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Schalke: Ozan Kabak and 5 key players to watch against Augsburg

By Kevin Parvizi

Schalke's German midfielder Suat Serdar celebrates with mascot Erwin scoring the opening goal 1-0 during 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 German midfielder Suat Serdar celebrates with mascot Erwin scoring the opening goal 1-0 during 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) /
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Schalke Forward Benito Raman
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – AUGUST 20: Benito Raman of FC Schalke 04 looks on during the FC Schalke 04 training session on August 20, 2019 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

FW Benito Raman

The Belgian forward was instrumental in Schalke’s 3-2 win over Arminia Bielefeld at mid-week in the Deustche Pokal, grabbing a brace to help his team withstand a late charge back from the fiery underdogs.

Raman is not short on talent, but he’s missed a large chunk of time with an injury and was inconsistent before that. Like Rabbi Matondo, Raman looked dangerous, but he was simply missing that finishing touch.

But that goal-scoring ability was on display against Bielefeld, giving him confidence heading into this Matchday 10 tilt against Augsburg. Raman is fully expected to get a start, and hopefully David Wagner is able to have faith in both Matondo and Raman, who should be playing together for an optimal starting lineup in Gelsenkirchen. Goals have been hard to come by for Schalke this season, but Raman showed on Tuesday that he can be the one to provide the goods.

CB Ozan Kabak

Benjamin Stambouli has emerged as a key leader alongside star center back Salif Sane at the heart of Schalke’s defense, but the club will have to miss the former Tottenham man for several weeks due to a broken bone in his foot.

Ozan Kabak will likely step in as the starter against Augsburg, as this will be a great opportunity for Wagner to see exactly what the Turkish international brings to the table. He was one of the hottest defensive prospects on the open market this summer, and Schalke were able to secure his signature over Arsenal and AC Milan despite already having Stambouli, Sane, and Matija Nastasic at center back.

That’s why Kabak hasn’t played much this season, but he still has world-class potential and was one of the Bundesliga’s best young players in 2018-2019 on a woeful Stuttgart side. Kabak will have his work cut out for him against Marco Richter, Alfred Finnbogason, and Florian Niederlecher, but he has the quality to be a difference-maker on Matchday 10.

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