Group B’s top two go head-to-head on Wednesday evening in a match that is of vital important to Schalke, while Olympique Lyonnais would doubtless settle for a point, which would leave them only needing to beat Hapoel Tel Aviv at home in a fortnight to secure top spot.
In hindsight, Matchday 4 is likely to be considered the pivotal evening in this pool. While OL were busy being mauled in Benfica (the 4-3 final score was flattering in the extreme to the French side), die Koenigsblauen were wasting their chance to stake a real claim for top spot as they were held to a 0-0 draw against previously pointless Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Such is the top heavy nature of this group, even a victory over les Gones wouldn’t necessarily ensure Felix Magath’s side a place in the knock-out stages. Anything but a win, however, would leave the Germans in a very awkward position when travelling to Benfica in their final match.
It’s not been a simple campaign at all for the Gelsenkirchen outfit, who lie only one place outside the Bundesliga relegation spots. However, there will be plenty of confidence in the side after a terrific 4-0 victory over Werder Bremen at the weekend highlighted the potential that die Knappen possess in their ranks.
Worrying for OL, it was Champions League specialist Raul who most prominently flexed his muscles at the weekend, scoring a hat-trick, and with such a dangerous scorer in form, it would be foolhardy to write off Schalke’s challenge prematurely.
Mixed Messages
Olympique Lyonnais are a side who have come under a great deal of scrutiny in France, with the future of general manager Claude Puel apparently very short at one stage. After seven fixtures in Le Championnat, les Gones were sensationally second bottom, but not after 14 matches they are only two points from the summit.
Puel’s men have certainly been aided by the tight nature of the league and the inability of the big clubs to string a positive run of performances together after difficult summers, but there can be little doubt that OL are a side on the up.
On Sunday evening they produced a stirring second half display to shrug off the challenge of a Racing Club de Lens side themselves unbeaten. Lyon were poor in the first half but improved after the break with the introductions of Lisandro Lopez and Yoann Gourcuff, though it was Bafetimbi Gomis and Jean Makoun who were the chief protagonists during a 3-1 victory.
OL are now seven Ligue 1 matches unbeaten, though there are still clear deficiencies in the side. These were apparent in the first half at the weekend and for long periods of their defeat against Benfica three weeks ago. The Portuguese side picked huge holes in the Lyon back line and stormed to a 4-0 lead before losing their concentration and letting the Frenchmen close the gap to 4-3.
Not only does the late rally in Portugal mean the les Gones will finish above the Aguias if they earn just three more points, it shows the OL are a team of character and should not easily be written off. Equally, though, Lyon cannot forget their shortcomings against hungry opponents.
TEAM NEWS
Schalke
Schalke’s injury problems are clearing up, but perhaps not quick enough alter their unit for the midweek encounter. Junmin Hao, Tim Hoogland and Christian Pander are all back in training after various injuries, while Lukas Schmitz and Jermaine Jones have been given the all-clear.
Levan Kenia has been missing for over a year with an ankle issue.
Lyon
Both Ederson and Cesar Delgado have failed to turn out for the first XI since August, while Clement Grenier will be out for around a month because of a thigh problem.
Cris is expected to miss the game because of tendonitis and will be replaced by Dejan Lovren.
Prediction
Neither side is yet firing fully on all cylinders, but Schalke will certainly have received a boost by their fine weekend success. Lyon, on the other hand, are a side infused with great European experience and do tend to raise their game for the big occasion. If OL’s defence can stay tight, the French side could sneak a win, if it’s out of sync again, the Germans become favourites.
Schalke 04 1-1 O. Lyon 
