Time for a closer look at our opponents:
Position
The campaign to date has seen Schalke clock up the least number of points for 17 years. However, they are just four points away from seventh place that would ensure qualification for the Europa League if Borussia Dortmund win the DFB Cup. So the Royal Blues have not given up hope of returning to the European stage next term – even though the club is still recovering from the Europa League exit against Ajax at the quarter-final stage of the competition.
Personnel
Schalke have struggled with injury problems throughout the current campaign. At the start of the campaign, new star signing Breel Embolo was ruled out for the whole season with Abdul Rahman Baba, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Naldo also unavailable for a long time. They are joined on the sidelines by probably the best Schalke player this term as Leon Goretzka suffered concussion and an injured jaw against Ajax. The youngster Thilo Kehrer is currently serving a suspension.
Potential
In addition to Goretzka, Guido Burgstaller, signed from FC Nürnberg, has been a stand-out player since the winter break. In last weekend’s 1-1 draw away to RB Leipzig, he made his first start alongside Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who is in his seventh, and disrupted, year at Schalke. He celebrated his return against Leipzig with an impressive strike and he could be the X-factor in the season run-in. He definitely shows no lack of motivation in spite of the threat of relegation: “I’ll continue to be ambitious to my dying day,” he declared recently.
Problems
The team coached by Markus Weinzierl has failed to make the most of their matches on the road this season. Across all competitions, the Royal Blues have only won one of the last eight games away from home and three of the last four Bundesliga games are not in Gelsenkirchen.
Prediction
If Schalke overcome their indifferent away form and go on a run they could still end up in a Europa League spot. The match at Bayer 04 is followed by games against Freiburg, Hamburg and Ingolstadt that could be seen as an easier prospect compared with their many rivals. So the Schalke fans cannot give up hope just yet. Of course, a defeat at the BayArena would certainly change the outlook for the Royal Blues.
The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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