Schalke predicted XI vs Dortmund in Revierderby return

Midfield

Much like the defense, the midfield is missing one key guy. Unlike the defense, the midfield is less equipped to cover for it. Omar Mascarell was not back in training, which is discouraging not just for now, but for the rest of the season as well. And with Benjamin Stambouli out as well, the defensive midfielder sweeper option is tossed out the window. We don’t really have one.

What’s going to have to happen instead is increased responsibility from the three that Wagner will ideally choose as his trifecta to run the midfield theater. Again, with Dortmund lacking Witsel and Can, we have to feel good about our odds in this arena, even without Mascarell.

We’re thinking Wagner goes with a traditional three midfield set, with Weston McKennie playing the central, deepest role, and Daniel Caligiuri and Suat Serdar flanking him. This is, already, an incredibly exciting midfield because both Caligiuri and Serdar are thrilling in their own right, and McKennie being asked to step up and show some accountability could breed excellent results.

This is a midfield with a world of attacking potential, so we just need to ensure that they don’t forsake that defensive side of things.

Last up, the attack.