Augsburg vs Schalke 04 preview - Schalke are beatable - Weinzierl - 7M sport

Augsburg vs Schalke 04 preview - Schalke are beatable - Weinzierl



Posted Saturday, April 04, 2015 by PA

Augsburg will be looking to get one over a side who recently beat Champions League winners Real Madrid and boost their own chances of playing in Europe next season when they host Schalke on Sunday.

With their place in the top flight for next term secured, the Bavarians are motivated to crown what would be their best ever season by finishing inside the top six and making their maiden appearance in Europe.

They can get a taste for what they can expect next season this Sunday when they face a side who clinched an historic win in the Spanish capital just a few weeks ago.

"We're looking forward to facing a side who have recently beaten Real Madrid in the Champions League," Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl said.

"It's a duel between fifth and sixth in the table and that alone speaks volumes for us.

"It's a challenge that we're really looking forward to."

A win for Augsburg would take them above the Royal Blues and leave Roberto Di Matteo's men with a battle on their hands to qualify for the Champions League again next term.

The Royal Blues already trail fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen by six points with eight games of the campaign to go, with Di Matteo's record since the winter break 10 points inferior to his predecessor Jens Keller's in the same period of last season.

According to Weinzierl, they are certainly beatable.

"We were on a par with them in the reverse fixture and we did not deserve to lose," he said.

"If we manage to get at them early again, then we can win it. We need 100 per cent from all of our players."

Captain Paul Verhaegh should be back on board after missing Augsburg's last six games through injury.

Schalke can welcome regular number one Ralf Fahrmann and forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting back for a pivotal fixture in their season run-in.

"We want to keep up there and we've got to think positively," said Di Matteo, whose side have never yet lost to Augsburg in eight previous clashes.



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