Schalke boosted by Dortmund success

SCHALKE 04 head into tonight’s Champions League clash against Turkey’s Galatasaray fuelled with confidence after beating German champions Borussia Dortmund but will be without key striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

The Dutchman partially tore a ligament in the Ruhr valley derby on Saturday after a collision with his own keeper and has been ruled out for some weeks, but will not need surgery.

His absence, however, could prove vital as Schalke look to advance after their last-16, first-leg 1-1 draw in Istanbul.

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For club bosses, however, victory over Dortmund exactly the boost Schalke needed after a bad run. “That is balm for our soul,” said Schalke sports director Horst Heldt after Saturday’s 2-1 victory that enabled them to climb back into the Bundesliga top four.

“To deservedly beat the champions gives us courage for the tasks ahead.

Schalke will be without hard-tackling midfielder Jermaine Jones, who is suspended having received a yellow card in the first leg.

Galatasaray will put their faith in their newly-formed attacking trio of Wesley Sneijder, Didier Drogba and the Champions League’s second highest goalscorer, Burak Yilmaz, to help them to advance.