week 21 - match preview

Schalke out to stay on top

The Royal Blues have something to defend now and that something is their position at the top of the Bundesliga table. It is a role Mirko Slomka's team are only too happy to fill against Hertha BSC Berlin on Saturday in front of yet another bumper crowd at the VELTINS Arena.

Last Sunday's victory over Werder Bremen has had no effect on the daily training routine. "Obviously we laid down a marker by winning there and the media interest is even more intense now. But we are just as focused as before", explained Slomka, whose side now have an opportunity to make amends for a 2-0 defeat against Hertha at the Olympic Stadium, one of just three league defeats this season. "We were poor in the reverse fixture", the Schalke boss admitted.

General manager Andreas Müller is another who won't be underestimating the side from the capital: "Hertha are playing a good role this season and we've always struggled against them at the VELTINS Arena." Although Schalke have lost only one of the five matches played at the multipurpose venue to date (1-3 in November 2004), they have only won one as well (3-0 in May 2004). The other three games all ended scoreless.

Yet the Royal Blues can draw courage from the current statistics. Schalke have yet to lose at the Arena this season and with seven wins and two draws have the second-best home record in the Bundesliga. "We want to continue our good run of form at home. If we do, we'll automatically stay on top", said Slomka. "But there are no easy opponents in the Bundesliga, as we all saw here against Aachen." Only a few tickets remain on sale for Saturday's game - but only for Hertha fans, as they are standing tickets in the visitors section.