Lokomotiv Moscow vs Schalke Predictions

This Wednesday’s game between Lokomotiv Moscow and Schalke, comes from Group D, the one group which doesn’t exactly set the pulses racing with Porto and Galatasaray the other participants. While it may lack a real giant of European football, it does promise to be one of the most competitive groups and these two teams could both do with a result here after failing to win their opening games.

Lokomotiv had a really miserable time of it in Istanbul on match-day one. The Russian champions, who are the top seeds in this group, were beaten 3-0 by Galatasaray. It was actually their first game in the competition since 2005 so there will be a real buzz around their first home game back on Europe’s top table although their performances so far this season don’t necessarily suggest that they belong here, with Lokomotiv only 6th in the Russian Premier League.

Their start to the season at least has bettered that of Schalke. They’ve taken just 3 points from their opening 6 Bundesliga games and are only one place off the foot of the division. Therefore already it feels like a decent run in Europe may be Domenico Tedesco side’s best shot of salvaging something from this season but they could only draw their opening Champions League match against Porto.

In truth both sides are in a similar situation in that they perhaps over-achieved last term and are struggling to emulate it this time around. The bookies make Schalke the favourites here but you couldn’t confidently back them, the way they have been playing. They finally picked up their first league points of the season with a 1-0 home win against Mainz at the weekend but they have only won 1 of their last 6 on the road in the Bundesliga.

Lokomotiv were also home winners at the weekend but they’ve only won 3 of their 12 competitive games this term inside 90 minutes. 5 of those games finished level at Full-Time and backing the Draw could be the best move here in the Full-Time result market in a game neither can really afford to lose.

There looks to be some value in backing Both Teams to Score too. Lokomotiv’s last 4 matches have produced 17 goals while 5 of their last 7 have seen both teams score. 5 of Schalke’s last 6 away games in the Bundesliga have also seen both teams score and it’s the sort of game both teams will really be targeting three points from which should open things up a touch.