FC Schalke will host fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund this Saturday in the much awaited Revierderby. Arguably the biggest derby in Germany, both teams will fight for their respective targets on Saturday. Schalke will look to get back into the top seven and earn a Europa league spot while Dortmund, on the other hand, will look to pip second placed Leipzig. Here is the predicted Schalke lineup which will feature against Dortmund in the derby.
Goalkeeper: After an extraordinary season last campaign, Ralf Fahrmann hasn’t been in the best of form for Schalke this season. He needs to perform better if he wants to keep the dangerous Dortmund attack at bay.
Right Back: Thilo Kehrer might make the starting lineup on Saturday. The young 20-year-old fullback has been excellent for Schalke in the past few games. However, it will perhaps be one of his toughest nights in his career to stop the likes of Guerreiro and Schmelzer on the right flank.
Centre Back (R): Benedikt Howedes will lead his side against Dortmund. Howedes has been one of the prominent figures for Schalke in the past few years. His leadership and experience will be vital for the home side.
Centre Back (L): Matija Nastasic has been a good signing for the Royal Blues ever since he made his comeback after injury. He will play alongside captain Howedes in central defence.
Left Back: Sead Kolasinac will start as the left back for Markus Weinzierl. The Bosnian has been one of the best Schalke players this season. He will be vital for the home side as they look to dominate the left flank.
Central Defensive Midfield: Johannes Geis had an important role when these met in the reverse fixture. He is expected to play the same role this weekend as well. The lack of a transition player for Dortmund might prove to be a problem for them.
Central Defensive Midfield: Nabil Bentaleb’s creativity will be equally important for the Royal Blues. While Dortmund don’t really have a player to prevent the former Tottenham man in midfield.
Right Wing: New signing Daniel Caligiuri is expected to start on the right flank. He was bought for a bargain price of two and a half million euros from Wolfsburg. He has proved to be dangerous for Dortmund in the past many a times.
Center Attacking Midfield: Max Meyer will be the main man for the Schalke attack. The young yet experienced midfielder will be the focal point of the attack and the onus will be on him to provide the attacking spark Schalke need.
Left Wing: Eric Maxim Choupo Moting might start as the left winger. His pace will be crucial for Markus Weinzierl’s side. However, it won’t be an easy task to outwit the experienced Lukasz Piszczek.
Striker: Guido Burgstaller has been an instant hit after arriving from Nurnberg in January. “Homeless guy’s Lewandowski” as I like to call him, Burgstaller’s clever positioning and physique can be devastating for Dortmund defence.
