Manchester United has come unstuck the last two times they've played an unfancied German rivals in the Champions League semi-finals and the two time winners are wary of a similar fate when they visit Schalke in this morning's first leg.
Sir Alex Ferguson's team are favourites to progress to their third final in four years but the 1999 and 2008 champions are yet to win a two-legged knockout tie against German opposition in four attempts.
Despite their lowly Bundesliga position of 10th compared to United's six-point Premier League lead, Schalke are unbeaten in their last nine European games and thrashed holders Inter Milan in the quarter-finals.
The winner of the semi-final will play either Real Madrid or Barcelona in the final in London next month.
