Schalke has failed to carry-over their Bundesliga form into Europe. And that’s a good thing. SB Nation Soccer Editor Richard Farley looks at the Royal Blues’ chances against Valencia.
Schalke 04 Vs. Valencia CF, UEFA Champions League Preview: Unai Emery Tries To Find Formula To Derail Blues’ Run In Europe
Based on Schalke’s results since their draw at the Mestalla, last year’s Bundesliga runners-up look vulnerable. In league, they’ve lost to two relegation battlers (Borrusia Monchengladbach and Stuttgart), were drawn at home by Nürnberg, but won at the Allainz Arena, a result that looks less impressive the farther Bayern Munich falls in league. The culprit: An attack that’s scored only five goals in their last eight matches, failing to score multiple goals in any match since January 25.
Valencia’s form has gone in the other direction. After Schalke drew at the Mestalla, Sporting Gijon came to Valencia and did the same. Since, Valencia has posted impressive wins at Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca, in between losing 1-0 at home to Barcelona. They’ve built a four point lead on Villarreal for third place in Spain, and when you look at their result at the San Mamés against Bilbão, it makes sense to ask why Valencia couldn’t win in Gelsenkirchen if they could get three on the road to Spain’s fifth place side.
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