| The UEFA Europa League Round of 32 brings on Thursday (23.02.2012) the second leg between FC Schalke 04 and Viktoria Plzeň at the Veltins Arena. The first leg one week ago brought a 1:1 draw through goals from Vladimír Darida (22.) and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (75.). |
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FC Schalke 04 counts to the favourites on the Europa League title. Schalke 04 stayed undefeated during the group stage (4 wins, 2 draws) and won their Group J ahead Steaua Bucureşti, Maccabi Haifa and AEK Larnaca. Very impressive was Schalke's goal difference with 13:2. Altogether Schalke 04 is unbeaten in 8 European matches − five wins and three draws − since a 2-0 loss at HJK Helsinki in the play-off first leg. On Thursday manager Huub Stevens will have to pass on the injured keepers Unnerstall and Fährmann. Hence, former German's team goalie Hildebrand will keep the goal.
After three won qualifying rounds - against Pyunik FC, Rosenborg Trondheim and FC København - Viktoria Plzeň advanced for the first time in history to the UEFA Champions League group stage. With title-holder FC Barcelona (0:2, 0:4) and the Italian champion AC Milan (0:2, 2:2) Viktoria Plzeň had two superior opponents in their group. However, in the direct duel with Belarus champion BATE Borisov (1:1, 1:0) Plzeň was the stronger team and so they qualified for the Europa League Round of 32. Viktoria-manager Pavel Vrba will miss the central defenders Bystron (doping ban) and Neuwirth (injured).
FC Schalke 04 - FC Viktoria Plzeň UEFA Europa League, Round of 32
Date: 23 February, 2012 - 21:05 CET
Stadium: Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen
Referee: tba
FC Schalke 04: Keeper: Hildebrand
Defenders: Höwedes, Papadopoulos, Matip, Fuchs
Midfielders: Höger, J. Jones - Obasi, Raul, Draxler
Forwards: Huntelaar
Manager: Huub Stevens
Injured: Unnerstall, Fährmann, Kluge
Booked:
FC Viktoria Plzeň: Keeper: M. Cech
Defenders: Rajtoral, Prochazka, Cisovsky, Limbersky
Midfielders: Horvath, Darida - Petrzela, Kolar, Pilar
Forwards: Bakos
Manager: Pavel Vrba
Injured: Neuwirth
Booked:
FC Schalke 04 is unbeaten in 8 European matches (5 wins, 3 draws), at the Veltins Arena they have 3 wins and 1 draw. Generally they are very home strong. Schalke have won 6 of their previous 7 Bundesliga home games. With Unnerstall and Fährmann two Schalke keepers are injured, hence, Hildebrand will be in the starting eleven.
The weather forecast promises light mizzle and temperatures around 10°C.
Last meeting: 16.02.2012: Viktoria Pilsen - FC Schalke 04 1:1
Wins FC Schalke 04: 0
Wins Viktoria Plzeň: 0
Draws: 1
Current form (W - Win, D - Draw, L - Loss)
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FC Schalke 04 - W/D/L/D/W
Viktoria Plzeň - L/W/D/D/W
Viktoria Plzeň played a strong first leg and were for long periods the better team. At the Veltins Arena Schalke 04 will turn the tables. The individual class of Schalke's offensive players like Huntelaar, Raul or Obasi will decide this match. I bet on a home win.
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