Galatasaray against Schalke 04

A desperate effort from Jones clears the goal by a long way. With time running out the goalscorer thought he would try his luck a second time. Why not?

The ball is directed at Drogba, again, but he is outjumped and Schalke come clear.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Hoger drags Amrabat to the floor and receives a yellow card.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Draxler makes way for Barnetta. Great shift from Draxler tonight, one of Schalke's stand out players, at the centre of so much of their good work.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Sabri departs to be replaced by Bulut. Third and final change for Gala.

Drogba looks like he may be tiring as he clutches his shoulder. He has put in a good shift for the hosts tonight.

A dangerous swing from Amrabat on the edge of his own penalty area sends the ball up in the air but the jeopardy is averted as he controls the ball on its return to Earth and clears ably.

As it enters the final throes this game is opening up again and chances are being created.

Sabri fires a fizzing effort from distance but Hildebrand manages to tip it over the bar. Another effort gone.

Drogba, strong and accurate, wins the aerial battle and directs the ball into the path of Yilmaz but his effort glances wide. Great opportunity wasted.

Increasingly Gala are going long and direct towards Drogba, who is responding well, but the Schalke defence have prepared for this threat and aren't phased.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Teemu Pukki is on to replace Huntelaar, that wayward effort his last action of the night.

Draxler immediately shows Gala how it is done, taking advantage of Riera's bad defending and flashes a low ball across goal but Huntelaar's shot is over by a mile.

For all the ball they have had Hildebrand in the Schalke goal has not had an awful lot to do, the visitors have been comfortable.

The sustained spell of possession is undone by a poor touch from Melo, but not to worry, Schalke are equally sloppy and hand the ball straight back.

The pressure doesn't pay off and Schalke clear but only as far as midway into their own half for another Gala throw.

A succession of Eboue throw-ins on the right hand side has allowed Gala to work their way up the field and into the area and eventually win a corner.

Gala go long to Drogba, great tactic, but the Ivorian is tackled routinely and Schalke come away.

The pitch at Gala is really cutting up tonight for some reason, divots galore.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Eboue, as promised, is on for Altintop.

Sterling work from Drogba winning the ball from a lacklustre Schalke defence is undone as he passes to Yilmaz in an offside position. His shot is saved anyway, but still.

Draxler bottles his lines as he runs at the Gala defence with team-mates poised in good positions, slips and hands possession over on a plate.

Former Arsenal man Emmanuel Eboue is stripped and ready to enter the fray for Gala. Expect a second change soon as they search for the second goal.

Gala have been forced to up the pace as they chase the game but it allows Shclake to break through Farfan who is stopped by Nounkeu. Throw in to the visitors.

Muslera is equal to Farfan's long range effort punching it clear but in the process he decks Nounkeu who is receiving treatment from the physio.

Drogba tries an angled header from Amrabat's cross from the left but he is unable to get enough purchase onit.

Gala have been forced to take a back seat with Schalke grabbing the initiative so far in the second half.

Another Schalke attack, this time Huntelaar down the right, forces another corner off Nounkeu.

Draxler's cut back from the right gives Farfan the opportunity to drill a shot which hits the hand of Sarioglu and deflects wide, despite the protests nothing is given by the referee.

Amrabat drives in a low and fast cross from the left, arguably more than Sneijder's entire first half contribution.

Draxler and Jones combine to great effect towards the edge of the Gala penalty area but the ball is overplayed and collected by Muslera.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Less than three minutes on and Amrabat is booked for a late and hefty challenge on Farfan.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> There has been a change at half time, the largely ineffective Sneijder has been taken off for Amrabat.

Gala get us underway for the second half.

It is worth noting that the yellow card picked up by Schalke's goalscorer Jones, so stupidly for waving an imaginary yellow card, means he will miss the return leg in Germany.

The game is finely poised now - from the evidence of the first half Gala have the talent to win the game, but if Huntelaar can put his shooting boots on for Schalke they have shown they have the ability to claim a result here in Turkey.

HALF TIME: Yilmaz, the Champions League's joint-top scorer, fired Gala ahead early on but the slick passing movement and fast pressing game of Schalke paid off as they struck back moments before half time on the counter-attack through Jones.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Farfan breaks with speed before dragging both defenders towards him and squaring to Jones in space who is left with the task of firing past a helpless Muslera. Schalke are level at a crucial time.

A spell of nice, quick passing from Schalke but it is going nowhere. A lack of creativity in midfield, no one to find the killer ball - that is costing them.

Drogba wins a throw in for Gala on the right wing through some typical tireless work. He looks very much up to the task here.

