BL Friday - extended preview
Schalke 04 host MSV Duisburg in Friday's Bundesliga encounter. Both teams need the points, but for quite different reasons.
"This is a game that has to be won, no ifs and buts about it", said Schalke coach Mirko Slomka, with one eye on the teams' respective league positions and the other on his side's hectic schedule in the upcoming weeks.
Away win overdue
Stuttgart's win at Cottbus in their rescheduled match has made things really tight in the top third of the table", Slomka went on, explaining that, "As qualification for the Champions League remains our goal for the season, and with difficult games in Bremen and Hamburg among others yet to come, we have to see that we drop as few points as possible in the interim. And first and foremost, we must win our games at the Veltins Arena."
The statistics certainly favour Schalke: they haven't lost at home to Duisburg since going down 3-1 on 30 April 1994.
Trio injured
Slomka is keeping his cards close to his chest as to his starting line-up, and is in the fortunate position of having all but three of the squad at his disposal - Zlatan Bajramovic (foot injury), Markus Heppke (Shoulder injury) and Zé Roberto (torn muscle fibre).
Fabian Ernst and Rafinha both return from suspension, while long-term convalescent Christian Pander made a successful comeback at Bielefeld.
Bommer short up front
By contrast, Duisburg coach Rudi Bommer is looking rather short of options up front. In addition to Ailton having finally left the club at the end of February and Klemen Lavric no longer being part of Bommer's plans, MSV now also have to contend with a muscle fibre injury to Manasseh Ishiaku.
Claudiu Niculescu takes his place in attack, with Bojan Vrucina likely to partner him following a solid performance against Rostock.
Defensive chief missing
MSV will also have to do without defensive organiser Björn Schlicke - again due to a torn muscle fibre. Down in the relegation zone since the end of September, they are not, however, travelling to Gelsenkirchen just to make up the numbers. "We have no intention of selling ourselves short", Bommer warned.
Probable line-ups:
Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic, Westermann - Jones, Ernst - Rakitic, Kobiaschwili - Altintop, Kuranyi
Duisburg: Starke - Weber, Fernando, Filipescu, Willi - Grlic, Tararache - Tiffert, Georgiew - Niculescu, Vrucina
Referee: Jochen Drees (Mainz)
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