On Saturday evening, Schalke and Werder Bremen clash at the Veltins Arena in a big game for the home team in their fight for survival in the Bundesliga.
Schalke form guideThe Royal Blues desperately need a victory, as Schalke are currently in 17th place in the Bundesliga table, three points adrift of the safety of 15th place and a point behind 16th place Stuttgart in the relegation play-off zone.
Thomas Reis’ team have won just one of their last six games in the Bundesliga, having suffered three defeats in their previous four league matches. A poor recent defensive record has played a big part in their current poor run, as they have conceded at least two goals in their last four league matches.
Schalke have been relatively hard to beat on home soil, losing just one of their last six home games in the Bundesliga.
Werder Bremen form guideThe visitors are in midtable in the Bundesliga table, ten points clear of the relegation play-off and 12 adrift of the European spots in the German top flight.
Werder ended a six-game winless run in the league by recording a 4-2 away win at Hertha Berlin. The game saw the visitors concede at least two goals in their seventh straight league game.
Werder are unbeaten in their last three away games in the Bundesliga. However, they have also won just one of their previous five away games in the German top flight. Their recent defensive record has also been poor on their travels, as they have conceded at least two goals in eight of their last nine away games in the league.
Latest team newsSchalke has a long list of potential absentees through injury for this clash, as Tim Skarke, Cedric Brunner and Ralf Fahrmann are joined on the sidelines by Soichiro Kozuki, Sebastian Polter and Justin Heekeren due to various injuries. Tom Krauss is available after serving a suspension.
Werder Bremen will once again be without the injured Felix Agu, while star striker Niklas Fullkrug is a fitness doubt after only making the substitutes last time out.
What am I backing?This should be a fairly close game. Schalke are not easy to beat on home soil, and Werder are not great travellers. The bet I am backing is this game to finish in a draw.