Altintop eager to welcome former side Schalke

By FOX SPORTS staff

Seeing off the challenge of Arsenal, Schalke qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League by winning Group B. However, Jens Keller's men have struggled for form domestically despite the Bundesliga side's impressive European run.

Speaking to GSTV, Altintop believed that his former club's mediocre league performance was not an indication that they would be pushovers when the two teams meet for the first leg.

"This game against Schalke is very special to me as I spent four years at Schalke and played my first Champions League match there," he stated.

"Despite their poor performance in the Bundesliga, Schalke finished top of their Champions League group. We must not become complacent, last season Chelsea finished sixth in the league but won the Champions League."

With the opening game of the tie set to take place at the Turk Telekom Arena, the 30-year old is confident that Galatasaray have everything they need to emerge on top, including two former Champions League winners ready to make their European bow for their new club.

"[Didier] Drogba and [Wesley] Sneijder are world-class players. It's a huge advantage to have them playing on our team and it raises the profile of Galatasaray in the world," Altintop said.

"Playing the first game at home is an advantage in my opinion. With the help of our supporters we hope to go into the second leg with a comfortable advantage, this is an opportunity for us to show our quality, these are the types of game we want to play."

Galatasaray and Schalke will contest the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.