Preview: Schalke 04 vs. Wolfsburg - prediction, team news, lineups

The Wolves, meanwhile, travel to Gelsenkirchen having lost each of their last three matches in all competitions.

Match preview

Although Schalke remain rock-bottom of the Bundesliga having failed to win any of their last five matches, head coach Thomas Reis will be content with his side's recent 0-0 draws against FC Koln and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Die Konigsblauen won the shot count in both matches, amassing 36 combined without scoring, while doubling their clean tallies for the season having only prevented their opponents from bagging in two of their opening 17 games of the season.

One of those came in a 0-0 draw against Wolfsburg back in August, when Reis was still in charge of VfL Bochum. The 49-year-old will be determined to avoid defeat once again at the very least on Friday night, then, although his side must find victories sooner rather than later if they are to get themselves out of trouble.

Indeed, his former club's victory last weekend moved 15th-placed Bochum eight points clear of Schalke, which represents a sizable gap with only 15 games remaining this campaign. Even a win against Wolfsburg would not be enough to move them off the foot of the table due to their inferior goal difference, but it would be a huge step in the right direction after two improved results and performances in recent weeks.

Wolfsburg, meanwhile, appeared to be an unstoppable force under Niko Kovac after putting together a six-match winning streak to climb up the Bundesliga table, but they have since lost three successive games to lose ground on the top four and crash out of the DFB-Pokal.

The Wolves clearly still possess a fierce bite having scored in each of their three defeats to Werder Bremen, Union Berlin and Bayern Munich, with the reigning champions prevailing 4-2 at the Volkswagen Arena on Sunday.

They found themselves 3-0 down within the opening 20 minutes against Kovac's former side, but Jakub Kaminski pulled one back one minute before half-time to provide his team with a glimmer of hope of mounting a spectacular comeback.

That glimmer became much brighter when Joshua Kimmich was dismissed for a second bookable offence before the hour mark, but the Bavarians stood firm and put the game beyond reach when Jamal Musiala scored his side's fourth, rendering Mattias Svanberg's strike 10 minutes from time little more than a consolation.

With three fixtures against top half sides out of their way, Kovac will be determined to see his team return to winning ways against the division's poorest outfit on Friday, even if their previous meeting provides evidence that all three points can not be taken for granted.

Schalke 04 Bundesliga form:

W

L

L

L

D

D

Wolfsburg Bundesliga form:

W

W

W

W

L

L

Wolfsburg form (all competitions):

D

W

W

L

L

L

Team News

Schalke will remain without Danny Latza, Sebastian Polter and Justin Heekeren due to serious knee injuries, but Sepp van den Berg returned to training this week after recovering from a ligament injury. However, given that it is four months since the Liverpool loanee last featured, he is unlikely to be rushed back into first-team action.

Marcin Kaminski should be available for selection after missing his side's draw against Gladbach due to illness, with Reis unlikely to make any changes after an encouraging performance at Borussia-Park last weekend.

Wolfsburg, meanwhile, appear to have a fully fit squad after welcoming Lukas Nmecha back to action from the substitutes' bench during their defeat against Bayern.

The Germany forward missed out on the chance to appear for his country at the World Cup in Qatar after suffering a serious knee injury in early November, and he may be eased into things like van den Berg on the opposite team.

Kovac utilised a 3-5-2 formation against the Bavarians on Sunday, but given that his side conceded three goals within the opening 20 minutes before the former Croatia international opted to sub Maxence Lacroix for Kaminski after only half an hour, that change may be made from the start against Schalke.

Schalke 04 possible starting lineup:

Fahrmann; Brunner, Yoshida, Jenz, Uronen; Kral, Alvarez, Krauss; Kozuki, Terodde, Skarke

Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:

Casteels; Baku, Bornauw, Van de Ven, Otavio; Svanberg, Arnold, F Nmecha; Wimmer, Wind, Kaminski

We say: Schalke 04 0-1 Wolfsburg

With Schalke involved in goalless draws in each of their last two matches - as well in the reverse fixture against Wolfsburg - it is hard to envisage many goals being scored at Veltins-Arena on Friday night.

However, the Wolves have not failed to score in any of their last 12 league games, so we can see them returning to winning ways in marginal fashion to pile on the misery for their opponents.

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