week 19 - match preview

Royal Blues can climb table with derby win

Ahead of Sunday's local derby in Dortmund (kick-off 1700 CET) Mirko Slomka is focusing on the footballing side of things. "This weekend we have a major opportunity to make up ground at the top of the table."

For while the Royal Blues travel to Borussia Dortmund, the top four Bundesliga sides all meet each other. League leaders Bayern Munich take on second-placed Werder Bremen, also on Sunday, while it's third against fourth on Saturday when Leverkusen meet Hamburg. As it is impossible for all four sides to emerge victorious from these encounters, the aim is to pick up three points in Dortmund. In the best case, Schalke could climb to third place in the table.

Yet if this is to happen the Royal Blues will have to approach the game in Dortmund with the necessary respect. "Dortmund have some quality players, especially in attack", said Mirko Slomka. The Schalke boss was in Duisburg last Sunday and saw Borussia recover from 3-1 down to draw 3-3. "But we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that they conceded a lot of goals and had lots of ups and downs in the first half of the season."

It will therefore be particularly important for Schalke to put the Dortmund goal under pressure. "We are totally flexible as far as our tactical approach is concerned", continued Slomka, reluctant to reveal his hand before the clash with the club's arch rivals. "Both a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3 are options.  All I can say is that in Albert Streit, Vicente Sanchez and Ze Roberto all three of our new signings will be in the squad."

Incidentally, the club was keen to point out that the decision to use a hotel in Castrop-Rauxel rather than in Dortmund, as in the previous season, had nothing to do with superstition. "We simply want a bit more peace and quiet", said Slomka. "Last season there was a lot of commotion in the hotel lobby. That's the only reason for the switch. It has nothing to do with the quality of the hotel", he explained.