Week 18 - Match preview

Kluge to make debut against combative Nürnberg

Though the Royal Blues go into their first league game since the mid-season break against FC Nürnberg on Sunday (VELTINS Arena, 1530 CET) as favourites, head coach Felix Magath has warned his players not to underestimate the visitors. "Getting in new players and a new coach will have given them a boost and they're sure to fight hard against relegation", he said.

Nürnberg are contesting their first game under new boss Dieter Hecking, who has told his players to go out and play "with confidence and impudence". They are to be helped in their quest by new signings Breno and Andreas Ottl, both of whom have arrived from Bayern Munich. But they will be without midfielder Peer Kluge, who is set to make his debut in a Royal Blue shirt. "Unless he picks up an injury he will definitely play on Sunday", Magath revealed on Friday. "Peer is at home in the Bundesliga and knows our opponents from his own personal experience."

Magath feels Nürnberg's current position in the table (next to bottom) and their associated relegation concerns could present a problem for his team. "These are precisely the sides we can't afford to underestimate", he said. "I'm sure we'll need all 90 minutes to come out of this game successfully and keep all three points in Gelsenkirchen." Once again, therefore, Magath is counting on the support of the fans at the VELTINS Arena, aware that the second half of the season is a whole new ball game. "What we achieved in the first half of the season counts for nothing now", he said.

The statistics point overwhelmingly to a Schalke victory, but that does not interest Magath. "Statistics mean nothing here", he said. "Nürnberg may be in 17th place, but they scored three times against reigning champions Wolfsburg. They have more morale than we do at the moment."

There are certain to be changes to the team that runs out on Sunday. Kluge is guaranteed a start, as mentioned, though the Royal Blues may be without new boy Alexander Baumjohann. The 22-year-old broke a finger during training on Wednesday and underwent surgery a day later. A decision on whether he will feature will be delayed until after the final pre-match training session on Saturday.