Schalke may still be struggling at home, but they are continually proving themselves as a force in Europe, so Hapoel Tel Aviv will have their work cut out if they are to pick up anything at home against the Bundesliga club.
The Israelis have now played three Champions League fixtures and they have yet to earn a point. They opened up positively enough against Benfica, going down to an unflattering 2-0 defeat, but having also succumbed against Olympique Lyonnais and the Germans, both incidentally by 3-1 scorelines, they are well out of the race to reach the knock-out stages.
Even the Europa League is looking a distant dream, but with two home matches to come Eli Guttman’s side will still hold out some hope that better lies just around the corner.
After going down in Gelsenkirchen a fortnight ago, Guttman pointed out that his side lack the top level experience to seriously compete against their opponents, lamenting a lack of killer instinct in the final third and a lackadaisical attitude defensively that comes about from not being punished enough domestically.
Though this European campaign could almost be considered a write-off already, with the Red Demons in the mix for their domestic title once again, valuable lessons can be learnt for further excursions onto the continent.
Firing Blanks
A late charge to second in the Bundesliga last season had Schalke celebrating an automatic berth in the Champions League for this term, but six months on all is not so cheery for Felix Magath’s Gelsenkirchen side. Second from bottom in the Bundesliga, playing in Europe is presently an escapist experience for the Germans, giving them a chance to forget the day-to-day grind and replace it with some glamour.
At the weekend, die Koenigsblauen suffered their latest blow as they went down at home 1-0 against Bayer Leverkusen. A plethora of opportunities were squandered by the home side, leaving veteran Spanish striker Raul to lament: “We just don't score enough goals.”
The 33-year-old certainly has a point; with 10 goals from their 10 games so far, no German top flight side has found the net on fewer occasions than Magath’s men.
Though the Germans were shut out by Lyon in France, hindered by a first half red card to Benedict Hoewedes, they have since found the net with relative ease in continental competition, dispatching the challenge of Benfica 2-0 with a pair of goals in the last 20 minutes and then bettering Hapoel Tel Aviv 3-1, with the legendary figure of Raul striking twice.
For all their domestic troubles, Schalke are still very well placed to progress in Europe, and victory on Tuesday will only raise hopes more.
TEAM NEWS
Hapoel
Itay Shechter is sidelined with a hamstring injury picked up in a domestic fixture against Maccabi Petach. Additionally, Avihay Yadin picked up an ankle injury at the weekend and is rendered a big doubt. Romain Rocchi and Mahran Lala are both long-term problems, having recently undergone surgery.
Schalke
Lukas Schmitz and Joel Matip both picked up injuries at the weekend, clearing the way for a possible start for Mario Gavranovic. Schmitz has already been ruled out for certain.
Jermaine Jones also misses out, as does Junmin Hao, who had an appendectomy last week. Tim Hoogland, Levan Kenia and Christian Pander are long-term issues.
Prediction
Hapoel have been competitive in their fixtures so far, they’ve just lacked a little cutting edge and defensive nous. It may well be that Schalke’s greater experience is enough to guide them past their Israeli opponents once again, keeping the Bundesliga outfit firmly in the hunt for a knock-out round berth. A fourth two-goal loss for the hosts would be no massive shock.
Hapoel 0-2 Schalke 04 
