Schalke host Augsburg tonight as they look to make it three home wins in a row after their poor start to the season.

The Royal Blues lost last time about against Leverkusen, but morale is high at the Veltins Arena after home victories over Hertha Berlin and Sporting has seen them return to the sort of form that saw them impress in the 2013/14 season under Jens Keller. That was a side that won this fixture 4-1 last season, Adam Szalai scoring twice on that occasion.  

Max Meyer, who also scored in that thumping win, will likely start tonight, as Di Matteo waits on the Kevin Prince Boateng, and has already confirmed that Joel Matip is out.

The visitors will welcome back Tobias Werner on the left after his one-game ban, and will look for him and Raul Bobadilla for creativity to break down the Royal Blues defence. They will be looking at their previous home game for inspiration, where they shipped three goals against Sporting Lisbon in Europe.

Augsburg will need all the help they can get though, four of their last five away games have ended in losses, only beating a poor Frankfurt side in between. Weinzierl has not been critical of his side’s away day fortunes though, stating “We’ve played well on the road recently, but unfortunately we’ve lost narrowly” adding, “The minimum we’re targeting is a point”

That will be a tough target though, eight of Schalke’s 11 points this season have come at home, with impressive wins over Dortmund and Berlin already standing them in good stead ahead of tonights clash.

A win would lift them above Augsburg in the table, and could put them into sixth place ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.

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About the author
Brad Smith
Director of football charity @Kits4Causes, and Bundesliga writer