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Schalke 04 – Hertha BSC
The Bundesliga is entering the home stretch and the 28th matchday is coming up. This week, the first games in the quarter-finals of the Champions League were already scheduled. But before the top teams get into the action, it comes to the duel of the basement children on Friday. The struggling FC Schalke 04 – currently bottom of the table – will meet the penultimate team Hertha BSC. Both teams are fighting to stay in the league and will give each other nothing. Find out which problem child will find its way back to success on Friday in our Schalke – Hertha tip.
Schalke played a subterranean first half of the season before coach Thomas Reis’ team suddenly turned up the heat and remained unbeaten for the first eight games of the second half. Now, however, two defeats in a row followed for S04 in the league. The 0:2 defeat against Hoffenheim last Sunday was a particularly heavy blow for the Knappen.
The upcoming opponents from the capital, however, are currently only one point ahead. The Old Lady is currently without a win in five games in the league. In the previous week, Hertha did not play badly, but in the end lost 0:1 against RB Leipzig.
Schalke – Hertha info:
– Date & Time: 14.04.2023, 20:30 hrs.
– Venue: VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 28
– TV broadcast: DAZN
Schalke Form & Balance Check
The season of the Knappen actually started quite promising this time. The 2. Bundesliga champions lost only two of their first six games. However, this was followed by six defeats in a row. At the turn of the year, S04 was thus in last place in the table with nine points. But in the second half of the season, Schalke’s form showed an upward trend for a long time.
Coach Thomas Reis’ team did not lose any of its first eight games in the second half of the season. However, Schalke recently suffered two defeats in a row. Especially the lost relegation match against Hoffenheim last Sunday hurts Schalke’s soul. With this defeat, S04 once again slipped to the last place in the table.
Without Jenz nothing works
Unwavering and steadfast, Moritz Jenz proves himself as a steadfast defender and stabilises the Schalke defence in a remarkable way. The Berlin-born centre-back, who has been on loan from Lorient since January, has integrated seamlessly into the team. Together with Maya Yoshida, he currently forms one of the best defensive duos in the Bundesliga.
In the last two games, however, the 23-year-old was absent due to injury. Without the pace-setter of the defence, the Knappen defence looked much more vulnerable. In the two games without Jenz, Schalke conceded five goals. In the previous eight games with the loan player, only four goals were conceded. Against Hertha, however, Schalke’s number 25 is expected to be available again.
Schalke facts & analysis
– Only four wins in the league
– Worst offensive performance in the Bundesliga
– Currently in last place in the table
Hertha form & balance check
The Old Lady from Berlin is currently back in the relegation battle and is in fear of staying in the league. Although there have been some glimmers of hope this season, such as the 4:1 at home against Gladbach, the team of coach Sandro Schwarz has not delivered consistent performances so far and thus remains in 17th place.
Hertha, however, have only lost four of their last eight games in the Bundesliga. On the other hand, the Berliners have been waiting for a win in the league since the end of February. Last weekend, the Alte Dame held their own against Champions League contenders RB Leipzig at the Olympiastadion for a long time, but still lost 1-0 in the end.
Nothing works away from home
Hertha BSC have relied on the goalscoring prowess of Dodi Lukébakio this season, who leads the internal scoring charts with ten goals. However, the Belgian did not score in the last four games. Despite the striker’s impressive performance, the entire team represents one of the weakest offensive divisions in the league, with only 31 goals scored. Only two teams have scored fewer goals in the Bundesliga this season.
Especially away from home, however, Hertha are often not at Bundesliga level this year. The Berliners have only picked up five points away from home and are thus in last place in the away table. Since the beginning of September, the Old Lady is without a win away from home.
Hertha facts & analysis
– Without a win for five games in the league.
– Currently in 17th place in the league
– Third weakest offense and defense in the league
Predicted lineup – last update on April 13, 2023
Fc Schalke 04 will probably start in a 4-2-3-1 again on Friday. The Knappen will once again rely on the goal-scoring prowess of Marius Bülter on the left. Together with Tim Skarke, he is expected to exert pressure on the outside against Hertha. Moritz Jenz will most likely move straight into the starting eleven after his injury.
For Hertha, we expect a 3-5-2 again, with leading player Kevin-Prince Boateng likely to be in the starting eleven again against his former club. Dodi Lukébakio will be looking to finally score again for the Alte Dame on Friday after four games without a goal.
Schalke – Hertha direct comparison & statistics
Both teams have met 95 times in competitive matches so far. Schalke have won 44 games and Hertha on the other side have won just 35, but S04 are without a win against the Alte Dame in the Bundesliga since August 2019. Hertha BSC won the first leg at the Olympiastadion 2-1. The goal scorers for the Berliners were Kanga and Tousart at that time.
– Both teams separated by one point in the league
– Hertha have won their last three encounters with Schalke
– Schalke have already picked up three home wins this season
– Did you know that Schalke score 38% of their goals between the 76-90 minute?
– Hertha have failed to score in 3 of their 13 away matches in the Bundesliga this season
