Schalke – Manchester United Preview: Sir Alex Ferguson’s side aiming for win to set up first ever two-legged success against German opposition

Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United (Getty Images)

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Benedikt Howedes is a doubt for the hosts and could join an injured list which includes Peer Kluge, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Christian Pander, Mario Gavranovic, Christop Moritz and Tim Hoogland.
The vistors are expected to bring Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs back to the starting line-up after they were all rested at the weekend. Rafael may get the nod at right-back whilst striker Dimitar Berbatov is a doubt and Darren Fletcher is still to return to full fitness after a virus.

• Schalke have won every single one of their home matches in the Champions League this season.

• Striker Raul (pictured right) has won the Champions League three times, all as a Real Madrid player, as many times as United have won the competition.

• This is Schalke’s first ever appearance in the last four of the Champions League and also their first ever tie against Manchester United.

• Schalke currently sit 10th in the Bundesliga, 29 points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.

• Ralf Rangnick’s side warmed up for the semi-final with a 1-0 home defeat to Kaiserslautern

• Manchester United are yet to concede a goal on their travels this season, and have won four and drawn one of their five away games.

• Ryan Giggs is the sole survivor of the Manchester United team that famously defeated Bayern Munich 2-1 in the 1999 Champions League final courtesy of late goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham. Paul Scholes was suspended and missed the final at Camp Nou.

• The Red Devils have never won a two-legged knockout tie against German opposition. They have lost all four attempts, most recently against Bayern Munich last season in the quarter-finals.  

• Michael Owen scored a hat-trick on his last appearance on German soil. The striker bagged all three goals as United beat Wolfsburg 3-1 in the group stages last season. 

• Sir Alex Ferguson has led United to six Champions League semi-finals, his record is won three, lost three.