3. Defend the defense
It may sound silly, but if you look back at the debacles against RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, and FC Koln, you will see what I mean. While Die Knappen’s defense, in isolation, has been tremendous this year across the board, no matter who has started, when they’re left stranded by poor play ahead of them, even they can’t withstand.
Without Omar Mascarell (a theme of the prematch talk), Schalke will need their midfielders to step up and help out that defense, because no matter what kinds of injuries Dortmund are facing, they still have a supercharged attack that, if not dealt with properly, can make things get uncomfortable.
But if our midfield can defend this defense, I have no doubts we can withstand a similar debacle. Not least of all because it is a Revierderby, but you can’t leave anything up to chance. I have full faith in Salif Sane and Matija Nastasic and Jean-Clair Todibo and all these guys, but I’ll have even more faith if they aren’t stranded.
No. 2 is next.