Schalke 04 centre-back Joel Matip has revealed that competing in the Champions League is the "highlight" of any player's season.

Matip said that stepping out to play on a European evening makes the hard work of qualifying for the Champions League the season before worth it.

"You always look forward to Champions League games," Bundesliga.com quotes Matip as saying. "Every player wants to play in European football's elite competition.

"We worked an entire season for this. It's always a highlight to step out under the floodlights and hear the Champions League anthem."

Schalke take on Steaua Bucuresti in their opening game of Group E on Wednesday evening.