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FC Schalke vs Freiburg: 3 key players for a Happy Holiday break

By Josh Sippie

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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FC Schalke close out the first half of the season against sixth place Freiburg and they’ll have eyes on finishing on a high note. Here are three key players to help with that.

Schalke CM Suat Serdar
(Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) /

FC Schalke nearly snuck away with three points midweek against Wolfsburg, which would have put them in third place with all the confidence in the world heading into winter break, but they were unable to see the match through to completion and took one point instead. Which leaves them in fifth place, behind four clubs that all, on paper, have higher competitive levels than Schalke.

Which just means that it’ll be all the sweeter when Die Knappen rise through the ranks to return to the Champions League, where they belong.

But they have to know that ending the first half of the season on three points is an absolute necessity. They can’t limp into the winter break, mostly because, if they do, that is precious ground that will be much harder to make up later on down the road.

Related Story. Predicted XI vs Freiburg. light

But Freiburg sit just four points behind the Royal Blues, and they’re going to have eyes on the exact same thing—getting back into the competition for the Champions League.

Which leaves Schalke in a position of needing some key guys to step up and do their part to ensure that the job gets done. Especially with all the injuries currently plaguing the club.

The key players have changed up slightly. Mostly because Ozan Kabak has been so good that it no longer seems necessary to include the caveat of “if he can do his job.” He will. So no point dwelling on it. Same goes with Amine Harit.

These three players are guys who still have something to prove, who can swing the momentum one way or the other.

We start with No. 3.

3. Suat Serdar

Always the wildcard. With Weston McKennie out, Suat Serdar will likely stay in a central role, which is what’s best for him. It will allow him to keep up his impact throughout the match. Which is exactly what we need, since it’s time to get him over the hump of being a random presence and into the spotlight of a more consistent one.

Always moving closer, but not there yet.

Let’s move on to No. 2.

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