Good evening! With less than an hour until Schalke 04 and Steaua Bucuresti get their Champions League group stage campaigns underway, let's take a look at the team news for this evening's fixture.

SCHALKE STARTING XI: Hildebrand, Howedes, Uchida, Matip, Boateng, Draxler, Hoger, Aogo, Neustadter, Farfan, Szalai

BUCURESTI STARTING XI: Tatarusanu, Szukala, Gardos, Latovlevici, Georgievski, Pintilii, Tanase, Stanciu, Bourceanu, Popa, Kapetanos

SCHALKE SUBSTITUTES: Fahrmann, Santana, Fuchs, Ayhan, Meyer, Goretzka, Clemens

BUCURESTI SUBSTITUTES: Nita, Filip, Varela, Prepelita, Cristea, Tatu, Piovaccari

Ahead of this evening's game, Schalke coach Jens Keller told reporters: "We want to get through the group stage so it would be best if we could win this first game in front of our own fans. We've worked a long time and very hard to be able to play in the Champions League and all of my players are really looking forward to it."

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Steaua manager Laurentiu Reghecampf said: "We want to be in the Champions League next spring too. If they under-estimate us, then maybe we can cause a surprise. Maybe we can even win the group. I said last year in the Europa League that we could beat Ajax and Chelsea, and we managed that. I am 100% certain that Steaua can win here. We don't have to, but we can do."

It's been less than two years since these sides last met, having been drawn in the same Europa League group in the 2011-12 season. Over the two legs, it was the German club that just had the edge on that occasion.

The home side have been regulars in Europe since the mid 1990s, and have appeared in the Champions League in five of the last eight seasons. Their strongest performance in the competition came in the 2010-11 season, when they reached the last four, where they lost to Manchester United.

The Romanians are back in the Champions League for the first time since the 2008-09 season. The visitors were a dominant force in Europe'a top club competition in the 80s, lifting the cup in 1986 and losing in the final in 1989. However, since it has been rebranded as the Champions League, Steaua have failed to progress from the group stages.

Bucuresti come into this match off the back of a patchy run of form. The Romanian champions beat Sagaeta Navodari in Liga 1 at the weekend, but had drawn their three previous matches.

Schalke got off to a slow start in the Bundesliga this season, failing to take a win in their opening three fixtures, but victories over Bayer Leverkusen and Mainz either side of the international break should see the hosts full of confidence for tonight's clash.

Turning back to the team news, Schalke will no doubt be counting on Adam Szalai and Jefferson Farfan to continue their recent form in front of goal tonight. The duo have six goals in all competitions for far this season, and start up front for the German club this evening.

A leading goal threat is yet to emerge for Bucuresti this season. Adrian Popa, Federico Piovaccari and Lucian Filip have all netted twice so far. Popa gets the nod this evening, but his teammates can come off the bench should the team find themselves in need of fresh legs later in the game.

WEATHER WATCH! It's a comfortable 15C in Gelsenkirchen this evening. It's currently dry but it was raining earlier today, leaving the pitch a little on the soft side.

REFEREE NEWS! Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir will take charge of this evening's match. He's officiated Champions League group stage matches since 2010, but is probably best known for sending off John Terry during Chelsea's win over Barcelona in the semi-finals in 2012, and dismissing Manchester United's Nani during their home game against Real Madrid in last season's tournament.

Elsewhere in group E this evening, Chelsea host Swiss side Basel at Stamford Bridge. You can follow live commentary, as well as games from the other groups in action this evening.

PREDICTION! With kickoff almost upon us, it's time for a prediction. Schalke have the more experienced squad, and have been more prolific in this tournament in recent years, and I think that will see them through tonight. I reckon the home side will win this 2-0.

The players are just heading out of the tunnel ready for the usual pre-match formalities ahead of this evening's game. It looks like it's a full house at the Veltins-Arena this evening, with plenty of support for the home side.

Steaua get the game underway.

The visitors are on the attack early, as Popa tries to slot the ball in for Georgievski, but the defender fails to control it in the box, allowing Schalke to quickly counter. Draxler makes a superb run down the win before looking for Boateng, but the Romanians just manage to get the ball clear. It looks like both sides are keen to attack from the start.

Schalke are getting the majority of the early possession, but a clearance by Tatarusanu gives Bucuresti the chance to run at their opponents. Aogo clears for the German side, before the ball eventually drops to Farfan in midfield. A chip to Boateng allows the midfielder to break into the box before his new teammate returns the ball to him, but he gets caught in two minds over whether to shoot or cross to Draxler, giving Gardos an easy clearance in the end.

