Soccer Germany Bundesliga Prediction

RB Leipzig vs Schalke - Match Preview

⚽ 27 May 2023 - 13:30 GMT +0

RB Leipzig has proven once again this season that they’re a force to be reckoned with in the Bundesliga after a campaign-defining 3-1 win over title-chasing Bayern Munich last round guaranteed them third place. That achievement seemed inevitable in hindsight considering that was their fourth league victory in succession, which consequently, has secured their sixth top-four finish from their seven seasons in Germany’s top tier.

Their achievement could be sweetened further with a win in their final match against Schalke, as another victory would equal their best-ever win tally of 20 which was achieved on their Bundesliga debut in 2016/17. Considering their ever-growing standards, neither that nor their UEFA Champions League qualification alone would constitute a majorly successful season for Marco Rose’s men, but perhaps defending their DFB-Pokal crown against Eintracht Frankfurt following the league’s conclusion would.

Schalke finds themselves on the complete opposite end of the spectrum as, instead of fighting for trophies, they’re fighting for survival with their backs against the wall in 17th place. In order to avoid their immediate promotion from the second division last season being cancelled out by an equally fast demotion, Thomas Reis’ men had no choice but to win. The dugout will also be keeping tabs on what’s happening in the games involving Bochum and Stuttgart, who must both drop points for Schalke to avoid the promotion-relegation playoff or worse.

Going undefeated in three of their last four matches (W2, D1) might give their fans hope that their sinking ship can stay afloat. But their destiny may be written in the stars already since they need to travel to the Red Bull Arena and face a team that has beaten them in four successive H2Hs by an embarrassing aggregate score of 18-1.

📋 Players to watch: Dani Olmo bagged a first-half pair of assists and a second-half goal in Leipzig’s 6-1 mauling of Schalke in the reverse fixture, contributing to ten of his last 11 club goals coming after half-time. Meanwhile, Schalke will need top-scorer Marius Bülter to be his influential self, after he scored in four of their past five wins.

⚡ Hot stat: Schalke has scored the opening goal on a league-low eight occasions this Bundesliga season.