Promotion-chasing Stuttgart will be keen to earn their third successive win, strengthening their case to return to the Bundesliga next season. Read on for match previews from three 2. Bundesliga fixtures on Sunday, as teams across contrasting positions continue jostling for much-needed points. Continue reading
Stuttgart and matchwinner Gonzalo Castro want to build on their last-gasp win over Hamburg as they face a returning Dynamo Dresden this weekend. Read on for match previews from three 2. Bundesliga fixtures in what promises to be an intriguing battle for positions across the division. Continue reading
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are intensifying their interest in Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi and have made an improved £35m bid for the 18-year-old, according to recent developments. Continue reading
Bundesliga enthusiasts, as well as any followers of America’s national footballing side have had one player on their radar this season. A side continuing to improve year-upon-year, Borussia Dortmund pride themselves on developing both consistency as well as helping talented youngsters progress.
The likes of midfield trio Shinji Kagawa, Ilkay Gundogan and Mario Götze have all been given platforms to showcase their talent on the European stage – and even though the latter has opted for pastures new, the team dynamic has remained the same to good effect with title challenges and progression in Europe too. Christian Pulisic represents the new generation, and against Hamburg last month, announced himself to the adoring public with aplomb. Continue reading
With the hosts’ UEFA Champions League qualification hopes all but over now, they have to focus on solidifying a place in next season’s Europa League, with sixth placed Augsburg level on points with them and ready to pounce if they continue their inconsistent run until the end of the 2014-15 campaign.
They’ll be favourites to prevail against Stuttgart, not only because of the visitors’ lowly position in the table but also given their 4-0 thrashing away from home earlier on in the season. Their manager, Roberto di Matteo, had this to say: “We’ve got to exhaust every opportunity, even changing things, to ensure we qualify for the Europa League.”
Stuttgart boss, Huub Stevens, stated: “We’re not going to let ourselves get distracted [by internal matters]. I’m trying to get the lads back on the righ track after the disappointment of [their loss to] Freiburg. That’s what I’m here for. I know it’s going to be tense right down to the final day of the season.”
Team News:
Schalke: The Royal Blues were put through their paces at a training camp earlier this week, after their disappointing defeat at the hands of Mainz 05 last Friday, thus jeopardising their European ambitions. Julian Draxler, Jefferson Farfan, Joel Matip and Sead Kolasinac were unable to take part in one or more of the training sessions, so di Matteo is believed to want to leave it late before deciding who will feature from the quartet of players.
Stuttgart: Serey Dié is back in contention for a start following a suspension, whilst Adam Hlousek is out with a ban of his own, meaning Gokotu Sakai will fill in at the full-back position, whilst Antonio Rudiger is set to start after having recovered from the flu.
Predicted starting line-ups:
Schalke: Fährmann, Höwedes, Kolasinac, Nastasic, Matip, Aogo, Neudstadter, Farfan, Meyer, Choupo-Moting and Huntelaar.
Stuttgart: Ulreich, Sakai, Niedermaier, Klein, Rüdiger, Harnik, Kostic, Gentner, Dié, Maxim and Ginczek.
