Schalke: Why Rabbi Matondo will have a great 2020

FC Schalke 04 wide forward Rabbi Matondo showed promise in his first full season with the Royal Blues. Here’s why 2020 could be his best year yet on the pitch.

In the 2019-2020 season, FC Schalke 04 forward Rabbi Matondo has scored just one goal, but it was a beautiful strike to ice the game against RB Leipzig in a dream 3-1 September victory. That win was the crowning victory in a magical month for the Royal Blues, who were establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the Bundesliga.

Although Schalke have fallen to sixth in the table at the postponement of the season after an injury-plagued stretch of months, they are in a great position looking towards the future. Young talents like Amine Harit and Ozan Kabak are central to this optimism, having been breakout stars in 2019-2020. But don’t overlook the breakout stars in attack.

Matondo is one of those impending breakout players. The 19-year-old is one of the most promising attacking players in the entire Bundesliga, with the work rate, speed, tactical awareness, and positivity on the ball to become an all-around impact player as a wide forward.

The Wales international can play anywhere up front, too. He can play on the right, he can play on the left, and he can make deadly runs to destroy center backs as a more central forward. Look no further than all the danger he caused to Borussia Dortmund in October’s Revierderby.

At the break in action, Schalke understand they need to get more production out of their forwards, and they have two promising young players in Ahmed Kutucu and Matondo who have earned regular playing time. They are legitimately among their best options in the squad, with more technical quality than Benito Raman and, despite their youth, more consistency than disappointing loan signing Michael Gregoritsch.

Matondo’s ability to work hard up and down the flank could be especially important, allowing Raman to play more centrally and use his pace to seek goals. Schalke could benefit greatly from the width Matondo would bring, as well as his ability to cut inside and create trouble in the box, setting up chances for others.

Although Matondo needs to work on his finishing, he is constantly a threat around the box and can create chances at a high rate due to his work ethic, making him a great option to help the Royal Blues get the most out of Raman.

With his mentality, physical tools, and improving link-up play with his teammates, Matondo is a player who could have a big say in how the rest of the year goes for Schalke.