The German Bundesliga returns from a winter break this weekend and the action begins on Friday night in Gelsenkirchen. We have a match to look forward to between Schalke and Borussia Monchengladbach at the VELTINS-Arena.
Schalke come into this match sitting 5th in the Bundesliga table with 30 points to their name from 17 matches played. That leaves them 5 points behind their opponents who are currently in 2nd place, 2 points behind the leaders RB Leipzig. Therefore, both teams will believe they still have a chance of winning the title this season.
The hosts ended the first half of the season with a 2-2 draw at home against Freiburg. It was their second draw in succession having also picked up a point away against Wolfsburg the week before, meaning Schalke have failed to win their last 2 Bundesliga games.
Counting down the days... ⏳🔜 #S04BMG#s04 | @VELTINSarena pic.twitter.com/JTJzCerCZ7— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) January 14, 2020
Counting down the days... ⏳🔜 #S04BMG#s04 | @VELTINSarena pic.twitter.com/JTJzCerCZ7
However, trends show they have lost only one of their last 9 Bundesliga matches and are on an unbeaten run of 8 home games in the league. Nonetheless, winning games at home has not always come easy to Schalke and they have drawn 4 of their last 6 home matches in the Bundesliga. 3 of their last 4 home games have seen over 2.5 goals scored and in 8 of Schalke’s 9 most recent matches in all competitions both teams scored.
This is a big test for Borussia Monchengladbach following the winter break and they ended the first half of the season much like their opponents by picking up a point in a 0-0 draw away against Hertha Berlin. Borussia Monchengladbach have won 3 of their last 5 Bundesliga matches with the victories coming against Freiburg, Bayern Munich and Paderborn, all of which were played at home.
Away form shows Borussia Monchengladbach have won only one of their last 5 league games. The victory came at Bayer Leverkusen back at the beginning of November and Borussia Monchengladbach have since lost at Union Berlin and Wolfsburg. Interestingly, Borussia Monchengladbach have achieved just 3 wins in 19 away encounters with Schalke in all competitions and both teams scored in 6 of their last 8 matches against Schalke.
Trends show Borussia Monchengladbach have kept just one clean sheet in their last 5 away Bundesliga matches.
Looking ahead to the team news and Schalke are without injured duo Benjamin Stambouli and Salif Sané. Weston McKennie and Nassim Boujellab are both rated as being doubtful.
Borussia Monchengladbach are without just one player as Florian Mayer continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.
This should be an entertaining game to begin the second half of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season. Expect to see both teams score goals in this game but for the spoils to be shared as they aim to keep pace with the leaders.