GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany: Real Madrid are targeting a rare win in Germany when they take on Schalke 04 in Wednesday’s Champions League last 16, first-leg clash, the Spanish giants’ Gareth Bale says.

Having scored 20 goals in the group stages, Madrid are looking to improve on their dreadful away record in Germany as they take on Schalke for the first time.

“We know the Champions League is a big competition with all the best teams in it, so we know it is going to be difficult,” said the 24-year-old Wales winger.

“I think we are ready, we believe we can win every game so we’ll go over there and hopefully come back with the win.” The Spanish league leaders are unbeaten in 26 games in all competitions, dating back to last October, and are clear favorites against the Royal Blues of Gelsenkirchen, who are fourth in the Bundesliga.

But Madrid have prevailed just once in 24 previous away matches against German opposition, losing 17 times, including a 4-1 drubbing at Borussia Dortmund in last season’s semi-final first leg when Robert Lewandowski hit all four goals.

That said, Schalke’s form this season has been erratic and they have won only five of their last 11 home encounters against Spanish opponents, suffering four defeats.

Madrid will be able to call on the firepower of Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who returns from a three-game ban.

The injury doubts are left-backs Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao as neither played in the 3-0 win against Elche on Saturday, so Alvaro Arbeloa could deputise if neither are fit.

Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos are also expected to return after being suspended and rested respectively at the weekend.

Schalke were denied a fifth straight league win when they were held to a goalless draw at home to Mainz on Friday.

There was good news, though, for Schalke as Arsenal-target Julian Draxler came off the bench to make his return after two months out with a foot injury.

Leverkusen were beaten 3-1 at home in the last 16, then thrashed 7-1 in Barcelona, but not before Bayer players Michal Kadlec and Manuel Friedrich had argued over who would swap shirts with Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Drogba offers no favors

In Istanbul, Galatasaray’s Didier Drogba will be full of emotions when he strides out to face former club Chelsea on Wednesday but Jose Mourinho knows the striker will be as clinical as ever on the field.

The Champions League last-16 first-leg clash in Istanbul is the first time the Ivorian has been on the pitch with the Blues since scoring the winning penalty when Chelsea lifted the trophy in May 2012.

The 35-year-old, who media reports say could return to the London club as striker coach, is Chelsea’s record European scorer with 34 goals in 69 games.

Including the spot kick in the Munich shootout and his header late in normal time, he has also bagged nine goals in nine domestic and European finals. His sizeable contribution to the club’s recent history is apparent from the number of posters of him still dotted around Stamford Bridge.

“It’s a strange feeling but, as we know him so well, we know that for him no friends during the game,” Chelsea boss Mourinho, who managed Drogba during his first spell at the club, told reporters.

“Before the game, big friends and big respect for a legend. After the game, the same. But, during the game, we have a job to do. He has his nature, he wants to score, he wants to win. I think it is a tie to go until the end.

“He deserves a reception here even better than mine, because he deserves much more than me. For Didier, double or three times better and bigger than I had.”

Drogba moved to Chelsea in 2004, Mourinho’s first season, and stayed after the Portuguese departed in 2007.

He left the club a few days after their Champions League triumph, saying he had achieved everything he wanted with Chelsea, before spending a few months playing in China and then moving on to Turkey.

Mourinho, who rejoined Chelsea in the close season, has already experienced playing against Drogba in the Champions League.

He was at Inter Milan four years ago when they took on Drogba and Chelsea and also held the reins at Real Madrid last year when the Spanish giants met Galatasaray.

Both times Mourinho was on the winning side.

Galatasaray manager Roberto Mancini, who is no stranger to Premier League side Chelsea after coaching Manchester City for four seasons before joining the Istanbul club last September, was not too optimistic about his side’s fate.

As well as Drogba, Galatasaray will rely on Mourinho’s ex-Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder as well as Selcuk Inan, whose penalty gave them 1-0 victory over Istanbul rivals Besiktas on Saturday.

Mourinho is hoping Brazil defender David Luiz and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel, who missed the 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday with minor injuries, will be fit for Wednesday.

Oscar is carrying a knock while January signings Mohamed Salah and Nemanja Matic are cup-tied.