week 6 - match preview

Slomka looking to consolidate with win over Bielefeld

Now that is what you call a good head-to-head record: against Arminia Bielefeld the Royal Blues have won all six games since the former returned to the Bundesliga in 2004. Mirko Slomka is determined to extend this run at the VELTINS Arena on Saturday, but he won't be closing his eyes to Bielefeld's excellent start to the season.

The objective going into the clash with the side currently occupying second place in the Bundesliga is clear: "We're aiming to consolidate our position at the top end of the table", said Slomka. "To do that we need the three points against Bielefeld."

The 1-0 defeat to Valencia in the Champions League won't be a factor in the preparations for Saturday's game. "We discussed the defeat on Wednesday and a line has been drawn under it. We're now focusing totally on our forthcoming opponents", Slomka explained. "By Saturday we'll have sorted out the injury niggles and got the tiredness out of our legs."

That will be necessary, too, because Bielefeld are one of the season's surprise packages. Slomka has been particularly impressed by the strike pairing of Artur Wichniarek and Christian Eigler: "They've scored seven already: an effective front two with a decent goals haul."

Away from home Bielefeld kicked off with a 3-1 win at VfL Wolfsburg, but then slipped to a 3-0 defeat at MSV Duisburg. "In Duisburg they were forced to make a change in central defence due to injury and that had an effect on the result", the Schalke coach recalled. Nevertheless, his basic strategy is clear: "We need to be wide awake, force them into mistakes and play our own game."