On Saturday evening, David Wagner’s Schalke head to Koln in the Bundesliga, in a game could help revive the Royal Blues hopes of a top-four finish.
The visitors occupy the last Europa League qualification spot. However, they have slipped seven points behind the teams occupying the Champions League spots. If they are to mount a realistic challenge for a top-four spot, they need to start winning quickly.
A 5-0 home defeat against title-challenging RB Leipzig last time out in the Bundesliga means that the visitors have failed to win in five league outings, while also winning just one of their last six matches in the German top-flight.
The fact that Wagner’s team has been desperately short of goals of late in the German top-flight has hampered their chances of achieving their goals this season. In fact, Schalke have scored just once in their last five league outings.
The visitors away form has been poor of late too, as they have failed to win in five Bundesliga matches on their travels, while failing to find the net in their last three away games.
Koln’s recent Bundesliga form has been strong. Markus Gisdol’s team head into this clash on the back of six wins from their last eight league matches. The two games they have failed to win in that run were against title-challengers Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
Last time out in the Bundesliga, the home team recorded a 5-0 win at Hertha Berlin. The victory means that Koln are now nine points clear of the relegation zone. Another win here would be one step closer to safety for the home side.
Koln’s home form has been strong of late in the German top-flight, as they have won four of their last five home matches.
Forebet predicts that this game will go against the formbook and Schalke will record a victory in a high-scoring encounter.