Inter Milan will continue their Champions League defence as they host Schalke in the quarter-finals.
Inter hope to build on thrilling fightback while Schalke aim for upset
Inter Milan will continue their Champions League defence as they host Schalke in the quarter-finals on Tuesday night.
And the holders will be in confident mood after pulling off a thrilling fightback in the last round to keep alive their hopes of becoming the first club to successfully defend the European crown in the Champions League era.
Inter looked to be heading out of the competition as they trailed Bayern Munich 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate before Wesley Sneijder's 63rd-minute strike gave them hope.
Then with time running out, Goran Pandev popped up in the 88th minute to make it 3-3 on aggregate and send Inter through on away goals.
Under new coach Rafa Benitez, Inter had looked a shadow of the side that Jose Mourinho led to the treble last season, but since the Spaniard was replaced by Leonardo in December the Nerazzurri have got themselves back in the Serie A title race while mounting that late comeback in Munich.
Inter were then given a boost by avoiding Europe's big-boys in the quarter-final draw, although their preparations for the first leg against Schalke were dealt a blow as league leaders and derby rivals AC Milan beat them 3-0 on Saturday to inflict their first league defeat in seven matches.
Coaching change
Schalke's preparations have also been far from ideal as Ralf Rangnick has replaced Felix Magath for his second spell as Schalke coach since the 3-1 home win against Valencia, which clinched their place in the last eight.
There had been much speculation over Magath's future, with the Royal Blues struggling in the Bundesliga this season.
But the club ultimately wielded the axe just a week after Magath had led Schalke into the Champions League quarter-finals for only the second time in the club's history - they were knocked out at this stage by Barcelona in 2007/08, although they also reached the European Cup quarter-finals in 1958/59.
Their Bundesliga match at St Pauli on Friday was then abandoned with two minutes remaining and Schalke 2-0 up after the assistant referee was struck by a missile. If Rangnick's men are awarded the victory then it would be two wins from three since beating Valencia.
With that decision pending, Schalke sit 11th in the Bundesliga as they prepare to return to the scene of the 1997 Uefa Cup final, which they lost to Inter on penalties.
And the Nerazzurri have been in imperious form at the San Siro of late as before Bayern beat them 1-0 in the first leg in the last round, they had won their previous seven home games in the Champions League. They have also lost just one of their last 56 Serie A home games.
Team news
Diego Milito (thigh) should return to Inter's starting line-up after the two-goal hero from last season's final came off the bench against Milan to make his first appearance since early February.
The Argentina striker replaced Giampaolo Pazzini and the January signing from Sampdoria is ineligible for the Champions League.
Defensive duo Andrea Ranocchia (knee) and Cristian Chivu (calf) could both keep their place after coming through unscathed against Milan.
But centre-back Walter Samuel remains a long-term absentee having damaged knee ligaments in November.
Christoph Metzelder is expected to feature for Schalke despite breaking his nose in the abandoned game at St Pauli. The former Real Madrid centre-back will wear a protective mask at the San Siro.
However, Mario Gavranovic (ankle) and fellow midfielder Peer Kluge (abdominal strain) are both doubtful having picked up injuries on Friday.
Former Milan striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (knee) is unlikely to be in contention having not played since early March, while Christoph Moritz (knee) and Christian Pander (toe) are also set to remain out.
