Fairly tight in Champions League Group E with just two rounds of fixtures remaining but that could all change tonight.
An away win for Chelsea in Switzerland against Basel would see the 2012 winners reach the last 16 as group winners and Schalke will be more than hopeful of emulating Jose Mourinho’s side with a victory on the road themselves.
The Germans have travelled to Bucharest to take on Steaua and the odds against about the Bundesliga side repeating their convincing matchday 1 triumph over the Romanians is fair.
A win would see Jens Keller’s men all but reach the knockout stage and Schalke are expected to dismiss opponents that have found the step up in grade difficult.
Kellers’ men found the Blues too good in back-to-back matches, losing 3-0 in each fixture, but their overall form domestically has been decent and they are always a threat going forward.
It is five top flight matches unbeaten away from home for Schalke, scoring 12 goals in that period, and it is hard to see the hosts keeping a clean sheet on Tuesday.
Steaua know they are destined to finish bottom of the section, travelling to west London on matchday 6, and might just have taken their eye off the ball already as they seek to overhaul Astra Giurgiu in the Liga 1 standings.
Chelsea romped to a 4-0 triumph at Arena Nationala and while two points against Basel in their double header was a fair return, Steaua do struggle to score goals against Europe’s elite.
I expect the highly promising Julian Draxler to enjoy himself in midfield for the visitors and Schalke should cope without striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, a long-term injury absentee.
Former AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng is certainly a threat to the opposition goal, the Ghanaian international has bagged five in his last eight Bundesliga matches, and Schalke possess the greater number of potential match-winners.
2pts Back Schalke (vs. Steaua Bucharest) @ 21/20 (various)