week 1 - match preview

Schalke out to show who's boss at home to Hannover

The home fixture with Hannover 96 was the only game Schalke failed to win in last season's run-in. So the Royal Blues will be keen to make up for this in the Bundesliga opener at the VELTINS Arena on Saturday.

Schalke have already won two competitive games under the stewardship of head coach Fred Rutten, following up the 3-0 victory at FC Homburg in the DFB Cup with a 1-0 home success over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Yet as Rutten was quick to point out: "Three games in a week are easier to cope with later on in the season than at the start, when you haven't quite got into the swing of things."

On top of this, the first game of the season always attracts a lot of attention. "Everyone expects something of you, another reason why it's a difficult game", the Dutchman said, before putting the encounter with the Lower Saxony outfit into perspective. "While the first league fixture is important, the league isn't won or lost on the opening day."

Many fans will be expecting the Royal Blues to build upon the strong performance on Wednesday. "We all hope we can play the way we did in the first half against Atletico Madrid", acknowledged Rutten. "But as a pro you're more critical. I'm never totally satisfied because there are always things you can improve." Nevertheless, Rutten's own expectations for the visit of Hannover couldn't be any clearer: "We'll be going out to show them who's boss at the VELTINS Arena."

The Royal Blues have had their opponents watched very closely. Schalke scouts were in attendance at their 4-2 pre-season defeat against Real Mallorca as well as the 5-0 cup triumph in Halle. "We've prepared very well", said Rutten, who was keeping tight-lipped as far as his team selection and tactics are concerned.

There is someone, however, who thinks he knows what the Schalke boss is planning. Hannover's Arnold Bruggink, who trained under Rutten both in Enschede and at PSV: "I know how he likes to play, of course I do." An amused Rutten was not short of an answer, though: "I'm looking forward to seeing Arnold again because he's a very good person and a very good footballer. A footballer who's capable of turning a game with a free-kick or a goal. I think my analysis of Arnold is a good one, but I don't believe his analysis of me is correct."