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FC Schalke 04 vs. Borussia Dortmund 3 key matchups to watch

By Kevin Parvizi

SINSHEIM, GERMANY - OCTOBER 20: Omar Mascarell of FC Schalke 04 gestures during the Bundesliga match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and FC Schalke 04 at PreZero-Arena on October 20, 2019 in Sinsheim, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
SINSHEIM, GERMANY - OCTOBER 20: Omar Mascarell of FC Schalke 04 gestures during the Bundesliga match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and FC Schalke 04 at PreZero-Arena on October 20, 2019 in Sinsheim, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
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Schalke’s French midfielder Amine Harit reacts after the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Schalke 04 vs FC Cologne in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, on October 5, 2019. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)
Schalke’s French midfielder Amine Harit reacts after the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Schalke 04 vs FC Cologne in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, on October 5, 2019. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) /

CAM Amine Harit vs. CM Axel Witsel

Amine Harit has been one of the Bundesliga’s most impressive players this season, creating chances at an extraordinary rate for the Royal Blues. Few players in this league possess the creativity and skills that Harit does, and he’s also got a real eye for goal with four goals thus far in the 2019-2020 campaign.

He’ll have to go against another intelligent midfielder in Axel Witsel, who is right there with Marco Reus as Dortmund’s most important player. BVB are a different team entirely without Witsel, whose reading of the game and calm passing are vital in building attacks and keeping defensive shape.

Harit is effective when dropping deeper in midfield to retrieve passes and bridge defense and attack, which will be even more key if neither Suat Serdar nor Weston McKinnie can play this Saturday. That will put more on Harit’s plate as a creator and passer, which means he’ll be dealing with Witsel’s reading of the game and ability to grab interceptions.

In going up against Witsel, Harit will also have to be at his best when it comes to pressing the assured Belgian into errors. Under David Wagner, pressing has become a key component of Schalke’s game, as they create very few chances without forcing turnovers from the opposition. Familiar with this strategy, Dortmund may have the antidote to Schalke’s formula, just as Hoffenheim seemed to last week.

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