Release The Knappen
Fansided

FC Schalke vs Augsburg predicted XI: Suat Serdar’s return

By Josh Sippie

Spanish midfielder Omar Mascarell runs with the ball during the German First division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and Schalke 04 in Leipzig, on September 28, 2019. (Photo by Ronny Hartmann / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo credit should read RONNY HARTMANN/AFP/Getty Images)
Spanish midfielder Omar Mascarell runs with the ball during the German First division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and Schalke 04 in Leipzig, on September 28, 2019. (Photo by Ronny Hartmann / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo credit should read RONNY HARTMANN/AFP/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next

FC Schalke could go as high as fourth depending on their result against Augsburg. Here’s how they’ll line up to maximize their chances.

FC Schalke, Omar Mascarell
FC Schalke (Photo credit should read RONNY HARTMANN/AFP/Getty Images) /

FC Schalke have had three fantastic chances to move themselves into danger positions in the Bundesliga table, but they’ve failed both times. The first chance was FC Koln, which ended in a late draw. The second was Hoffenheim, which was a thoroughly disheartening loss.

Then came Borussia Dortmund, which was another match that could have gone FC Schalke’s way, but just… didn’t.

Now, we face Augsburg, but with so many opportunities having passed us by, the opportunity to make serious headway has passed. As it stands, fourth is the highest Die Knappen could go, and that’s assuming they outscore Augsburg by five goals or more.

Related Story. 5 Key Players vs Augsburg. light

So… most likely not looking at fourth place. More like fifth. But first things first, and that’s securing the three points and getting back to our winning ways.

Going into the match, there are just two unsurprising absences. Nabil Bentaleb is still out with injury and Benjamin Stambouli will now be missing for some time, which is a huge loss, but also an opportunity for someone else to step into the role and do something with it.

There will also be plenty of options in the midfield, which sees a full compliment of healthy players, barring Bentaleb. Suat Serdar and Weston McKennie are both back and ready for action.

The other big question that David Wagner has to answer is what to do with the attack. Namely, what to do at striker. He has options. He has Ahmed Kutucu and Rabbi Matondo and Benito Raman… all three would love the chance to be the guy. But a steady reliance on goalless Guido Bugstaller and Mark Uth has proven troublesome.

Regardless, Wagner rightfully still places faith in them. And so, without further ado, let’s dig in to the predicted starting XI, starting in goal. Let’s call this a 4-4-2, even though that may seem more like a 4-4-1-1 at times.

Keeper

Murky future or not, Alexander Nubel has been on point with some heroics this season. Hard to make a case for him not hanging around for time being.

Defense is coming up next.

Home/Schalke 04 News