Opponent analysis: FC Schalke 04
Back in Schalke | Reunion with RBL loanee Tom Krauß | Fourth win in a row against S04?
FC Schalke 04 vs RB Leipzig
The games keep coming thick and fast! After the Bundesliga resumed on Friday night with a cracker (1-1 against Bayern), the next round of fixtures takes place on Tuesday.
RBL will travel away to face Schalke on matchday 17 this Tuesday 18:30 CET). Gelsenkirchen was a happy hunting ground for RBL last year. Here we take a look at Tuesday’s opponents in the German Values opponent analysis.
Information on FC Schalke 04
Form
As a founding member of the Bundesliga, Schalke 04 were a constant fixture in the top division for many years and you could hardly think about the top flight without also thinking of S04. After 30 years in the 2021/22 season, the Royal Blues finally had to make the arduous journey into the 2.Bundesliga. There, the club from the Ruhr were able to impress and they returned to the Bundesliga as second division winners at the first time of asking.
Several promoted clubs have found out in the last few seasons that the step-up from the 2.Bundesliga to the Bundesliga has not got any smaller, Schalke among them. After a huge change in personnel in summer 2022, (28 players in, 30 players out), the S04 fans were able to celebrate their first win of the season on matchday 6 (a 3-1 win against Bochum). Up until now, they have only managed to add to this once (a 1-0 win against Mainz).
With only 9 points (2 wins/3 draws/10 defeats), Schalke went into the winter break in last place. The team used the extended winter break to prepare intensively for the second half of the season under new head coach Thomas Reis. To help with this, the team undertook a ten day training camp in Belek in Turkey, playing six friendlies (3 draws, 3 defeats).
On matchday 16, the Royal Blues put in a brave performance against Eintracht Frankfurt, however having lost 3-0 they went home empty handed.
Team
Key players
In attack, Schalke rely on the 2.Bundesliga all-time top-scorer, Simon Terodde (172 goals). Terodde has netted three times so far this season and along with striker partner Marius Bülter (also three goals), is currently S04’s top-scorer. Behind the duo, Dominick Drexler pulls the strings in midfield. With two goals and three assists, Drexler is the Schalke player with the most goal contributions.
Players in focus
One main focus for RBL fans during the meeting with FC Schalke 04 should be Tom Krauß. The 21-year-old midfielder came through the academy at RBL, and after his experiences at 1. FC Nürnberg last season, he is now gathering experience in Germany’s top flight. Tom is a nailed on starter for the ‘Knappen’ and has started all 16 league games.
New additions
FC Schalke 04 reacted on Friday to the news of a serious injury to striker Sebastian Polter (ACL tear) through the signing of Michael Frey. The experienced Swiss is a like-for-like replacement for Polter. Frey is no an unknown entity in Germany, having played 29 Zweitliga games for 1. FC Nürnberg (4 goals) in the 2019/20 season. Most recently, Frey has been playing in the top division in Belgium with Royal Antwerp.
Schalke's Bundesliga top goal involvements:
∙ Dominick Drexler (2 goals/ 3 assists)
∙ Marius Bülter (3/0)
∙ Simon Terodde (3/0)
∙ Sebastian Polter (1/2)
Leipzig's Bundesliga top goal involvements:
∙ Christopher Nkunku (12/2)
∙ Dominik Szoboszlai (1/8)
∙ Timo Werner (4/2)
∙ André Silva (2/2)
Absentees
Sebastian Polter (ACL tear), Sepp van den Berg (ligament damage), Alex Kral (disc problem), Maya Yoshida (knock to the knee), Niklas Tauer (muscle strain).
RB Leipzig’s current team news can be found here.
Head coach
Thomas Reis took over from Frank Kramer at the end of October 2022. The Royal Blues have played six league games under the 49-year-old so far (1 win, 5 defeats). Reis previously managed fellow Bundesliga side VfL Bochum.
Reis was a professional footballer himself from 1992 until 2006, and played for Eintracht Frankfurt, VfL Bochum and FC Augsburg among others. He played a total of 122 Bundesliga games as a defender.
RBL fixtures at a glance
Matchday 15
Saturday 11/12/22, 02.30 p.m.
Bremen
RB Leipzig
Matchday 16
Friday 01/20/23, 07.30 p.m.
RB Leipzig
Bayern
Matchday 17
Tuesday 01/24/23, 05.30 p.m.
Schalke 04
RB Leipzig
Matchday 18
Friday 01/27/23, 07.30 p.m.
RB Leipzig
Stuttgart
Round of 16
Wednesday 02/01/23, 05.00 p.m.
RB Leipzig
Hoffenheim
Head-to-head
RB Leipzig have the far better of their head-to-head with S04, having recorded 6 wins, alongside 2 draws and 2 defeats. The last meeting of the two sides took place on 6th February 2021. Nordi Mukiele, Marcel Sabitzer and Willi Orban scored in a away victory.
Also both previously away games in Schalke have ended in victories. Marco Rose and his team could achieve their fourth win in a row against the ‘Knappen’.
Most recent games
∙ 6th February 2021 | Bundesliga: FC Schalke 0-3 RB Leipzig
∙ 3rd October 2020 | Bundesliga: RB Leipzig 4-0 FC Schalke
∙ 22nd February 2020 | Bundesliga: FC Schalke 0-5 RB Leipzig
∙ 28th September 2019 | Bundesliga: RB Leipzig 1-3 FC Schalke