Champions League preview: Valencia v Schalke

Spanish superstar Raul is set to return home on Tuesday, when his Schalke side visit Valencia in a Champions League round of 16 first-leg match.

The 33-year-old striker – who scored 228 goals for Real Madrid in a 16-year stint at the Bernabeu – signed for Schalke in July, and has scored 10 goals so far in the Bundesliga to help his new team into 10th place.

Raul said he was looking forward to returning to his homeland for the match, but was anticipating a tough task at the Estadi de Mestalla.

“It certainly won’t be easy but, personally, I’ve got good memories from playing there,” Raul said. “Valencia are a great team but this is going to be a very even tie.”

“It’s a really great incentive for me especially playing against such a strong rival and in a stadium that generates a great atmosphere. It’s an extraordinary setting to play a Champions League game.”

The Spaniards advanced to the knockout stages by finishing second in Group C, three points behind Manchester United – confounding critics who said they would struggle after the off-season departures of Spanish international attackers David Silva and David Villa.

Valencia are third in La Liga, after Saturday’s 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid lifted them above Villarreal, and have more Champions League experience than the Germans, having been beaten finalists in 2000 and 2001.

Ironically, it was Real Madrid who beat them in the 2000 final – with the third goal in Real’s 3-0 victory scored by none other than Raul.

Schalke, on the other hand, have struggled so far in the Bundesliga – losing their first four matches before climbing up the table, thanks in large part to the form of Raul and Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, a fact not lost on Valencia defender Ricardo Costa.

“Raul is the star of the team along with Huntelaar but we also can’t forget about (striker Jefferson) Farfan,” Costa said.

“We are desperate to win this tie and we have to remember that it is two matches and try to score at home and keep a clean sheet.”

Lithuanian midfielder Marius Stankevicius is unavailable for Valencia after representing Sampdoria in the tournament’s qualifying rounds, and the Spaniards will be using Vicente Guaita in goal because of injuries to the more seasoned Cesar Sanchez and Miguel Moya.