There was no fluke about Schalke’s remarkable 5-2 win over Inter in the San Siro last week and they can qualify for the last four of the Champions League with ease.
Despite languishing in mid-table in the Bundesliga throughout the majority of the campaign, Schalke currently sit in ninth place, Wednesday’s hosts have thrived in European competition this term and they are now just 90 minutes away from a semi-final clash with Manchester United.
The Red Devils breezed past Chelsea on Tuesday, thanks to strikes from Javier Hernandez and Ji-Sung Park, and with a three goal lead and home advantage to come, the German side are heavily favoured to join them.
Dismissed as 100/1 outsiders when the Champions League began in September, there has been plenty to like about the way that Ralf Rangnick’s side have progressed throughout the competition and conceding just three times in a competitive group was impressive.
Having qualified ahead of Lyon, Benfica and Hapoel Tel-Aviv with something to spare, Schalke were thankful for a Jefferson Farfan double which helped them beat Valencia 4-2 on aggregate in the round of 16 and their home form remains formidable.
Inter arrive in Gelsenkirchen struggling to stay the pace with fierce rivals AC Milan at the top of Serie A and the defending champions were a shadow of the side Jose Mourinho so brilliantly inspired last year to go all the way in this competition eight days ago.
The 5-2 reversal was astonishing in that Inter lead before squandering four late goals in 35 manic minutes and I see no way back whatsoever for Leonardo’s side.
Having won eight of their last nine matches in the Champions League on home soil, the only defeat at the hands of Barcelona three years ago this month, Schalke will be no pushovers and their style of play should be suited by the circumstances they find themselves in.
Better on the front foot, the shrewd acquisition of Real Madrid legend Raul has given Schalke definitive impetuous going forward and I see plenty more goals in the return leg, too.
We are at that time of the season when sides needing to win are put in at artificially short prices and bearing in mind events in Italy last week it is difficult to fathom just why Wednesday’s visitors are favourites. That makes the Germans value and Schalke in the draw no bet market is the way to go.
3pts Back Schalke (draw no bet, vs. Inter) @ 2.05 (Coral)