As I say that Huntelaar goes to ground lightly in the box as he tries to take on his man and Gala break through Sneijder.

Schalke have had more of the play but Gala have the more dangerous players without doubt.

Drogba plays Yilmaz in on goal down theleft wing and his shot is deflected wide by Hildebrand for a corner.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Jermaine Jones is shown a yellow card for waving an imaginary card.

If anything Schalke need to direct their chances towards Huntelaar, who has been a little on the quiet side on his return to action.

This has turned into a flowing end-to-end Champions League tie with Schalke on top but Gala the more threatening in terms of chances.

Bastos has a go at goal but it is deflected wide by the wall for another Schalke corner.The ball flies straight through the penalty area, missed by everybody before Schalke claim a throw-in on the far side.

Free kick to Schalke after Farfan is felled by Riera on the right side of the penalty area.

That goal from Yilmaz makes him the joint-top goalscorer with Cristiano Ronaldo in this Champions League, seven each, and he has done it in less time too. Step aside Ronnie...

Huntelaar squares to Draxler whose shot is closed down and smothered, Schalke continue to press and Farfan finds space inside the box but can only skew his shot.

Riera, reinvented as a left back at Gala, still has the best elements of a winger in him and is roaming high up the left wing where a lofted ball alows him to play in Sneijder but his snap shot is too rushed and doesn't go on target.

Yilmaz is down injured leading to a momentary break in play and a time for teams to catch their breath.

Despite their torrid run of form Schalke don't look short of the ingredients to win a game or two, they need to be careful not to fall another goal behind though as they will really be chasing it.

Schalke are not lying down though and win another corner after Farfan's shot is desperately pushed wide of the post. This has turned into some tie.

Altintop strikes the centre of the crossbar for Galatasaray with a ferociously struck effort after more good work for Drogba - so, so close to a second there.

Schalke attempt to fight back immediately with a series of corners, all of which force Muslera into action, with the second culminating in a header from Howedes which glanced narrowly wide of the post.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Yilmaz fires Galatasaray ahead thanks to a superb or fortuitous flick through the defence which is followed by a cracking finish from point blank range.

Both sides are still very much feeling their way into this game and waiting to assert their style. Not a thriller thus far.

Muslera gathers a cross from the right wing well under pressure from Huntelaar, the goalkeeper is almost barged over his own goal-line!

Sneijder wins a freekick after being clattered by Netherlands international team-mate Huntelaar on the halfway line.

Gala are enjoying a fair amount of the possession but Schalke are squeezing the game and keeping the hosts in their own half, much to the crowd's displeasure.

Gala on top, Sneijder's neat touch feeds Riera on the left wing and his angled cross is aimed at Drogba at the back post but not only do Schalke clear their lines, they win a foul in the process. Danger averted.

And to reinforce the fact they're not afraid to have a go from distance Sarioglu, the Gala captain, also has a go from out on the right wing but again it doesn't trouble Hildebrand in the Schalke goal.

A neat touch by Drogba on the edge of the Schalke area allows his strike partner Yilmaz to get a shot away but it is well over the bar.

Positive start from Schalke, Jones cuts in from the left wing and fires a thunderous shot which Muslera is forced to punch before Nounkeu can clear.

Let me just note now, the noise and atmosphere in the stadium is something else. Phenomenal.

Schalke kick us off in their royal blue kit, shooting from right to left.

The Schalke players move down the line shaking hands with their counterparts from Galatasaray, well, all apart from Fernando Muslera the goalkeeper who bumps fists with everyone.

All the match officials for this evening's game are from Scotland with William Collum the referee.

The teams are in the tunnel and ready for action at a colourful and noisy Turk Telecom Arena.

Huntelaar: "I am delighted I can make my comeback in the Champions League," he said, having missed the club's last two games. "This game is also a chance for us to get into our stride as a team again. I am still confident that we can achieve something this season."

Cetin Cem Yilmaz sets the scenes for the Gala enthusiasts among you. You can find that <a href="http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/3614?cc=5739" target="_blank">here</a>

Want some pre-match reading? Our German correspondent talks about Schalke lurching from one crisis to another <a href="http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/3595?cc=5739" target="_blank">here</a>

Gala will be determined to continue the Germans' bad run though, they want to become the first Turkish side to reach the Champions League semi-finals since Fenerbahce in 2008.

They will be boosted by the return of main man Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from an eye injury. For more on his return click <a href="http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1346857/schalke-look-to-klaas-jan-huntelaar-ahead-of-galatasaray-tie?cc=5739" target="_blank">here</a>

Champions League semi-finalists in 2011, Schalke have fallen from second place in the Bundesliga to their current position of ninth. They have won just once since November 21.

