BERLIN — Holder Real Madrid does not expect another goal bonanza at Schalke 04 in Wednesday's Champions League Round of 16 first leg after its big win last season, with midfielder Toni Kroos warning not to underestimate the Germans. Coach Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping his normally formidable attacking trident of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, known collectively in Spain as ‘BBC', return to top form in time for the trip to Germany. The trio each scored twice in the 6-1 victory at Schalke in last term's Round of 16 first leg but Ronaldo, in particular, has been off color since winning a third FIFA Ballon d'Or award last month. The Portugal captain again failed to score in Saturday's unconvincing 2-0 win at home to promoted Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga and has managed only four goals this year. In that time, Real has been knocked out of the King's Cup by Atletico Madrid while a 4-0 drubbing at its city rival in La Liga this month cut its lead over second-placed Barcelona to a point. “We are top of La Liga and the reigning champions in Europe,” Ancelloti said Saturday. “It's true that we have not been brilliant in 2015, but I hope the return of the Champions League will bring out the best in us again.” Another reason for Real's stumble has been injuries to regular center backs Pepe and Sergio Ramos. Pepe should be available but Ramos is not due to return for about a month and their replacements, Raphael Varane and Nacho, have looked far from convincing. Improving Schalke, fourth in the Bundesliga, is desperate to make amends for last season's drubbing and hopes Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who missed training last week with a virus, will be fit. Basel's Champions League tie against Porto also Wednesday, meawnwhile, pits two clubs who have mastered the art of nurturing the talent of little-known footballers and selling them on to Europe's top teams. Unable to compete with the financial power of the biggest clubs, both have instead been happy to accept a role as stepping-stones for players hoping to make their way to one of the leading five leagues. Having qualified at the expense of Manchester United in 2011-12, Basel ousted Liverpool in the group stage this time around. The Swiss side, in its first season under Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa, is attempting to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1973-74 when it lost 6-5 on aggregate to Celtic. — Agencies
