On Saturday afternoon, Schalke will look to enhance their chances of qualifying for the Champions League, as they host bottom of the table Paderborn in the Bundesliga.
The home side are enjoying a steady campaign and currently occupy a Europa League spot. However, David Wagner’s team will still believe they can clinch a top-four spot and qualification for next season’s Champions League.
The team from Gelsenkirchen are currently five points behind Monchengladbach, who occupy the last Champions League berth. That is certainly not an unrealistic gap for Schalke to bridge.
Suat #Serdar, Jonjoe #Kenny and @WMckennie are all missing training today with ankle problems. #S04 pic.twitter.com/wffAeO4HJV— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) February 5, 2020
Suat #Serdar, Jonjoe #Kenny and @WMckennie are all missing training today with ankle problems. #S04 pic.twitter.com/wffAeO4HJV
A recent inconsistent run of form in the Bundesliga has not helped the Royal Blues’ chances of a top-four finish. In fact, a goalless draw at Hertha Berlin last time out in the top-flight means that the home side has now won just one of their last five outings in the Bundesliga.
Their main problem of late has been drawing too many games, as they have drawn three of their last five league matches.
Schalke are strong at the Veltins Arena, as they are currently in the midst of a nine-game unbeaten run on soil in the Bundesliga.
Paderborn are in major need of a good run of form to escape the Bundesliga relegation zone. The home side may be bottom of the table, but are just three points from safety, so they are not yet a lost cause.
A 4-2 home defeat by Wolfsburg last time out in the Bundesliga means that the visitors have claimed just two wins in their last six league outings.
Paderborn have won just three of their last ten away games in the German top-flight. However, two of those three wins have come in their last three away matches.
This game could prove vital for both teams’ objectives this season. Forebet, predicts that it will be Schalke who further their cause this season by recording a victory in a high-scoring encounter.