The hard way: Huge joy due to comeback victory

Roberto Di Matteo must have struck the right chords at half-time in the Benteler-Arena on Wednesday (17/12), because his team returned with a completely different attitude to the second half. Until then, most of the highlights in the match came courtesy of SC Paderborn 07.

"The coach made it quite clear that we couldn't go on like that," reveals Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who gave Schalke a somewhat flattering equaliser just before the break. This, as well as the difficult pitch conditions, were just side notes after 90 minutes, when Schalke joyfully approached the away fan stand where the S04 faithful – just like they had done against Stuttgart and Maribor recently – were able to celebrate three points with the team. 

"The pitch wasn't suitable for a team that wants to play football. But that's what we attempted in first half. It was only in the second half when we accepted the fight that you have to adopt to here," Horst Heldt explained afterwards. "It was a hard fought victory, but a very important one," added Dennis Aogo. "Paderborn deserve respect." The promoted side made life tough for Schalke over 90 minutes, the midfielder commented. 

"They had some opportunities, we had some opportunities," summarized Heldt. "If someone talks about this being a lucky victory, I would answer: 'We are taking the three points home.' Not a lot of teams have managed to do this here." Indeed only Borussia Mönchengladbach were able to celebrate an away triumph prior to Schalke. 

The moment leading up to the decisive goal was certainly no fluke. Roman Neustädter's header handing Schalke a 2-1 victory came from one of the long throw-ins by Christian Fuchs. "Finally it worked out," the Austrian international, who practices his throw-ins regularly, said after the game. 

"I was lying in wait for the defender to misjudge the ball so I could get to it. Then I headed it onwards and hoped it would land in the back of the net," Neustädter remembered later. And Choupo-Moting added: "We wanted to make a statement immediately and put up a big fight. We are FC Schalke 04 and can't afford to lose so many direct duels."

Meanwhile Klaas-Jun Huntelaar spoke of "some very important" points and gave credit to the Schalke fans who travelled to Paderborn on a workday evening. "I want to thank all fans for the great support. I am looking forward to seeing them on Saturday in the VELTINS-Arena."

The first half of the season comes to a close with the match against Hamburger SV on Saturday (20/12). For Choupo-Moting it's an encounter with his former club. "By now I am so professional that it's not a special occasion for me anymore," the Hamburg born attacker said. "At HSV all of the people with major roles, both players and officials, have changed. The only aspect which then still stands is that I am playing against the club from my home town." Regardless, there is only one obvious goal. Choupo-Moting: "We want to win."

Shaqiri mungkin akan di pinjamkan kepada Wolfsburg

Xherdan Shaqiri's ​Bayern Munich career looks to be coming to a swift end, but though Liverpool are thought to be very keen, there will now be serious competition from Wolfsburg.

​talkSPORT reports that Bayern's Bundesliga rivals are looking for a loan deal in January with a view to a permanent transfer for the 23-year-old midfield play maker in the summer.

Madrid Will Complete Mega Deal for Reus

​Real Madrid will complete a stunning move for Borussia Dortmund star Marcos Reus in the summer, a well-respected​ FIFA agent has claimed. 

"Real Madrid will sign Reus and operation will close within days," Francois Gallardo said.

"It is a very important player, if it comes to Real Madrid would be the icing for long-term project. He is following in a while and you want the best clubs, but he said no to all but the Real Madrid."

The German international, if he signed, would join arguably the most scintillating set of attacker in the world at Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Isco all on the books at the Bernabeu. 

Christoph Kramer akan kembali ke Leverkusen musim hadapan

Christoph Kramer Says He Will Return to Bayer Leverkusen Next Summer

​Christoph Kramer has confirmed he will return to Bayer Leverkusen during the Summer of 2015.

"I have a contract with Leverkusen and will play there after the summer. That's the current situation", Kramer told Germany's 'Sport Bild' magazine, according to ​Marca.

The German international is currently on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach but has a contract with Leverkusen until 2017. Speculation has suggested that the World Cup winner was linked with Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal but Kramer insists he will return “..not because I have to but because I fully believe in their concept.”

Leverkusen’s sports director Rudi Voeller is not only looking to have the 23-year old back on his side, but also aims to renew his contract until 2019 or 2020.

Although Kramer insists he will return to Leverkusen this summer, he does not rule out a future with a top European clubs.

"Playing abroad could be interesting at some point in the future but, for now, the 'Bundesliga' is the measure of all things.”

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted interest in the midfielder. As quoted by ​AS, the Italian boss said "I can't speak about players who aren't at Madrid and all I will say is that he's a player I like a lot. I like a lot of midfielders."

Ancelotti's interest seems to have been put on the back-burner by Kramer, as a return to Bayer Leverkusen is the only definite in his future.

Leverkusen currently sit in fourth in the Bundesliga and ironically host sixth-placed Moenchengladbach on Sunday.

Setiap pasukan boleh dikalahkan - Benedikt Höwedes

Terbaik dari Benedikt Höwedes. Benedikt Höwedes tak gentar bertemu Real Madrid. 

We know that we took a hammering against them last year and that Real Madrid are one of the best teams in the world. However, every team is beatable. We will do all we can to cause an upset against the defending champions.

The Draw for the Last 16 of the UEFA Champions League

​The draw for the last 16 of this season's Champions League has been made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, throwing together some of Europe's biggest teams as the final in Berlin edges ever nearer.

The 8 seeded group stage winners were paired with the 8 unseeded runners-up, though teams that qualified from the same group were kept apart. At this stage of the competition country protection is also still in force, meaning no two teams from the same national association could be drawn together.

Arguably, the tie of the round sees Manchester City clash with Barcelona for the second year in a row, with Chelsea and French heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain also meeting in a replay of last season's quarter final clash.

