Schalke 04 have pipped Basel into the last 16 of the Champions League by beating them 2-0 in tonight's clash at Veltins-Arena.
© Getty Images
The Swiss side played more than half of the match with 10 men after Ivan Ivanov was red-carded when the referee deemed that he denied Adam Szalai a goal-scoring opportunity in the 32nd minute.
Jens Keller's side had already threatened when Taulant Xhaka rattled off his own crossbar in the 12th minute, before Yann Sommer came to the defender's aid once more after he diverted Maximilian Meyer's cross towards his own net.
The home side's pressure finally told six minutes after half time when Julian Draxler finished first time at the back post from Jefferson Farfan's cross.
Joel Matip put the game beyond doubt after 57 minutes, beating Basel's offside trap from a free kick to tuck under Sommer.
It is the fourth time in seven seasons that Die Knappen have reached the knockout stages of the competition.
Michael Penkman