Schalke also welcome the return of Huntelaar, here is their team news: Hildebrand, Kolasinac, Matip, Howedes, Hoger, Bastos, Neustadter, Jones, Draxler, Huntelaar, Farfan

Here is the team news from Galatasaray, where Drogba and Sneijder both start: Muslera, Sanoglu, Kaya, Nounkeu, Riera, Altintop, Melo, Inan, Sneijder, Yilmaz, Drogba. Subs: Iscan, Bulut, Balta, Eboue, Kurtulus, Colak, Amrabat.

Join us for live commentary of Galatasaray v Schalke. Kick off is 19:45 GMT.

The sustained spell of possession is undone by a poor touch from Melo, but not to worry, Schalke are equally sloppy and hand the ball straight back.

The pressure doesn't pay off and Schalke clear but only as far as midway into their own half for another Gala throw.

A succession of Eboue throw-ins on the right hand side has allowed Gala to work their way up the field and into the area and eventually win a corner.

Gala go long to Drogba, great tactic, but the Ivorian is tackled routinely and Schalke come away.

The pitch at Gala is really cutting up tonight for some reason, divots galore.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Eboue, as promised, is on for Altintop.

Sterling work from Drogba winning the ball from a lacklustre Schalke defence is undone as he passes to Yilmaz in an offside position. His shot is saved anyway, but still.

Draxler bottles his lines as he runs at the Gala defence with team-mates poised in good positions, slips and hands possession over on a plate.

Former Arsenal man Emmanuel Eboue is stripped and ready to enter the fray for Gala. Expect a second change soon as they search for the second goal.

Gala have been forced to up the pace as they chase the game but it allows Shclake to break through Farfan who is stopped by Nounkeu. Throw in to the visitors.

Muslera is equal to Farfan's long range effort punching it clear but in the process he decks Nounkeu who is receiving treatment from the physio.

Drogba tries an angled header from Amrabat's cross from the left but he is unable to get enough purchase onit.

Gala have been forced to take a back seat with Schalke grabbing the initiative so far in the second half.

Another Schalke attack, this time Huntelaar down the right, forces another corner off Nounkeu.

Draxler's cut back from the right gives Farfan the opportunity to drill a shot which hits the hand of Sarioglu and deflects wide, despite the protests nothing is given by the referee.

Amrabat drives in a low and fast cross from the left, arguably more than Sneijder's entire first half contribution.

Draxler and Jones combine to great effect towards the edge of the Gala penalty area but the ball is overplayed and collected by Muslera.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Less than three minutes on and Amrabat is booked for a late and hefty challenge on Farfan.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> There has been a change at half time, the largely ineffective Sneijder has been taken off for Amrabat.

Gala get us underway for the second half.

It is worth noting that the yellow card picked up by Schalke's goalscorer Jones, so stupidly for waving an imaginary yellow card, means he will miss the return leg in Germany.

The game is finely poised now - from the evidence of the first half Gala have the talent to win the game, but if Huntelaar can put his shooting boots on for Schalke they have shown they have the ability to claim a result here in Turkey.

HALF TIME: Yilmaz, the Champions League's joint-top scorer, fired Gala ahead early on but the slick passing movement and fast pressing game of Schalke paid off as they struck back moments before half time on the counter-attack through Jones.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Farfan breaks with speed before dragging both defenders towards him and squaring to Jones in space who is left with the task of firing past a helpless Muslera. Schalke are level at a crucial time.

A spell of nice, quick passing from Schalke but it is going nowhere. A lack of creativity in midfield, no one to find the killer ball - that is costing them.

Drogba wins a throw in for Gala on the right wing through some typical tireless work. He looks very much up to the task here.

As I say that Huntelaar goes to ground lightly in the box as he tries to take on his man and Gala break through Sneijder.

Schalke have had more of the play but Gala have the more dangerous players without doubt.

Drogba plays Yilmaz in on goal down theleft wing and his shot is deflected wide by Hildebrand for a corner.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Jermaine Jones is shown a yellow card for waving an imaginary card.

If anything Schalke need to direct their chances towards Huntelaar, who has been a little on the quiet side on his return to action.

This has turned into a flowing end-to-end Champions League tie with Schalke on top but Gala the more threatening in terms of chances.

Bastos has a go at goal but it is deflected wide by the wall for another Schalke corner.The ball flies straight through the penalty area, missed by everybody before Schalke claim a throw-in on the far side.