Arsenal have been handed a more favourable tie against Monaco, while holders Real Madrid, the only team to finish the group stage with a 100% winning record, will now face Schalke.

The draw in full is as follows:

Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea

Manchester City vs Barcelona

Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid

Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund

Schalke vs Real Madrid

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich

Arsenal vs Monaco

Basel vs Porto

Seeded group winners will be away in the first leg and at home for the second. The first of the two legs will be played on 17/18th and 24/25th February, with the return matches on 10/11th and 17/18th March.

Dortmund not 'determined enough' in defeat, says Jurgen Klopp

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp criticised his team for not playing "determined enough" as their Bundesliga struggles continued in a 1-0 loss at Hertha Berlin on Saturday.

Dortmund endured a difficult half that saw Julian Schieber score for Hertha and Henrikh Mkhitaryan lost to a thigh injury.

"A first half like that shouldn't have happened," Klopp said. "We weren't determined enough, and that in a game where so much was a stake."

Dortmund, who failed to put a shot on target until the 70th minute, dropped into relegation playoff spot in 16th place with the loss.

Klopp's men have two chances to move up the table -- at home against Wolfsburg on Wednesday and a trip to Weder Bremen on Saturday -- before the Bundesliga's five-week winter break.

"We have another two games this year to dramatically improve our situation for the second half of the season. That's our mission now."

BVB were coming off a draw in the Champions League that allowed them to finish top of their group, but their domestic form has been a different story. They fell to a ninth defeat in their past 15 games.

"We really have to start picking up three points away from home again," defender Marcel Schmelzer said. "We always do a first step, like against Gladbach or Hoffenheim, but then screw it up again.

"It's a shame for the team and the fans. We really need to start getting results again."

UEFA coefficient: Schalke04 move up into Europe’s elite

Qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League has given Schalke 04 both confidence for their upcoming games and a boost up the UEFA Coefficient rankings.

The win against the Slovenian Champions means that the Royal Blues have overtaken Arsenal and FC Porto in the European Club rankings and now sit in seventh place with a coefficient of 109.254 points. Only Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Benfica and Atletico Madrid are ahead of Schalke 04.

Their current position is a result of the Royal Blues’ continuing success in the Champions League. In the 2010/2011 season, the team, which included Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Raul, reached the semi-finals of the Champions League after some memorable nights of European football. A year later, S04 reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League as winners of the DFB Cup. In both of the following two seasons, the Royal Blues reached the group stage of the Champions League and qualified for the last 16 on both occasions, as they have done this season.

The club coefficient is determined by the amount of points that have been collected over the past five years, plus 20% of the club’s association in the same period (33% before 2009). The rankings will be produced after each round of the European competitions and are used to determine which pots each club will be in for the European draws.  

Philipp Lahm Praises Marco Reus Amid Speculation Of A Move To Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has heaped praise on Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, fuelling speculation that he may make the switch to the Bundesliga leaders in the summer.

Reus has been heavily linked with a move away from the club, with the likes of Bayern, Chelsea and Real Madrid all interested in acquiring the player’s signature.

Now Lahm has spoken out about the winger’s abilities and has claimed that he can improve any side, as he looks set to leave the club.

“I can’t say anything. I can only say he’s an excellent player who, without injury, would become a champion," said Lahm.

“A player like Reus will strengthen any team in the world”.

The 25-year-old is now a hot property around Europe and his €25 million release clause is expected to be triggered when the transfer market opens at the end of the season.

Dortmund have already sold a number of their high-profile stars to their Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, including the departure of Robert Lewandowski, which has made them favourites to sign Reus.

However, Dortmund are also currently struggling in the German league this season and find themselves bottom of the table, with just three wins from 13 matches.

Despite their poor form, Lahm admitted that he has no advice to offer his rivals, due to the fact he has never been in a relegation battle.

“Advice? I can’t advise them anything because I luckily lack that experience. I never was in this situation."

Manuel Neuer deserves for Ballon d'Or 2014

He's already the undisputed No1 custodian on the planet, but soon FC Bayern München's Manuel Neuer could officially be crowned the world's best footballer - period. No goalkeeper has ever won the FIFA Ballon d'Or in its current guise, but Bundesliga Malaysia outlines exactly why 'Supermanu' deserves to buck the trend...

Inpenetrable aura

Neuer's place on the three-man shortlist to lift football's ultimate individual prize is no fluke. Of all the goalkeepers with over 100 appearances under their belts in the Bundesliga's decorated history, the former FC Schalke 04 stopper is the only one to have conceded fewer goals (216) than appearances made (264). Fact.

Forever raising the bar

The 28-year-old World Cup winner doesn't make many blunders either - he hasn't made one for 33 league matches - but on the rare occasion he does, the look of detestation on his face says it all. "I know I can make mistakes," he told The FIFA Weekly. "The main thing is that I make sure I keep the bar high."

Sweeper keeper

It's that self-same will to improve that has seen the Gelsenkirchen native revolutionise the very definition of football's last line of defence. Indeed, for some, the image of the Germany No1 racing out of his own box to foil Algeria's Islam Slimani in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil is one of the enduring images of the finals.

Moves that matter

Unlike any of his predecessors or contemporaries, Neuer also boasts technical ability most wannabe outfield players can only dream of. Be it with his hands, feet, chest or head, there is scarcely a pass Bayern's inimitable goalkeeper-turned-libero cannot make. Just search 'Manuel Neuer' on YouTube. Seeing is believing.

One of a kind

Of course, none of those silky skills would add up to much had he not perfected the bread and butter art of shot-stopping in the first place. There have been inevitable comparisons with Bayern legend Oliver Kahn in that department, but forget the similitude. Neuer might just be the greatest, idiosyncratic talent the game has ever seen.