Prediction: Schalke vs Werder Bremen

Verdict: Werder Bremen draw no bet

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Bet365

Hoping to continue what would be a great escape, Werder Bremen will face off against a struggling Schalke at an empty Veltins Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Schalke

Starting with the hosts, throwing away the lead in abysmal fashion once again in midweek, it appears that Saturday’s contest could be a job-saving meeting for the under-pressure David Wagner. Hit with a 2-1 defeat away at relegation scrappers Fortuna Dusseldorf on Wednesday night, the Blues have continued free-falling away from the European picture after what has been a woeful run of form. With the mood around the Veltins Arena at a season-low, the former Huddersfield boss has seen his side lose their last three Bundesliga matches on the bounce and have remarkably now failed to win any of their last 10 top-flight appearances. With just a sole Bundesliga point to their name out of a possible 18 over their past six outings, Schalke also have a growing reputation for their gun-shy displays in the final third. Including what was an embarrassing 3-0 drumming at home against Augsburg last weekend, Wagner’s side have managed to land just a pair of strikes in their last seven outings. Even more worrying for fans around Gelsenkirchen, there side have scored just a single goal at the Veltins Arena in over 300 minutes of action.

Team News

Schalke boss David Wagner has confirmed that Suat Serdar will be out until the end of the season with a knee injury, which is likely to keep him sidelined for three to four months.

Along with being unable to call upon Benjamin Stambouli and youngster Amine Harit, there is also doubts about both Omar Mascarell (groin) and Benito Raman (thigh).

Werder Bremen

As for the visitors, while Werder Bremen might still find themselves in the midst of their worst campaign in recent memory, Florian Kohfeldt’s men have begun to show some recent signs of life. Putting in another eye-catching display against Champions League hopefuls Borussia Mönchengladbach and many feeling they deserved more than a point, the former German giants also shocked many by landing a 1-0 win away at another European contender in Freiburg last weekend. However, while Bremen might have lost just a sole Bundesliga matchup in their last four appearances and also recorded back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season, Die Werderaner do open Saturday’s contest sat six points adrift of safety. Now in a real uphill battle to keep hold of their 52-year Bundesliga status, Bremen should be boosted by their eye-catching record away at the Veltins Arena. Including a 2-0 win on their travels last season, they have won on their last three competitive trips to Schalke and recorded 15 wins in Gelsenkirchen overall – more than against any other club.

Team News

Ahead of their trip to the Veltins Arena, the guests will be without Niclas Füllkrug (torn ACL), Kevin Möhwald (knee), and veteran striker Claudio Pizarro (thigh).

Bremen will also be unable to call upon central defender Miloš Veljković who will be serving a suspension on Saturday afternoon.

Key Factors to Consider

• Schalke have lost five of their last six Bundesliga matches and have failed to win any of their last 10 top-flight appearances.
• The Blues have also managed to score just a pair of goals in their last seven Bundesliga outings.
• More worrying, David Wagner’s men have recorded just a single strike at the Veltins Arena in over 300 minutes of action.
• Saturday’s guests have recorded back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season.
• Bremen have won on their last three competitive trips to Schalke and recorded 15 wins in Gelsenkirchen overall – more than against any other club.

Conclusion

While Bremen might open this weekend’s contest sat six points adrift of safety and in a real struggle, they have begun to show some signs of life and will be relishing a trip to Schalke on Saturday. Holding a stunning record at the Veltins Arena and winning each of their last three trips to Gelsenkirchen, including a 2-0 win last season, under-pressure David Wagner could be in for another long afternoon. With the Royal Blues in the midst of a growing crisis and now failing to win any of their last 10 Bundesliga matchups, we’re backing what could be another upset in Gelsenkirchen.

Verdict: Werder Bremen draw no bet

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Bet365