1st FC Kaiserslautern – Schalke 04
The Bundesliga 2 is already in its 19th matchday and there are once again some exciting games this weekend. While the top clubs in the upper half of the table, such as Fürth and Kiel, are battling it out with each other, there is also a lot going on in the lower regions. Among others, 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Schalke 04 will kick off the soccer weekend. You can find out who will win this match in our Kaiserslautern – Schalke betting tip.
The two neighbors in the table are in a direct battle to avoid relegation. They are separated by just two points and the winner will be ahead of the other after this clash. Kaiserslautern recently suffered a 2-0 defeat at St. Pauli. As a result, Braunschweig have now closed the gap to one point and, along with Rostock, are the second team breathing down the Palatinate’s neck.
Schalke have in common with Kaiserslautern that they also lost to a Hamburg club last weekend. The 2-0 defeat against HSV did not please the fans and the Royal Blues were unable to move away from the relegation zone. Neither team should actually lose in this duel, so we expect an exciting game
Kaiserslautern – Schalke info
- Date & Time: 26.01.2024, 18:30 hrs.
- Playing venue: Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern
- Competition: Bundesliga 2, matchday 19
- TV broadcast: Sky
Kaiserslautern Form & Balance Check
The Red Devils are currently not in good form. The defeat against St. Pauli was the third competitive match in a row that they have lost. In the league, they have already lost seven games in a row. So things are not going well at Betzenberg and Kaiserslautern are under pressure in their home game against Schalke. If they lose, coach Dimitrios Grammozis’ team could even end up in a direct relegation spot.
Of course, this must be avoided at all costs. The highlight for fans is the quarter-final match in the DFB Cup against league rivals Hertha BSC at the end of January, before continuing in the league against Elversberg and Paderborn
Hoping for returnees
The Lauterer’s top scorer this season is striker Ragnar Ache. The 25-year-old scored a strong six goals in the first half of the season, keeping Kaiserslautern competitive. However, Ache was injured at the end of October and missed six games as a result.
Since then, he has not yet managed to play 90 minutes, but he scored immediately after his return in the match against Nuremberg. Now the fans are hoping that he will quickly regain his fitness and secure the Devils’ survival in the league with his goals
Kaiserslautern facts & analysis
- 1. FC Kaiserslautern’s run of bankruptcies in the 2nd Bundesliga has now lasted 7 games.
- Did you know that 1. FC Kaiserslautern score 36% of their goals between the 16-30 minute mark? That’s the highest figure in the league.
- When 1. FC Kaiserslautern leads 1-0 in home matches, they win 80% of the matches.
Schalke Form & Balance Check
After two wins and a draw before the winter break, FC Schalke were beaten 2-0 by HSV last weekend. As a result, coach Karel Geraerts’ team are back at the bottom of the table and have lost touch with the midfield they were aiming for.
The relegation battle now continues at Schalke and the team must hold their own at Betzenberg to avoid slipping even further down the table. They are currently three points clear of the relegation places, but Braunschweig and Rostock could draw level if the Blue & Whites lose. This means that the pressure on the Royal Blues is by no means less than it is on the Lauters
Return of Churlinov
Schalke announced the return and possible long-term stay of Darko Churlinov earlier this week. The North Macedonian is on loan from Burnley FC until the end of the season and Schalke have also secured a purchase option of €2.5 million. This will be the second time the 23-year-old, who trained at 1. FC Köln and made his breakthrough at VfB Stuttgart, has worn the Royal Blues’ jersey.
In the 2021/22 season, he played 22 games for the blue and whites, scoring two goals and setting up four assists. The striker is now expected to help Schalke achieve more stable performances in the second half of the season and, above all, score goals.
Schalke facts & analysis
- With 4 red cards, Schalke 04 leads the league table in the 2nd Bundesliga.
- Will the streak continue? Schalke 04 have scored in each of their last 11 games.
- When Schalke 04 leads 0-1 in away matches, they win 77% of the matches.
Predicted lineup – last update on January 24, 2024
The FCK will play with a five-man back line with Almamy Touré, Jan Elvedi and Boris Tomiak in central defense. Offensive player Marlon Ritter must be careful, as he picked up his 4th yellow card in the last game against St. Pauli and would have to sit out a game if he picks up another one. We don’t expect any changes compared to the last game.
Schalke usually play in the classic 4-4-2 system, but coach Geraerts will have to make some changes to the defense. Both full-back Cédric Brunner and central defender Marcin Kamiński picked up their 5th yellow card in the last game against HSV and are therefore suspended. Henning Matriciani and Timo Baumgartl could move into the starting line-up instead. Offensively, we don’t expect any rotation
Kaiserslautern – Schalke head-to-head & stats
Kaiserslautern vs Schalke has been played 84 times. 78 of these matches have taken place in the Bundesliga, while this season was the first meeting in League Two. The teams have also met five times in the DFB Cup. Kaiserslautern have won a total of 29 matches, while Schalke have emerged victorious 31 times. The first leg was a clear 3-0 win for the miners, with Schalke’s last victory coming in 2011
- The home record of 1. FC Kaiserslautern against Schalke 04 in the last 16 matches is: 8 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats. The goal difference: 30-19 for 1.
- A look at 1. FC Kaiserslautern: Ragnar Ache is the top scorer with 6 goals. Kenan Karaman scored 5 times for Schalke 04.
- The current performance of Schalke 04 in Bundesliga 2 is better than the performance of 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
- On average 1. FC Kaiserslautern scores 1.8 goals against Schalke 04 and Schalke 04 scores 1.6 goals against 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
- FC Kaiserslautern scores 1.64 goals on average in home matches and Schalke 04 scores 1.44 goals on average in away matches (on average).
