Preview: Real Madrid vs. Schalke 04

Only a minor miracle will prevent Real Madrid from booking their spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in Tuesday's clash with Schalke 04 at the Bernabeu.

The Spanish outfit were 6-1 winners when they travelled to Germany for the first leg of the last-16 clash last month, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema netting braces.

The home side enter the match on the back of a 30-match unbeaten run in all competitions, while they have won their last 16 home games and conceded just twice on their own patch in 2014.

Madrid, who currently top La Liga by three points, are also one of just two teams currently unbeaten in this season's Champions League.

Schalke, meanwhile, have just lost twice in all competitions since the turn of the year, but they have won just two of their last 14 appearances against Spanish opposition, losing seven times in the process.

The German side have also lost all each of their last three ties in knockout competition when they lost the first leg at home.

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has already confirmed that Jese Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata will start in a three-pronged attack alongside Ronaldo.

Los Blancos will be without the services of Benzema, who is suffering with a thigh injury, but Nacho and Isco are likely to start as Ancelotti rotates his squad for the European clash.

Schalke, meanwhile, are expected to be without the services of Jefferson Farfan, but Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who scored in the first leg, will lead the line against his former club.

Max Meyer is also expected to come into the XI after starting on the bench in their 2-1 win over Augsburg at the weekend, with Kevin-Prince Boateng and Julian Draxler also due to feature in the Spanish capital.

Recent form

Madrid: WWDWW

Schalke: DLLWW

Possible starting lineups

Madrid: Casillas; Nacho, Ramos, Varane, Coentrao; Illarramendi, Alonso, Isco; Ronaldo, Jese, Morata

Schalke: Fahrmann; Hoogland, Howedes, Kolasinac, Matip; Neustadter, Goretzka; Draxler, Boateng, Meyer; Huntelaar

Sports Mole says: 3-1