week 18 - match preview

Royal Blues steel themselves for trip to Hannover

Schalke travel to Hannover 96 for Saturday's Bundesliga restart full of confidence after Tuesday's 4-1 cup success and determined to embark on a winning run in the league.

"Good things come in threes" is the motto the Royal Blues aim to follow this weekend. Because if they win in Hannover it will be their third victory over the Lower Saxony outfit this term, having already defeated them on the opening day of the Bundesliga campaign and in the second round of the DFB Cup. It would also see them make a good start to the second half of the season.

Schalke boss Fred Rutten has a few selection problems ahead of the game, however, as midfielders Jermaine Jones and Orlando Engelaar are both suspended after being dismissed for two bookable offences in the final game before the winter break in Hoffenheim. "We have several options available to us", the Dutchman said, refusing to reveal his hand. Christian Pander (knee) and Levan Kenia (thigh) are also sidelined due to injury.

Schalke will need to focus on keeping things tight on Saturday, because as Rutten pointed out: "If Hannover are given space, they're capable of playing some really good football." This was in evidence in the recent friendly against AC Milan, when Hungarian international Szabolcs Huszti and former Schalke striker Mike Hanke were on target in a 3-2 defeat.

Rutten watched the game with keen interest. "Hannover played some very good football", the Schalke coach said, expressing his respect for a Hannover side that didn't enjoy the best of times during the first half of the season. "The first game is very important for Hannover. I expect them to adopt an aggressive approach and battle hard for 90 minutes", Rutten said.