FC Schalke vs Fortuna Dusseldorf predicted XI: Brand new defense

Midfield

I always hate when Weston McKennie gets pulled out of the midfield, but thankfully, the injury bug has not been as big of a bother to the Schalke midfield. Or rather, it was, but that was weeks ago, and nothing too serious. Even without Nabil Bentaleb, this midfield has been a key winning arena for the Royal Blues.

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The midfield three should be composed of Daniel Caligiuri, Oscar Mascarell and Suat Serdar. Even without McKennie, this is a midfield three to get excited about. Serdar especially has been crucial for Schalke, he just hasn’t been able to stay on the pitch. But he’s back now, our second highest goal scorer, and I can’t wait to see how he takes to being back in the starting XI.

In the center, it’s hard to have more faith that what we should all have in Oscar Mascarell. The Spaniard is ranking near the top of nearly every defensive midfield statistical category and has been a vital anchor in the absence of Bentaleb, doing the dirty work that the Algerian isn’t always so keen to do.

Lastly, the venerable Daniel Caligiuri gets the start on the right side of this midfield. Give him the ball and good things happen.

Last but not least, the front three.