Two sides who started the season with similar ambitions meet in the Bundesliga on Sunday when Wolfsburg host Schalke 04 at the Volkswagen Arena.
Wolfsburg have hit their targets in the league and are on their way to the Champions League next season, while Schalke still face a battle to reach the Europa League.
Wolfsburg
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After a disastrous night in the Europa League on Thursday, Dieter Hecking and his Wolfsburg players will surely be relieved to return to the Bundesliga as they look to move a step closer to clinching second place.
Starting the evening as favourites against Napoli in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, the home side were stunned by a classy display from the visitors, who stormed to a 4-1 victory to all but book their place in the last four ahead of the return fixture next week.
It left their dream of lifting the trophy in Warsaw next week hanging by a thread, and in truth, they would need something special in Naples to overturn the deficit, and Hecking may be concerned that the result will lead to disappointing performances in the final stages of the league campaign.
With six games remaining, they are currently 19 points ahead of fifth-placed Schalke and seven points better off than Borussia Monchengladbach in the battle for second spot, but the fans will be keen to see a strong finish to what has been an impressive campaign so far. With a DFB-Pokal semi-final against Armenia Bielefeld to come later this month, they will be eager to find some momentum.
A meeting with Gladbach follows the visit of Schalke, so it's results over the next two games which should decide if Hecking's side finish as the closest challengers to runaway leaders Bayern Munich, and they head into their latest test unbeaten in four games, with three wins coming during that stretch.
Losing just one of their last 16 Bundesliga matches has seen them move clear of their rivals for second place, but a repeat of their troubles against Napoli will open the door to Gladbach, who may sense an opportunity to leapfrog the Wolves over the next few weeks.
Recent form: WLWDWW
Recent form (all competitions): WDWWWL
Schalke
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Schalke's campaign has threatened to fall away in recent weeks, and the challenge on Roberto Di Matteo's shoulders is to rally the troops once again in search of an important run of results which could lift the gloom in Gelsenkirchen.
After a disappointing start to the season under Jens Keller, it looked like Di Matteo had got Schalke back to their best, but inconsistent performances and injuries to key men halted their momentum on a number of occasions and another spell of poor form has seen the bid for Champions League football drift away.
They stretched their winless run to four games with a goalless draw against Freiburg last week, and perhaps the biggest concern for Di Matteo is his side's troubles in front of goal after seeing them fail to hit the net in the last three matches.
A big reason behind their lack of a clinical edge is the form of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who has not scored a Bundesliga goal since November, and Di Matteo will be desperate to help the Dutchman get back to his best as the club look to ensure that they will be playing European football next season.
Schalke currently occupy fifth spot, but with Hoffenheim just four points behind in seventh and the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen still fighting for a Europa League place, a failure to respond to their recent run of poor results could result in them dropping out of the top six for the first time since the disastrous 2010-11 campaign.
Recent form: LWDLDD
Recent form (all competitions): WWDLDD
Team News
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Despite knowing that not even a 3-0 victory in the second leg against Napoli would send them through to the Europa League semi-finals, Hecking is likely to make changes to his side as he looks ahead to Thursday's trip to Italy.
Bas Dost's club has now gone nine games without a goal in all competitions after a disappointing display against the Serie A side, and his place could be taken by Nicklas Bendtner, who came off the bench to reduce the deficit in the second half.
There could also be a recall for Ivan Perisic, but Kevin De Bruyne is unlikely to be rested by Hecking.
Julian Draxler is in line to start for Schalke after coming off the bench last weekend, while Max Meyer and Sead Kolasinac are both available after battling illness this week.
However, the visitors will be without Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who has been diagnosed with an intestine infection.
Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Benaglio, Vieirinha, Naldo, Knoche, Rodriguez, Gustavo, Arnold, Caligiuri, De Bruyne, Perisic, Bendtner
Schalke possible starting lineup:
Fahrmann, Kolasinac, Nastasic, Matip, Howedes, Hoger, Meyer, Goretzka, Farfan, Draxler, Huntelaar
Head To Head
Choupo-Moting scored twice in a thrilling 3-2 victory for Schalke in the reverse fixture back in November, but their most recent trip to the Volkswagen Arena ended in frustration last season when they slipped to a 4-0 defeat.
However, that loss in August 2013 was a rare disappointment for Schalke, who have won five of the last six Bundesliga meetings between the two sides.
We say: Wolfsburg 1-1 Schalke
Wolfsburg are in much better form in the Bundesliga, but after suffering disappointment against Napoli on Thursday, it could be difficult for Hecking's side to produce a response. Schalke need an improved performance and they should be able to collect a point in their bid for Europa League qualification.
Callum Mulvihill