CHANCE! An Uchida thrown-in drops to Szalai on the edge of the box. The striker, who already has four goals this season, attempts to toe-poke his effort past Tatarusanu, but the keeper makes a comfortable save.

Boateng tries to deliver to ball into the box for Hoger, but the midfielder is penalised for a foul on Gardos while in the air. The free kick gives Steaua the chance to work their way into Schalke's half, but the home side defend well, preventing their opponents from really applying the pressure. Given Schalke's strong start, a bit of time on the ball will help Bucuresti settle.

CHANCE! A superb ball into the box from Uchida finds Boateng waiting on the post, but the ball is put behind for a corner by the Steaua keeper.

Draxler wins Schalke's second corner of the match. Farfan tries to send it in close to the goal line, but the first defender manages to head it away. The hosts look strong when in the final third, but have looked a little sloppy during set pieces so far.

Steaua force their way up the other end, with Popa looking to get the cross in for Bourceanu, but the Schalke back four hold strong. The visitors have tried to play positively when they get the chance to attack, but they're yet to give keeper Timo Hildebrand anything to think about.

Play is temporarily stopped while a new flag is brought out for one of the assistant referees, it would appear he's waved it with a bit too much enthusiasm, resulting it the flag coming off the pole. Oops!

Boateng tries to win a high ball forward but is penalised for fouling Georgievski in the process. Gardos tries to take the ball inside the Schalke final third, but the visitors can't keep possession once they reach the edge of the penalty area, and Schalke are quickly on the counter attack.

BOOKING! Alexandru Bourceanu picks up the first yellow card of the night for bringing down Boateng.

CHANCE! From the free kick, Boateng manages to get himself into space on the edge of the box, but the midfielder pulls his shot wide.

Nicolae Stanciu has a shot at goal from around 30 yards out, but Hildebrand watches it all the way before comfortably claiming it, although it looked like it was probably going wide anyway.

Bucuresti win a free kick just outside the penalty area after Popa is brought down by Joel Matip. Bourceanu tries to curl it in directly from the free kick, but Hildebrand makes the stop. After a quiet opening half hour, Steaua have quietly taken control of this match in the last five minutes or so.

BOOKING! Popa is shown a yellow card for a foul on Hoger.

BOOKING! Hoger carelessly gives the ball away to Stanciu, before bringing the midfielder down while trying to win it back, earning Schalke their first booking of the night.

Stanciu takes the free kick from around 25 yards out, but he fails to trouble Hildebrand.

Steaua are looking for a strong finish to the half, with Schalke all out of position, but an attempted cross into the box is cleared by the hosts, allowing Boateng to go on a spectacular run down the other end. He tries to take it all the way for the opening goal, but his shot is deflected into the side netting for a corner.

CHANCE! Aogo's delivery into the box falls to Boateng, who once again sees his shot deflected out for a corner, missing the post by inches. Farfan takes the corner from the other side, but the move comes to an end when Boateng is caught offside.

In all honesty, that won't be the best half of football to grace the Champions League this season. Schalke looked good in the opening 15 minutes, but faded as the half went on. Meanwhile, Bucuresti found their way into the match after a rather anonymous first 30 minutes, but they failed to really test the Schalke keeper.

Let's take a look at a few of the statistics from the opening 45 minutes. Schalke had slightly more of the possession with 59%, but both sides had six shots at goal, with two on target. The home side forced four corners, while Bucuresti had just one.

The Turkish referee is known to be quite liberal with the cards, and this half was no exception, with two Steaua players and one of the home side already on a booking.

One of the few bright points of the first half was the performance of Kevin-Prince Boateng. The Germany international, who joined Schalke at the end of last month, has displayed his phenomenal pace in midfield while also looking sharp in front of goal. He could easily have grabbed a couple of goals but for some solid defending by the visitors.

The players are heading back out for the second half.

Schalke get the second half underway.

Steaua have made a bright start to the second half, winning a corner inside the opening minute. Bourceanu whips the ball back into the penalty area, but Kapetanos can't keep him shot on target.

Schalke pick up the ball in midfield and Draxler charges towards the Steaua box, but the visitors manage to get bodies back to keep the threat out.

PENALTY APPEAL! Draxler applies pressure again, sprinting down the wing before delivering a cross to Boateng. The midfielder tries to hit the ball on the half volley, but it's blocked by Gardos. Boateng and the home crowd appeal for a penalty, claiming that the defender used his hand to keep the ball out, but the replays suggest otherwise.

