Leader or only third?
Werner has identified “certain routes and certain patterns of behavior” at Terodde that players can prepare for”. In view of his personnel concerns, the coach tries to play the mentality card and fan the fire in the decisive phase of the season: “One against two – that is an incredibly awesome kick,” said the otherwise rather reserved coach.
While Schalke could extend their lead over Werder to five points with a home win, Werder would run the risk of being overtaken by St. Pauli or Darmstadt if they lost. The pursuers of the table second meet on Saturday evening (8.30 p.m.) at the Millerntor. On the other hand, if the Green-Whites managed to win in Gelsenkirchen, they would be the front runners again three games before the end of the season.
Schalke did not drop a point under Büskens
In the head-to-head race for promotion to the Bundesliga, however, Schalke seems to have the longest breath. The “Knappen” under interim coach Mike Büskens haven’t dropped a point since the 3:4 against Hansa Rostock at the beginning of March. Werder couldn’t get past three draws in the end. Valuable points were lost, especially in the 1-1 draw against Sandhausen. What the point is worth against the pursuers St. Pauli and Nuremberg will probably only be seen when Schalke have completed these games – both competitors are still on the table leaders’ to-do list.
Possible lineups
Schalke: Fraisl – Vindheim, Thiaw, Kaminski, Ouwejan – Itakura, Palsson – Drexler, Zalazar – Bülter – Terodde
Werder: Pavlenka – Friedl, Groß, Jung – Weiser, Rapp, Agu – Bittencourt, Schmid – Füllkrug, Ducksch