Huub Stevens’ Schalke will take on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/VfL-Wolfsburg-c40881 in a Bundesliga clash on Sunday, February 19, at the Veltins-Arena. The home side will be eager to secure all
three points to keep up with the top teams on the Bundesliga standings table whereas the Wolves will be looking to carry on with their impressive run after the winter break.
Wolfsburg won the reverse fixture at the Volkswagen Arena in September last year with a 2-1 margin as Mario Mandzukic scored a brace to lead the home side to
victory.
Schalke
Die Knappen have been impressive all season and have been on par with the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach in the race
for the Bundesliga title but some disappointing results in recent games have seen them slide to fourth place.
The Royal Blues played a 1-1 draw at home against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/1-FSV-Mainz-05-c38166 and were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Borussia Monchengladbach last week. Although Schalke have
an eight point advantage over fifth place Werder Bremen, any further slip-ups would further diminish their chances of winning the league.
VfL Wolfsburg
Felix Magath’s decision to sign eight players in the winter transfer window has paid off as the Wolves have won three of the last five games in the Bundesliga,
losing just once. The club is back in the top ten with the impressive showing since the restart of the league and currently stand in eighth place with 27 points.
The former German champions have a very good chance of qualifying for the UEFA Europa League at the end of the season if they continue to perform consistently
in the remaining course of the season.
Team News
Schalke
The home side will be without Benedikt Howedes and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Raul-c30652 is expected
to start the match despite reports claiming that the player will be out with a thigh injury.
VfL Wolfsburg
Jan p***k and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giovanni-c14985 Sio is expected to partner Mandzukic
in attack whereas http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marcel-c23507 Schafer will offer support on the wings.
Players to watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Klaas-Jan-Huntelaar-c21175
The Dutch international has been in staggering form for the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Royal-95-c40387 Blues this season and is currently the second highest goalscorer in the Bundesliga. The player
has found the net 16 times thus far and his display would be vital if the hosts need to claim all three points in the match.
Mario Mandzukic
The striker was the only positive Wolfsburg could take from the first-half of the season. Mandzukic has been impressive this season and has been amongst the
goals for the side that struggled for results in the earlier stages of the campaign.
Prediction
Die Knappen have won five of the last six games played at home in all competitions and their performances at Veltins-Arena have been sensational this term. Huub
Stevens’ men will be looking to secure their 14th win of the ongoing season and remain on the tails of the top three sides.
On the other hand, the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wolves-c40952 have just lost once to Schalke in the last five meetings, winning three times in the process. So the match is expected to end in
a 1-1 draw.
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