Marcelo Bielsa - Athletic Bilbao
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
SCHALKE  Hildebrand Uchida, Matip, Papadopoulos, Fuchs Jones, Holtby Farfan, Raul, Draxler Huntelaar | ATHLETIC BILBAO  Iraizoz Iraola, Amorebieta, Martinez, Aurtenetxe Herrera, Iturraspe, De Marcos Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain |
Having put together a good run of form, Huub Stevens is expected to stick with the same starting line-up from the weekend's 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen when his team faces Athletic Bilbao.
Lars Unnerstall and Ralf Fahrmann both remain sidelined, leaving Timo Hildebrand to continue in goal, while Benedikt Howedes and Christoph Metzelder both have hamstring injuries. Meanwhile Teemu Pukki is unavailable, having already represented HJK Helsinki in the qualifying rounds.
Athletic Bilbao will also be able to name an unchanged side from Sunday's 1-1 draw with Sporting Gijon. Fernando Llorente made his comeback from a hip problem in the clash with Javier Clemente's side, and is free to start at the Veltins Arena.
Ander Herrera and Ander Iturraspe have both been struggling with injuries of late, but came through the match on Sunday unscathed, and have both been named in Marcelo Bielsa's squad.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Schalke boast an unbeaten record at home in the Europa League this season, but have kept a clean sheet just once - during a 0-0 draw with AEK Larnaca.
- The Royal Blues faced Spanish opposition at this stage of the competition in 1996-97, when they beat Valencia en route to winning the trophy.
- Julian Draxler (pictured, right) is the only player to have featured in all 10 of his side's Europa League games since the start of the group stage.
- Athletic Bilbao are competing in the quarter-finals of this tournament for the first time since 1976-77, when they went on to lose to Juventus in the final.
- All three of the Basque club's previous trips to Germany have ended in defeat.
- Fernando Amorebieta will be hoping to mark his 27th birthday with victory over Huub Stevens' men.
Schalke will approach this game full of confidence, having responded to a poor run of form in an impressive manner, recording four straight victories. Meanwhile, since their heroic exploits against Manchester United in the last round, Athletic Bilbao have stuttered, and have failed to win any of their last three games. Marcelo Bielsa's men are capable of raising their game, though, but I'd expect Schalke's superior confidence levels to see them through.
Editor's Prediction
Schalke 2-1 Bilbao 
