FC Schalke 04

[Trim]

Don't underestimate Gladbach.
Schalke has an easy opponent in paper, but it can turn totally different.

[Oliver_Kahn]

If Gladbach can play strong in defence and use the counter atack well, they might cause some problems to Schalke. But in the end, I see Schalke winning

[Trim]

Schalke 04 will go into Saturday's encounter with Borussia Mönchengladbach minus the services of several key players.

Halil Altintop continues to struggle with a groin injury, and may not be available for selection.

Painful

Schalke coach Mirko Slomka said, "Halil's been labouring for weeks with an inflamation. He's in a lot of pain and has only been able to play recently with the help of painkillers." Slomka added that he would decide later on Friday whether the 24-year-old striker is fit enough to join the rest of the squad.

In addition to the suspended Fabian Ernst and Lincoln, Schalke will also have to do without Gustavo Varela.

Back next week

The Uruguayan international has to complete a special muscle-strengthening programme before hopefully returning to regular training next week.

Peter Lövenkrands, however, is out for the rest of the season, following an operation on his right ankle on Wednesday.

[Trim]

Schalke 2 - 0 Monchengladbach

57' [1 - 0] G. Asamoah
70' [2 - 0] K. Kuranyi

[Trim]

Schalke 04 2 - 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach

League leaders Schalke saw-off bottom club Mönchengladbach thanks to two second-half goals from Gerald Asamoah (57.) and Kevin Kuranyi (71) - his first league goal in 581 minutes of play.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Told you Schalke would win. Gladbach would never beat Schalke at Gelsenkirchen.

[Trim]

The Royal Blues successfully defended their lead at the top of the table on Saturday afternoon. And this time they did not have to rely on results going their way to do it, brushing aside Borussia Mönchengladbach with a deserved 2-0 win at the VELTINS Arena. Goals from Gerald Asamoah and Kevin Kuranyi were the logical consequence of a performance that also impressed Gladbach coach Jos Luhukay: "Schalke were relentless going forward. By exerting plenty of pressure and raising the pace they eventually prised us open."

Mirko Slomka was forced to make two changes for the visit of Gladbach, Hamit Altintop and Mesut Özil coming in for the injured Peter Lovenkrands and the suspended Fabian Ernst, while Gerald Asamoah got the nod over Halil Altintop, who started on the bench. Measures that were to prove very valuable. "Two players are worthy of special praise: Asamoah und Özil", noted Slomka after the final whistle. "Gerald was involved in a fascinating battle with Marcell Jansen and did almost everything we asked of him", the Schalke boss said. "And Mesut is really still an under-19 youth player, but he's already established himself in the senior squad. He set up the first goal with a fast, dribbling run and also had a great chance in the first half."

Yet it was the visitors who were the first to make their mark on the game. "We wanted to switch from defence to attack as quickly as possible every time we got the chance, and initially we did try to play a counterattacking game", said Luhukay, describing Gladbach's tactical concept. "In this phase we had two chances through Nando Rafael and Moses Lamidi that could have taken the game in a different direction." But Rafinha stepped in before Rafael's shot could cross the line and Lamidi was denied by the crossbar. After that, "Schalke took control of the game, playing some good, variable football through the middle and down the flanks that saw them create several chances", praised the Borussia coach. As, for example, when Asamoah's header struck the bar (22'), Özil shot narrowly wide of the right-hand upright after a fine solo run (29') and Hamit Altintop's left-foot drive flew just over the top (39').

A draw against the bottom side would obviously not have been enough for the Royal Blues in their bid to win the championship. And so they moved up another gear after the interval. "We increased our efforts significantly after the break. We controlled the ball much better and had more shots on goal", said Slomka. And though Rafinha missed his side's first golden opportunity, Gerald Asamoah took the second after some great work by Özil and Kuranyi on 57 and Kuranyi headed home Christian Pander's cross for the second 14 minutes later.

"We had to battle hard in the first half, but in the second we stepped up the pace significantly and also had that little bit of luck you need", said Slomka in summary of his team's successful defence of their lead at the top of the table.

Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic, Pander - Bajramovic, Hamit Altintop (Hoogland 90'), Kobiashvili - Asamoah (Halil Altintop 65'), Kuranyi, Özil (Kunert 90')

Mönchengladbach: Keller - Bogelund, Gohouri, Ze Antonio, Jansen - Svard (Polanski 35'), El Fakiri, Insua, Compper (Thygesen 46') - Lamidi (Neuville 68'), Rafael

Referee: Meyer (Burgdorf)

Goals: 1-0 Asamoah (57'), 2-0 Kuranyi (71')

Attendance: 61,482 (sold out)

Yellow cards: - Svard, Gohouri (3)

[Trim]

VS

MD 29: FSV Mainz vs FC Schalke 04
Stadium: Stadion am Bruchweg, Mainz
Date: Saturday, 14th Apr, 15:30 C.E.T. (GMT +2)

Quick Schalke stats
Current League Form: LDWLW

[Oliver_Kahn]

Tough match for Schalke, hopefully Zidan can stop Schalke from winning.

[Oliver_Kahn]

The training ground was particularly busy on Tuesday, with not only the fans flocking to the club complex for the first session since the Easter holiday - with the exception of Peter Lovenkrands head coach Mirko Slomka had a full squad at his disposal.

After the warm-up and some extensive stretching exercises Slomka staged a mini-tournament with three competing teams. But despite having resumed full training, Gustavo Varela did not join in, going over to the medicos rehab centre to work on his return to full fitness instead.

