The group stage in the UEFA Europa League should not be a pose a major problem for Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04. André Breitenreiter's team were drawn against Sparta Praha, Asteras Tripolis and APOEL Nicosia, who are their first opponents in an away game.
Strong performance against Real Madrid
Last year, Schalke 04 played in a Champions League group with Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon and Slovenian side NK Maribor. The Königsblauen reached the round of 16, where they met Real Madrid. After losing 0-2 at home, a spectacular 4-3 away win wasn't quite enough to reach the quarter finals but did earn them widespread acclaim for such a strong showing.
Surprising established clubs
APOEL Nicosia's biggest success was reaching the quarter finals in the 2011/12 Champions League campaign. After the group stage, where they won against Zenit St. Petersburg, Russia's most successful club, and Portuguese giants, FC Porto. In the round of sixteen, they beat Olympique Lyon in dramatic circumstances; a penalty shoot-out was final eight. In the quarter finals, the Cypriots lost against Real Madrid in both games.
Team news
Schalke 04 have endured an ordinary start in the new Bundesliga season, winning two games, drawing and losing one respectively. But the fans are looking forward to the rest of the season thanks to a good performance in the home game against 1. FSV Mainz 05, where they won two-one.
With their new coach André Breitenreiter, Schalke play a different kind of football compared to that of Roberto di Matteo, who resigned after only reaching sixth place in last year's Bundesliga campaign.
APOEL Nicosia, who won the 2013/14 and 2014/15 league titles in Cyprus, enjoyed quite a strong start into the Cypriot league. They have won the their opening to clashes 5-1 and 6-2 but they suffered a little setback, only drawing against AEK Larnaca and lost top spot as a result.