Schalke 04 will aim to extend an eight-match unbeaten run – and enhance their chances of Bundesliga survival – when Bayer Leverkusen visit Gelsenkirchen on Saturday.
Despite a recent upturn in form, Schalke remain second from bottom in the Bundesliga table, while Leverkusen occupy eighth place following three consecutive wins.
Match preview
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It would not be unfair to say that Schalke 04 looked dead and buried following a run of 10 defeats in 11 league outings between September and January, with the Royal Blues conceding 28 goals during that period.
Frank Kramer was replaced by Thomas Reis in late October, and the new manager struggled to turn the tide at first, but the former VfL Bochum boss has overseen a marked improvement in recent times.
Indeed, Schalke last tasted defeat all the way back on January 24, with an eight-game unbeaten streak – comprising two wins and six draws – keeping the club within touching distance of safety.
After securing back-to-back victories over VfB Stuttgart and Bochum, Schalke came from behind on two occasions to rescue a draw against arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund before sharing the points with FC Augsburg before the international break.
Of course, Reis's men will need to start turning draws into wins if they want to avoid relegation, but they can take huge confidence from their recent improvements, having kept five clean sheets across the past eight matches.
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Bayer Leverkusen have also benefitted from a mid-season managerial change this term, with Xabi Alonso replacing Gerardo Seoane back in October following a run of one victory in eight games.
It is worth noting that Alonso's success was not instant, as the 41-year-old managed to win just one of his first seven matches in charge, but Die Werkself are now enjoying an eye-catching run under Alonso's watch.
Leverkusen head into Saturday's clash on a five-game winning streak across all competitions, and they even managed to come from behind to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 prior to the international break.
In terms of the bigger picture, Alonso's men have won 12 of their previous 17 outings in all competitions, scoring at least two goals in each of those victories, and they also have a Europa League quarter-final clash with Union SG to look forward to.
Having avoided defeat in each of their last five away games – winning six of their previous eight encounters on the road – Leverkusen will be confident of sealing another away victory and halting Schalke's revival.
Team News
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Schalke 04 could be without as many as 12 first-team players this weekend as the club continues to battle an unprecedented injury crisis.
The defensive quartet of Mortiz Jenz, Marcin Kaminski, Jere Uronen and Sepp van den Berg remain sidelined, while Dominick Drexler, Soichiro Kozuki, Danny Latza and Thomas Ouwejan are absent from the midfield department.
With Sebastian Polter and Tim Skarke also expected to miss Saturday's clash, Marius Bulter, Michael Frey and Kenan Karaman look set to continue in attack.
Bayer Leverkusen's injury list is notably smaller, although Nadiem Amiri, Patrik Schick, Andrey Lunev and Charles Aranguiz are all expected to remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Having bagged a brace against Bayern Munich last time out, Exequiel Palacios will continue in Leverkusen's midfield alongside Robert Andrich and Kerem Demirbay.
Top scorer Moussa Diaby has bagged 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions this season, so the 23-year-old Frenchman will be hopeful of enhancing his tally this weekend.
Schalke 04 possible starting lineup:
Fahrmann; Brunner, Yoshida, Greiml, Matriciani; Kral, Alvarez, Krauss; Karaman, Frey, Bulter
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Frimpong, Kossounou, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Palacios, Andrich, Demirbay; Diaby, Wirtz, Adli
We say: Schalke 04 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Having dispatched Bayern Munich before the international break, Bayer Leverkusen look set to end Schalke's unbeaten run on Saturday, although the hosts are expected to put up a decent fight.
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Top tip
Ben Morris
