashing.

He told German newspaper Sport Bild: "Under Di Matteo, we are more stable in defence. We have only conceded 23 goals in 18 competitive games under him, and had seven clean sheets."

The Germany international described the coach as a "tactical mastermind" and added: "I am very confident that we can stand up to Real better than last year.

"Madrid are favourites, but their 4-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid has signalled that this team can be beaten this year."

The match at the Veltins Arena will see 19-year-old goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther make his Champions League debut after having played only 225 minutes of Bundesliga football.

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