Both clubs will be hoping to end negative records during Friday evening’s Bundesliga showdown between FSV Mainz 05 and FC Schalke 04 (20:30 CEST). Mainz have failed to win in three home matches, whilst the Royal Blues have not won in six games on the road.
In addition, both teams have their goals in sight for the rest of the season. The hosts secured a hugely important win away at relegation rivals Freiburg on matchday 29 to extend their cushion ahead of the drop zone and all but secure Bundesliga football for next season. The club rewarded manager Martin Schmidt with a contract extension until 2018, which will no doubt give him peace of mind as he plans for next season.
Job security for Roberto Di Matteo
For his opposite number Roberto Di Matteo, it’s all about securing Europa League football, having thrown away their chances of Champions League qualification, which will in turn allow them to really push for top four again with a strong squad next season Schalke have drawn their last three matches, leaving a four point gap ahead of seventh place – definitely not a safe cushion. In any case the Swiss born Italian has the backing of the club bosses: “I am convinced that we will qualify for the Europa League. Should that not happen, Roberto Di Matteo will still be the manager next season”, said Heldt in Sport Bild. “We have started a project with him at Schalke and we want to build something for the long term with him.”
The record between the two sides at the Coface Arena is positive for the Ruhr Valley side. The 05ers have gained just two points from the last six home matches against Schalke and have failed to beat them in the last seven matches in the top flight. Their last win came in the 3-1 victory away at Schalke in May 2011 thanks to goals from André Schürrle, Lewis Holtby and Nikolce Noveski.
Schmidt will be hoping for returns for the recently injured Yunus Malli, Ja-Cheol Koo and Daniel Brosinski. Stefan Bell (back problems) and Niko Bungert (calf strain) should at least be back in training. For the Royal Blues, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Jan Kirchhoff and Kevin-Prince Boateng returned to training.
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Both clubs will be hoping to end negative records during Friday evening’s Bundesliga showdown between FSV Mainz 05 and FC Schalke 04 (20:30 CEST). Mainz have failed to win in three home matches, whilst the Royal Blues have not won in six games on the road.
In addition, both teams have their goals in sight for the rest of the season. The hosts secured a hugely important win away at relegation rivals Freiburg on matchday 29 to extend their cushion ahead of the drop zone and all but secure Bundesliga football for next season. The club rewarded manager Martin Schmidt with a contract extension until 2018, which will no doubt give him peace of mind as he plans for next season.
Job security for Roberto Di Matteo
For his opposite number Roberto Di Matteo, it’s all about securing Europa League football, having thrown away their chances of Champions League qualification, which will in turn allow them to really push for top four again with a strong squad next season Schalke have drawn their last three matches, leaving a four point gap ahead of seventh place – definitely not a safe cushion. In any case the Swiss born Italian has the backing of the club bosses: “I am convinced that we will qualify for the Europa League. Should that not happen, Roberto Di Matteo will still be the manager next season”, said Heldt in Sport Bild. “We have started a project with him at Schalke and we want to build something for the long term with him.”
The record between the two sides at the Coface Arena is positive for the Ruhr Valley side. The 05ers have gained just two points from the last six home matches against Schalke and have failed to beat them in the last seven matches in the top flight. Their last win came in the 3-1 victory away at Schalke in May 2011 thanks to goals from André Schürrle, Lewis Holtby and Nikolce Noveski.
Schmidt will be hoping for returns for the recently injured Yunus Malli, Ja-Cheol Koo and Daniel Brosinski. Stefan Bell (back problems) and Niko Bungert (calf strain) should at least be back in training. For the Royal Blues, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Jan Kirchhoff and Kevin-Prince Boateng returned to training.
