It’s starting to look desperate for Friday night’s hosts, Schalke, as they sit bottom of the Bundesliga and find themselves nine points adrift of fourth from bottom outfit, Hertha Berlin, and safety as they prepare for this relegation ‘six-pointer’ at home to second from bottom Mainz.
Schalke have now failed to win any of their last eight matches overall in the German top flight, losing six of these while draws with Werder Bremen and Union Berlin in 1-1 and 0-0 stalemates were both away from home and has resulted in Schalke picking up just two points from a possible 24 on offer.
To make matters worse, Schalke parted ways with their latest coach following a 5-1 thrashing way from home at Stuttgart, while results at home have predictably also been a disaster as the hosts have lost their last four on the trot and indeed, nine of their 12 matches in total so far this season.
Schalke also possess the worst defensive record at home in the Bundesliga, shipping a total of 26 goals to date which has contributed to seven of their 12 home matches being over 2.5 goals, while a host of personnel are expected to miss out through injury including defenders Ludewig, Nastasic and Sane.
Mainz’s position doesn’t look quite as perilous as their hosts as the visitors sit second from bottom in the Bundesliga but are just a point adrift from safety ahead of this crucial relegation clash against Schalke.
Mainz have also had their problems in what has been a disappointing campaign for the visitors but they have at least picked up four league wins to date including recent victories over RB Leipzig, Union Berlin and M’gladbach which will have given them a welcome boost.
Their last outing on the road was that 2-1 win over M’gladbach although wins away from home in general have been hard to come by for Mainz as they’ve collected just two away wins from their last 12 matches on the road.
However, unlike their hosts, Mainz are only expected to be without two absentees in the form of midfielder Fernandes and forward Quaison, so they may be quietly confident that they can get a result here.
The goals market again appeals though as eight of Mainz’s 11 away matches have also resulted in over 2.5 goals, while three of the previous four meetings between these two sides have produced three goals or more.
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