The clash between Bundesliga high-flyers and the team that outclassed Manchester United both home and away is bound to be a real treat for football fans everywhere.

Schalke largely struggled to balance between two major competitions last season and while they produced quite a coup by reaching Champions League quarter-finals, the team could do no better than the 14th place in the Bundesliga standings.

However, the Miners seem to have learned the lesson as they are doing brilliantly on all fronts this term.

The top 4 finish in Bundesliga and a Champions League berth are already in the bag, whereas Schalke look like serious candidates for the Europa League trophy.

After impressing in group stage, the Miners did well to eliminate Viktoria Plzen and Twente, and they aim to do the same against Athletic Bilbao.

Given that Huub Stevens’ side have won their last four games in all competitions, they look a good bet at odds of 2.25 (5/4) offered by BetVictor.

Having scored 13 goals in 10 Europa League games this season, Klaas Jan Huntelaar is 2.00 (1/1) with Bodog to continue the great scoring run against los Leones.

Joel Matip has had his red card rescinded and he is, therefore, in contention to face Bilbao, whereas Huub Stevens has no fresh injury worries.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Hildebrand – Uchida, Papadopoulos, Matip, Fuchs – Jones, Holtby – Farfan, Raul, Draxler – Huntelaar.

Athletic Bilbao largely impressed the footballing world with two amazing performances against Manchester United, which led many people to believe that los Leones were the main favourites for the Europa League trophy.

However, it appears that double victory over the Premier League champions completely drained Marcelo Bielsa’s side as they went on to pick up just one point from next three league games.

It is more than evident that the players are tired after already playing 48 games this season, and it looks as though they do not have enough energy left for the final push. Even so, odds of 3.60 (13/5) offered by BetVictor on away win do look tempting.

As if that was not enough, Spanish La Liga chiefs decided to schedule the game against Barcelona for Saturday evening, meaning that los Leones will have to face the Catalans less than 48 hours after the Schalke game is finished.

The good news is that Ander Herrera and Fernando Llorente have made the trip to Germany, even if they are carrying knocks at the moment. David Lopez, however, misses out with an ankle problem.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Iraizoz – Iraola, Javi Martinez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe – Herrera, Iturraspe, De Marcos – Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain.