RB Leipzig – Schalke 04
This weekend the Bundesliga reaches its boiling point. Many decisions will be made on the last matchday. This is also the case for the match in Saxony’s state capital. In our Leipzig vs. Schalke tip, you can find out whether the team will be able to turn things around on Saturday.
The hosts already secured their place in the Champions League the previous week with a 3:1 win at Bayern. RasenBallsport thus ended another season among the top four teams in the Bundesliga table and for the sixth time in their seventh season in the German top flight. On the last matchday, coach Marco Rose could therefore spare some players for the DFB Cup final.
This would be very convenient for the visitors from Gelsenkirchen. Despite the hard-fought draw against Eintracht Frankfurt the previous week, Schalke slipped to a direct relegation spot in the 2nd Bundesliga before the last matchday. However, the Knappen still have every chance. Direct salvation or going into the relegation is still possible with a point win of their own. S04 has only played in the relegation once so far. In 1983, however, the Königsblauen lost to Bayer Uerdingen as a Bundesliga team. If Schalke lose in Leipzig, it is certain that they will be relegated for the fifth time in their club history.
Leipzig – Schalke info:
- Date & Time: 27.05.2023, 15:30 Uhr
- Game venue: Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 34
- TV broadcast: Sky
Leipzig Form & Balance Check
Under the management of Marco Rose, RasenBallsport have steadily improved and are currently unbeaten in five competitive matches. Marco Rose has undoubtedly been a major factor in their success this season, as no other Bundesliga team has collected more points than RB Leipzig since he took charge last September.
This upward trend led to the Saxons finally securing another place in the top flight the previous week. Moreover, Leipzig are also in the cup final for the third time in a row and could win their second title in a row there on 3 June.
Nkunku in the centre
Christopher Nkunku played a crucial role for RB Leipzig last season and the shortened first half. In his first 15 games this season, the French player scored an impressive twelve goals to top the Bundesliga scoring charts. Last year, Leipzig’s number 18 even managed to score 20 goals in the league.
Unfortunately, Nkunku suffered an injury during the French national team’s training camp before the World Cup. In the meantime, however, the 25-year-old is back in top form. The attacker also scored in the previous week against Bayern to make it 2-1 in the interim. In the league, he now has 14 goals for the season. However, according to media reports, it has been clear for some time that Nkunku will move to Chelsea in the Premier League in the summer.
Leipzig facts & analysis
- First two home defeats in the Bundesliga
- Third best offence in the league
- Actual DFB Cup winners
Schalke form & balance check
Schalke are in eighth place in the second-round table with 22 points. Due to the desolate first half of the season, in which the Knappen only bagged nine points, S04 is nevertheless in a tricky situation before the last game. Coach Thomas Reis’ team is currently in 17th place.
VfL Bochum and VfB Stuttgart, in 16th and 15th place, have only one point more on their account than the Königsblauen. Bochum’s neighbours from the Ruhr region also have a worse goal difference than Schalke. With a little help from Leverkusen, a draw against Leipzig would even be enough for the Knappen to qualify for relegation.
Leipzig a size too big?
Schalke face a big challenge in their last game. The Knappen face Leipzig, who currently occupy third place. However, in this Bundesliga season, S04 have not yet managed to get a win against the eight best-placed teams in the table at the moment. The Knappen will therefore have to rise above themselves to deliver a positive performance.
So far, the playing quality of the Knappen has always reached its limits against technically good teams. These limits were impressively demonstrated by the upcoming opponents from Leipzig in the first leg. At the end of January, the Saxons won 6:1 in the Veltins Arena. The Schalke fans are now hoping for a small football miracle on the last matchday.
Schalke facts & analysis
- First two away victories
- Best offence in the Bundesliga
- Placed 17th in Bundesliga
Predicted line-up – last update on 25 May 2023
Leipzig we expect very again in a 4-4-2. Coach Marco Rose could spare some players before the cup final next week. Apart from the long-term injured Péter Gulácsi, RB will probably have all players available.
Ralf Fährmann could return in the Knappen box. Should the keeper not be fit in time, Michael Langer will probably keep goal. In addition, S04 will be missing Moritz Jenz and Simon Terodde with a yellow suspension. Tom Krauß is also expected to miss the game against his parent club due to injury.
Leipzig – Schalke direct comparison & Statistics
RB Leipzig are comparatively new to German professional football, so there have only been eleven encounters between the two teams so far. Of those, RB have won seven times, while Schalke have only emerged victorious twice. In the last four encounters, the Saxons have been particularly dominant, scoring a total of 18 goals, while Schalke have registered just one.
- Schalke coach Thomas Reis has yet to pick up a point against Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
- The last Schalke win against Leipzig was on 28/09/2019.
- Did you know that Leipzig score 30% of their goals between the 76-90 minute?
- Schalke 04 have failed to score in 9 of their 16 away games in the Bundesliga this season
