Schalke 04 Projected lineup: Wellenreuther; Höwedes, Matip, Nastasić; Uchida, Fuchs; Kirchhoff, Höger, Boateng; Choupo-Moting, Huntelaar.
Real Madrid Projected lineup: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Illarramendi, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema.
Schalke players out: Fährmann (knee), Kolašinac (knee), Goretzka (hamstring), Draxler (hamstring), Farfán (knee), Obasi (shinbone), Giefer (groin)
Real Madrid players out: James Rodríguez (right foot), Khedira (hamstring), Ramos (hamstring), Modrić (thigh)
Real Madrid and Schalke face off in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie. Ancelotti announced that Pepe will make his return to Real Madrid's starting lineup after missing close to a month with a rib injury. The Italian coach will also need to decide who to play in the midfield alongside Toni Kroos. Illarramendi and Lucas Silva are fighting for one spot and while reports indicate that Silva will make his debut as a starter for Real Madrid, it would be surprising to see Ancelotti not trusting Illarra for this one.
Benzema: After pulling out of yesterday's training with a cold, he's now ready to start and should be in Ancelotti's XI.
— Lucas Navarrete (@LucasNavarreteM) February 18, 2015
Benzema is also questionable after pulling out of Real Madrid's training session, but he should be able to start.