Fabian Ernst was particularly busy. The Schalke midfielder served his one-match suspension against Borussia Mönchengladbach at the weekend and does not want to be a spectator again when the Royal Blues visit Mainz on Saturday: "It's obviously stupid sitting in the stands and seeing the videocube announce one Stuttgart goal after another while we're drawing 0-0, although I was convinced the lads would still do it", recalls Ernst.

Though almost all the sides Schalke face during the run-in are fighting against relegation, the 27-year-old isn't underestimating anyone: "They're all fighting for survival. But if you want to win the league, you have to win in Mainz." Ernst is quite happy that the match is away: "When you get these teams at home they often pack their defence. Maybe it's better having to play in Mainz and in Bochum. But we have to play our own game whatever the case."

After serving a five-match ban Lincoln is another player looking to return to the first team. For Ernst, the large number of players available for selection is a luxury problem: "For the first time in ages the coach is in a situation where he has options. It's now up to every player to train and perform well to ensure there's competition for places."

This also applies to Kevin Kuranyi, of course, who got on the scoresheet in the 2-0 win over Mönchengladbach. The fact that the Germany international has been "using his head" for both club and country (eight of his twelve goals have not been scored with his feet), is no coincidence: "Twice a week I do heading practice with Oliver Reck after training", he explained. "I'm always trying to improve. The more I train, the better I get. And there are a lot of good wide players in the team to feed me with crosses."

Though many opponents have been left languishing in his wake, the 25-year-old striker doesn't really care who he's up against: "I'm always so desperate to get to the ball I don't give my marker any thought at all." Something that applies this Saturday as well: "We know it won't be easy, but we'll be doing our utmost to win again."

[Trim]

Bundesliga leaders FC Schalke 04 will have to make do without Sebastian Boenisch in their away match in Mainz on Saturday.

The 20-year-old tore a thigh muscle in training on Tuesday.

Eight Bundesliga matches this season

Boenisch suffered the injury during a friendly match with nobody near him.

The Germany U-21 international has played eight Bundesliga matches this season.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Mimoun Azaouagh is recovering from a bad bronchitis. Read what he had to say in an interview with 1. FSV Mainz's official website.


Question: It is good that you are healthy again. How are you today?

Mimoun Azaouagh: Thanks. I really caught a bad one. Already, I didn't feel so good in the game against Bayer Leverkusen but I wanted to help the team by all means. I was totally exhausted after 30 minutes and had to be substituted in the break. On the same night I was really broken. My immune system was probably already ailing, the bronchitis then really kicked in. I couldn't do anything. I could only lie in bed.

Question: You went to the training camp on Tuesday. Will the time be enough until the home game against Schalke 04 on Saturday?

Azaouagh: I feel good although I am not back at 100 percent yet because my air passages are still ailing. I will practice with the team today and then we will see. But I think it will work on Saturday.

Question: You were not at the game in Wolfsburg. How did you experience the match?

Azaouagh: I watched the game together with a friend of mine on arena. It was sad. You are sitting there, watching your teammates, hoping and fearing with them that they can bring the result home but you cannot help. The defeat hurt a lot.

[Oliver_Kahn]

1. FSV Mainz 05 entertain FC Schalke 04 in a real David vs. Goliath encounter on Saturday. bundesliga.de paid a visit to both camps.


1. FSV Mainz 05 and head coach Jürgen Klopp have endured all manners of ups and downs this season. After being bottom for much of the season, Mainz climbed up to tenth, before slipping back into the relegation zone.

"This is an extreme situation"

Their recent 3-1 home defeat to Leverkusen summed up the problem. Mainz played better, but couldn't capitalise on their chances. But the team still believes it can beat the drop.

"Even for us, this is an extreme situation. Still, it's a small sensation that we are in this situation at all, considering what we have achieved in the second half of the season. I wouldn't describe our current situation as a low. It's just normal", Klopp says.

Andreasen with "tunnel vision"

But it can be hard for his players. Leon Andreasen joined Mainz on loan from Werder Bremen. The 23 year old Danish international has integrated well, and he's adapted to Mainz's precarious situation by developing a "tunnel vision".

"It's hard for a footballer. You pump yourself up with adrenalin every weekend or every Saturday and Wednesday, and then you come back down, and go back up. It's tough. I never think about the future. I only think from game to game."

Schalke not taking anything for granted

Now Mainz are up against none other than league leaders Schalke. It's a David versus Goliath encounter, but the Schalke squad is not taking anything for granted in the hunt for the title.

"You know you're wrong if you think: "We're pretty good and we don't need anything". We need the pressure every game", Marcelo Bordon admits.

"A lot of people think it will be easy. But it's never easy to play against a team that doesn't want to be relegated. All of us must give 100 percent and try to win what should be a very tough match", S04 striker Kevin Kuranyi demands.

Good mood in the Mainz camp

Despite being 17th in the standings, the mood is good in the Mainz camp ahead of a crunch "must win" game. Mainz have a simple motto: don't fear any big team!

"We once had a fantastic game against Schalke. It was the club's centenary match, and we won 2-1. Obviously we have a lot of positive memories of that game. But it's not as if that will be a massive motivation for us this time around", Klopp recalls.

Mainz can rely on Egyptian striker Mohamed Zidan (eleven goals this season), but coach Klopp believes the whole squad will come up trumps.

"We're not completely blind"

"We're not completely blind! We can all play football! With the fans behind us, I believe we will be able to make an outstanding performance, and that will be necessary against Schalke. I hope Schalke win the title, but ideally, they should win it without getting any points in Mainz!"

The wisdom of Klopp, the skill of Zidan and the power of Andreasen: will it be enough to beat Schalke this weekend?

[Trim]

Come on Mainz! Come on Zidan!