Preview: Real Madrid vs. Schalke 04

Real Madrid will attempt to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League when they welcome German outfit Schalke 04 for the second leg of their last-16 clash on Tuesday evening.

Los Blancos will enter the match as the firm favourites to advance into the final eight following a 2-0 victory in the first leg last month.

Should the home side record another victory at the Bernabeu, they would match the 12-game Champions League record for successive home wins, while they have not been beaten at home in this particular competition since April 2011, when Barcelona recorded a 2-0 victory.

However, Real Madrid, who are bidding to become the first team to retain the Champions League in the modern era, will enter the match off the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao at the weekend. That result dropped Carlo Ancelotti's side off the top of La Liga, with Barcelona taking first position with 12 games of the season remaining.

That said, they are in a strong position to reach the last eight of this particular competition and history suggests that will be the case, having lost just one of 29 UEFA competition ties when they won the first leg away from home.

Schalke, meanwhile, have lost on all three of their previous visits to Madrid - twice against Atletico and at the Bernabeu at the same stage of last season's competition. Their away record against La Liga opposition is also fairly disappointing - winning just two of their 13 games on the road.

Since losing to Real Madrid in the first leg last month, they have recorded just one win in the league, but that came at home to Hoffenheim at the weekend. Schalke have also only won just two of their last nine games in the Champions League.

Ancelotti has revealed that Luka Modric will return from a thigh problem, but the Croatian will start the match on the bench. Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez are also still unavailable through injury, meaning that Ancelotti does not have too many options for change.

The Italian's major decision will come in central midfield, with Asier Illarramendi and Lucas Silva battling for a place alongside Isco and Toni Kroos.

Schalke, meanwhile, will be without the services of Kevin-Prince Boateng, who is suspended. Dennis Aogo, Julian Draxler, Ralf Fahrmann and Jefferson Farfan are among those still on the sidelines, with the German outfit having eight first-team injuries at this stage of the season.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is fit, however, with the Dutchman expected to lead the line with support from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. German youngster Max Meyer, who hit a brace against Hoffenheim at the weekend, is also pushing for a spot in the XI.

Real Madrid:

Form in CL: WWWWWW Form in all competitions: LWWWDL

Possible starting lineup: Casillas; Carvajal, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo; Silva, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

Schalke 04:

Form in CL: DWLLWL Form in all competitions: WLLDLW

Possible starting lineup: Wellenreuther; Howedes, Matip, Nastasic; Fuchs, Hoger, Neustadter, Barnetta; Meyer, Huntelaar, Choupo-Moting

Sports Mole says: 3-1