5 Unexpected Champions League Semi-finalists in recent years

#4 Schalke 04 (2010/11)

Schalke's triumphant season gained a lot of admirers

The 2010/11 FC Schalke 04 squad consisted of a great balance between Germany and foreign players. The club had signed Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez on a free transfer in the summer.

The season proved to be a breakthrough year for players such as Benedikt Howedes, Manuel Neuer, Jefferson Farfan, Ivan Rakitic, Jermaine Jones, Julian Draxler and Kyriakos Papadopolous. Schalke finished top of their group in the Champions League, with 13 points ahead of Lyon and Benfica.

In the Round of 16, the Germans beat Valencia 4-2 on aggregate to go and face reigning champions Inter Milan in the last eight. Prior to their quarter-final clash, Schalke had a change in management as Felix Magath had been fired due to poor performances domestically and was replaced by Ralf Ragnick.

Under Ragnick, the team was set up in a more attacking manner with the likes of Raul, Farfan and Klaas Jan Huntelaar along with an energetic midfield comprising of Rakitic, Jones and Jose Manuel Jurado.

The Gelsenkirchen club stunned Inter at the San Siro, beating them 5-2 in the first leg and then going on to win the second leg 2-1, trumping the 2010 Champions League winners 7-3 on aggregate. Inter were totally outplayed in both the games as Schalke made the Italians pay for their errors and complacency, deservingly going through to the next round.

In the semi-finals, they faced a very strong Manchester United side and were on the receiving end of a crushing defeat, losing by a respectful 2-0 scoreline at home before being smashed 4-1 at Old Trafford in the second leg. Despite being knocked out in the last four in Europe, it was a successful campaign for Schalke as they won the DFB Pokal German Cup.