FC Schalke 04

[Oliver_Kahn]

Mainz 0 - 3 Schalke

10' [0 - 1] K. Kuranyi
34' [0 - 2] G. Asamoah
71' [0 - 3] Lincoln

[Oliver_Kahn]

Good win for Schalke, these 3 pts probably sealed the championship

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Big win for Schalke, probably the most decisive one.

[Oliver_Kahn]

"One man's loss is another man's gain"- is an old saying which could apply to HSV defender Mathias Abel. The club has until the end of the season to decide whether or not to take him on a permanent basis, as his loan spell from Bundesliga title contenders Schalke ends in June. First choice centre back Bastian Reinhardt tore a muscle during the dramatic 1-0 way win in Gladbach at the weekend and is expected to be out of action for around a month. Abel looks likely to get a rare chance to shine in the HSV starting line-up for the round 30 visit of Mainz to the AOL Arena on Sunday April 22nd (kick off 5.00 pm).

Abel (25) sees the game as : "A great chance for me to show what I can do. Up to now I haven't had many chances to do so." True enough. Abel has made only 5 appearances-two of those in the 90th minute. he played okay in Gladbach: "One mustn't forget that confidence comes with time on the pitch", explained the defender.

When asked about his future, Abel seems to be at a bit of a loss: "We can only wait an see. There is no point in thinking about it now." On Sunday, Abel will get a rare opportunity to prove that he is worth the transfer fee Schalke are demanding for him.

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VS

MD 30: FC Schalke 04 vs Energie Cottbus
Stadium: VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen
Date: Saturday, 21st Apr, 15:30 C.E.T. (GMT +2)

Quick Schalke stats
Current League Form: DWLWW

[Oliver_Kahn]

Schalke to trash Cottbus I'm afraid.

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The Bundesliga leaders have announced that Hansa Rostock goalkeeper Mathias Schober, a former Schalke player, will return to the "Royal Blues".

Schober has signed a four-year contract with Schalke that terminates on June 30th 2011.

Free transfer

The goalkeeper has already had a spell with the Gelsenkirchen club from 1990 to 2000.

Schober will join Schalke on a free transfer.

Schober delighted

"Mathias Schober is a successful keeper with Bundesliga experience. He fits into our team brilliantly", head coach Mirko Slomka said.

"Schalke are my home club, so I am especially delighted to being given the chance to play here once again", Schober commented.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Slomka expects tough Cottbus test

Energie Cottbus are one of the surprise packages in the current campaign. Initially tipped by most pundits to go straight back down to Division 2, they are just a few points shy of safety with five matches left to play. The Brandenburg outfit guest at the VELTINS Arena this Saturday (kick-off: 1530 CET). And Schalke boss Mirko Slomka has formulated a plan to break down the Cottbus defence.

At today's press conference Slomka cautioned against underestimating Saturday's visitors: "Cottbus have won their last three away matches in Dortmund, Berlin and Frankfurt. They've also picked up 21 points since the mid-season break, exactly the same as Werder Bremen."

For Slomka, the east German side have been one of the positive manifestations of this season. "The club, the coach and the entire team warrant plenty of respect", he said, fully expecting the visitors to be highly motivated on Saturday. "It would be a decisive step towards survival if they could pick up some points." He therefore feels it will be a tough, physical battle, yet another test for his players in the run-in.

Vlad Munteanu and Sergiu Radu were particularly dangerous players, especially on the break, Slomka added. "Along with us Cottbus have the league's best counterattacking record. Thirteen goals are an indication of their tremendous pace, precision and attacking threat."

There was therefore only one conclusion. "We need to keep things tight at the back and can't afford to make any mistakes", said Slomka, hoping for a repeat of last Saturday's assured defensive performance during the 3-0 win in Mainz. "That would allow us to create chances going forward and take advantage of any weaknesses in the Cottbus rearguard."

As against Hertha BSC Berlin and Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Royal Blues will be looking to apply controlled pressure and then strike in clinical fashion. And Slomka has already pinpointed one conspicuous frailty in the Cottbus defence: Patrick Sander's team have already 13 goals from crosses this season.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Schalke world's tenth most valuable club!

Schalke's recent financial development has been recognised in two international studies. Auditing firm Deloitte puts the club 14th on its list of the biggest football clubs based on revenue, while Forbes magazine rates Schalke the tenth most valuable club in the world.

It is the tenth time that Deloitte has published the Football Money League, which lists the world's 20 biggest football clubs by revenue. The current rankings are based on total revenue for the 2005/06 season. As in the previous year Spanish clubs Real Madrid and FC Barcelona top the list, followed by Juventus and Manchester United. With revenues of around 130 million euros, Schalke was able to hold onto 14th place.

Deloitte consider it positive that the club has secured itself "a solid financial basis for the future" through its sponsorship deals with renowned partners. The report also emphasises that Schalke charges relatively low ticket prices, which means that matchday income is smaller in comparison with some of its international rivals despite above-average crowds of around 60,000.

Forbes magazine publishes an annual list of the world's richest clubs. With a team value of almost 370 million euros, Schalke made it into the top ten (tenth overall), having featured in the top 15 in previous years. Forbes assessed club values based on revenue and operating income in the 2005/06 season. It also considered the value of the club stadium based on investment costs. Using this method the list is headed by Manchester United, which with a current value of 1.1 billion euros, is the only club to break through the billion euro barrier. Next come Real Madrid and Arsenal. Bayern Munich is the richest German club in fourth place, followed by SV Hamburg in 16th and Borussia Dortmund in 18th.

Schalke did particularly well in terms of operating income, ranking seventh with just over 30 million euros. Operating income is based on football-related earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation and thus provides a far better insight into the club's financial development than its net profit for the year, for example. The income posted by Bayern Munich (3rd place) is some 60 percent higher than that of Schalke, though Borussia Dortmund, 18th overall, has an operating income of just one million euros.

The club's excellent position and steady rise up the Forbes ranking list are the result of the investments made in the last decade. Schalke has invested well over 400 million euros in the VELTINS Arena, the infrastructure (offices and training complex, for example) and players since 1994. As a result revenues had climbed to around 130 million euros by 2005, having still been below average for the Bundesliga in the mid-nineties.

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Forza Cottbus!

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Schalke 2 - 0 Energie Cottbus

60' [1 - 0] T. Rost (o.g.)

64' [2 - 0] M.J. Bordon

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Schalke 04 2- 0 FC Energie Cottbus

Victory put Schalke back on top of the table, two points clear of Bremen and one step closer to their first title in 49 years. Cottbus are safe in eighth place.

The league leaders found the going tough against Cottbus, finally breaking down the guests' defence on the hour mark, thanks to a Timo Rost own-goal. Four minutes later, a header from Marcelo Jose Bordon sealed the points for Schalke, to the relief of the vast majority of the 61,000-plus fans in the Veltins Arena.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Fucking Cottbus should had won a pt

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VS

MD 31: Bochum vs FC Schalke 04
Stadium: rewirpowerSTADION, Bochum
Date: Friday, 27th Apr, 20:30 C.E.T. (GMT +2)

Quick Schalke stats
Current League Form: WLWWW

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Forza Gekas & co.!