The hosts win a free kick after Bourceanu fould Farfan. The Steaua man needs to be careful as he's already on a yellow card. Aogo tries to drill it in straight from the set piece, but his strike fails to find the target.

CHANCE! Bucuresti force a corner down the other end which Bourceanu takes. Hildebrand manages to punch the initial threat away, but Bourceanu follows the ball in, regaining possession on the edge of the box. He tries to curl it into the Schalke goal, but it goes just wide.

It looks like both sides have been given the hurry up during their half-time team talks because there's so much more urgency from both teams now, and it's making for a thoroughly entertaining game.

Georgievski wins the ball in midfield and has plenty of room in front of him, but no teammates alongside him. He chooses to go for goal from 30 yards out, but it's a poor finish, and the ball ends up in the crowd.

SUB! Brazilian striker Leandro Tatu comes on for Nicolae Stanciu. It's a positive change by the visitors, as it should give them more option up front, although it looks like Tatu is going to play slightly behind Kapetanos for now.

CHANCE! Popa skillfully plays the ball into the box before trying to smash it in from close range, but some last-gasp defending by Howedes forces the ball behind for a corner, which is then comfortably cleared by the Schalke defence.

SUB! Kapetanos makes way for Federico Piovaccari, who has been in good goal-scoring form so far this season. Meanwhile, Tatu is currently off the pitch receiving treatment for what appeared to be a back injury. He's only been on for five minutes!

What a shocker from the Steaua defence. Atsuto Uchida sends a cross into the box, and the keeper thinks Szukala is going to head to ball away, but the defender ducks at the last minute to leave the ball for the keeper, who isn't expecting the ball, and it sails in straight from Uchida's cross. Tatarusanu is furious with Szukala!

CHANCE! Schalke try to quickly double their lead but Szalai's volley from the edge of the area goes well clear of the crossbar.

CHANCE! Boateng finds himself in a strong position inside the box as Draxler passes it through the centre, but it's deflected wide.

SUB! Tatu's brief cameo has come to an end. Having picked up a knock just a few minutes after coming on, the Steaua bench decide to use their last substitution to take the Brazilian off, bringing on Cristea in his place.

Schalke are just starting to test the ref a little with some rather physical defending. The Turkish official awards the visitors three free kicks in the space of five minutes, but keeps his cards in his pocet.

It's a sublime finish from Kevin-Prince Boateng and it's no more than he deserves this evening. Draxler sends in a perfectly-weighted pass for the new signing, who powerfully slots it in to double the home side's lead. He's been threatening to score all night, and finally has delivered.

BOOKING! Cristea goes into the referee's book for a clumsy clash with Hoger, who is left in some pain by the challenge, but it looks like he'll be ok to carry on.

SUB! Schalke make their first change of the night as Christian Fuchs comes on for Adam Szalai. It's a defensive move as the German side are clearly happy with their two-goal advantage.

Did I say happy with their two-goal lead? Well apparently not! Fuchs has an immediate impact, sending a brilliant though-ball into the box for Julian Draxler, who coolly lifts it over Tatarunsanu.

Steaua's night is going from bad to worse. Popa picked up an injury just after Boateng's goal, but with his team having already used their three substitutions he bravely tried to play on, but it looks like it's got too much for the midfielder as he heads off the pitch.

SUBS! Schalke, mindful of their Bundesliga clash with Bayern Munich on Saturday, bring off Jefferson Farfan and Marco Hoger, with Leon Goretzka and Christian Clemens taking their places.

There will be three minutes added on. Can Steaua grab themselves a late consolation, or will Schalke be able to finish with a flourish?

OFF THE POST! Uchida shows fantastic pace down the right-hand side before he pulls is back for Clemons, who hits it first time from close range, but his shot bounces back off the post. That was desperately close to 4-0.

It's a victory that sends a rather ominous message to Chelsea and Basel. Schalke were far from their best for much of the match, only coming to life after Uchida's opening goal, but still come away with a 3-0 win.

It looks like the result will send Schalke to the top of group E, with Basel beating Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Given tonight's performance, it's hard to Steaua climbing away from the bottom of the group later in the competition.

Well that's all from the Veltins-Arena, but stick around for match reports and reaction to all of tonight's Champions League games, and join Sports Mole again tomorrow for the first of the Europa League group fixtures. Thanks for joining me this evening, goodbye.