Real Madrid will face Schalke 04 in the Last 16 round of the UEFA Champions League.
Los Blancos have learned their next rival in their way to conquer La Decima after UEFA today held the first knockout round in Nyon.
As group winners, Madrid will play the first leg of their tie away and the secong leg at home. The first matches will be played on February 18, 19, 25 and 26 while the second legs are scheduled for March 11, 12, 18 and 19.
Former Real Madrid player Luis Figo opened the balls that paired Real and the Germans. His pick prevented Los Merengues from facing more dangerous teams such as Manchester City and Arsenal.
Schalke are struggling in the Bundesliga this season, as they sit sixth in the table trailing Bayern Munich for a 17-point difference.
The Germans finished second in the group E of the Champions League first stage. They were emphatically beaten by Chelsea with a double 3-0, but they benefited from the other rivals’ weakness, leaving Basel and Steaua Bucaresti out.
19-year-old promising midfielder Julian Draxler will face the team he’s been strongly linked to in recent months.
Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez will watch these two games with an especial interest, since his two former sides will face off.
Meanwhile, Barcelona will play Manchester City in a difficult test for the Azulgranas, while Atletico Madrid will face Milan. The other knock-out pairings are Olympiacos-Manchester United, Galatasaray-Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen-Paris Saint Germain, Arsenal-Bayern Munich and Zenit-Borussia Dortmund.