Free kick to Schalke after Farfan is felled by Riera on the right side of the penalty area.

That goal from Yilmaz makes him the joint-top goalscorer with Cristiano Ronaldo in this Champions League, seven each, and he has done it in less time too. Step aside Ronnie...

Huntelaar squares to Draxler whose shot is closed down and smothered, Schalke continue to press and Farfan finds space inside the box but can only skew his shot.

Riera, reinvented as a left back at Gala, still has the best elements of a winger in him and is roaming high up the left wing where a lofted ball alows him to play in Sneijder but his snap shot is too rushed and doesn't go on target.

Yilmaz is down injured leading to a momentary break in play and a time for teams to catch their breath.

Despite their torrid run of form Schalke don't look short of the ingredients to win a game or two, they need to be careful not to fall another goal behind though as they will really be chasing it.

Schalke are not lying down though and win another corner after Farfan's shot is desperately pushed wide of the post. This has turned into some tie.

Altintop strikes the centre of the crossbar for Galatasaray with a ferociously struck effort after more good work for Drogba - so, so close to a second there.

Schalke attempt to fight back immediately with a series of corners, all of which force Muslera into action, with the second culminating in a header from Howedes which glanced narrowly wide of the post.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Yilmaz fires Galatasaray ahead thanks to a superb or fortuitous flick through the defence which is followed by a cracking finish from point blank range.

Both sides are still very much feeling their way into this game and waiting to assert their style. Not a thriller thus far.

Muslera gathers a cross from the right wing well under pressure from Huntelaar, the goalkeeper is almost barged over his own goal-line!

Sneijder wins a freekick after being clattered by Netherlands international team-mate Huntelaar on the halfway line.

Gala are enjoying a fair amount of the possession but Schalke are squeezing the game and keeping the hosts in their own half, much to the crowd's displeasure.

Gala on top, Sneijder's neat touch feeds Riera on the left wing and his angled cross is aimed at Drogba at the back post but not only do Schalke clear their lines, they win a foul in the process. Danger averted.

And to reinforce the fact they're not afraid to have a go from distance Sarioglu, the Gala captain, also has a go from out on the right wing but again it doesn't trouble Hildebrand in the Schalke goal.

A neat touch by Drogba on the edge of the Schalke area allows his strike partner Yilmaz to get a shot away but it is well over the bar.

Positive start from Schalke, Jones cuts in from the left wing and fires a thunderous shot which Muslera is forced to punch before Nounkeu can clear.

Let me just note now, the noise and atmosphere in the stadium is something else. Phenomenal.

Schalke kick us off in their royal blue kit, shooting from right to left.

The Schalke players move down the line shaking hands with their counterparts from Galatasaray, well, all apart from Fernando Muslera the goalkeeper who bumps fists with everyone.

All the match officials for this evening's game are from Scotland with William Collum the referee.

The teams are in the tunnel and ready for action at a colourful and noisy Turk Telecom Arena.

Huntelaar: "I am delighted I can make my comeback in the Champions League," he said, having missed the club's last two games. "This game is also a chance for us to get into our stride as a team again. I am still confident that we can achieve something this season."

Cetin Cem Yilmaz sets the scenes for the Gala enthusiasts among you. You can find that <a href="http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/3614?cc=5739" target="_blank">here</a>

Want some pre-match reading? Our German correspondent talks about Schalke lurching from one crisis to another <a href="http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/3595?cc=5739" target="_blank">here</a>

Gala will be determined to continue the Germans' bad run though, they want to become the first Turkish side to reach the Champions League semi-finals since Fenerbahce in 2008.

They will be boosted by the return of main man Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from an eye injury. For more on his return click <a href="http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1346857/schalke-look-to-klaas-jan-huntelaar-ahead-of-galatasaray-tie?cc=5739" target="_blank">here</a>

Champions League semi-finalists in 2011, Schalke have fallen from second place in the Bundesliga to their current position of ninth. They have won just once since November 21.

Schalke also welcome the return of Huntelaar, here is their team news: Hildebrand, Kolasinac, Matip, Howedes, Hoger, Bastos, Neustadter, Jones, Draxler, Huntelaar, Farfan

Here is the team news from Galatasaray, where Drogba and Sneijder both start: Muslera, Sanoglu, Kaya, Nounkeu, Riera, Altintop, Melo, Inan, Sneijder, Yilmaz, Drogba. Subs: Iscan, Bulut, Balta, Eboue, Kurtulus, Colak, Amrabat.

Join us for live commentary of Galatasaray v Schalke. Kick off is 19:45 GMT.