Schalke Schalke out to turn things round ...

[OpaPritschikowski]

Schalke out to turn things round against Wolfsburg

From their last two matches, both of them away, Schalke 04 picked up just one point. "It's now very important to turn things round again at home", said coach Ralf Rangnick ahead of Saturday's home clash with VfL Wolfsburg.

Despite a few injury worries the Schalke boss is not deviating one iota from his stated objective of claiming three points against Wolfsburg, even though the potential loss of two key players would prove particularly painful. Marcelo Bordon's Achilles injury is causing him a lot of pain. The Brazilian defender has been unable to train since the match in Kaiserslautern. Gerald Asamoah pulled a muscle whilst playing for Germany against Argentina on Wednesday evening. And in Gustavo Varela and Mimoun Azaouagh two possible replacements for Asamoah are both ruled out by knee injuries and will have to patient for a little while yet. "It'd be a relief if at least one of them were fit enough to play, but unfortunately it doesn't look that way at the moment", said Rangnick, referring to Asamoah and Bordon. Also out is Thomas Kläsener (groin).

A number of players who missed the game in Rostock could return to the side, though. One of them is Levan Kobiashvili, of course, who has served his ban and is likely to be a first-choice. Christian Pander has recovered from a stomach upset and will be fit to play. Niels Oude Kamphuis is also a genuine alternative for the first time this year since being ruled out by a muscle tear.

Rangnick made it clear that Wolfsburg's recent poor run of form was of no consequence. "We're only interested in ourselves. We have to rediscover the rhythm we had during the first half of the season. So it might be an advantage for us to be playing every three of four days because of our UEFA and DFB Cup commitments."
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from the Schalke website

[Distant Voices]

Think Schalke might win the league-this is their big big chance...

[The Southern Dandy]

I'm hoping either Hertha or Stuttgart make a final challenge for it.

[Distant Voices]

Rule out VFB!

Five stupid points dropped since the break..like Leverkusen..everytime we have a chance of really going somewhere we blow up

Bremen might make a late run..

[The Southern Dandy]

Even though I'm a Hertha fan, Hertha always performs superbly during the 2nd half of the season and we have no major injuries at all. I think our chances are pretty good.

[orswich]

its my year bitches..

you will all bow down to mighty Schalke at the end of the year

[The Southern Dandy]

Bow down in laughter maybe.

[OpaPritschikowski]

Three goals from strikers seal 3-0 win over Wolfsburg

Schalke celebrated their highest home win in the Bundesliga this season when they beat VfL Wolfsburg by three goals to nil on Saturday afternoon. Ailton could even afford to miss a penalty, as strike colleagues Gerald Asamoah (13'), Ebbe Sand (35') and Mike Hanke (85') all found the net.

It was apparent right from the opening whistle that the Royal Blues were determined to force a win after their last two disappointing away outings. As early as the seventh minute Sven Vermant struck the crossbar with a chip from the edge of the area after being set up by Lincoln. Two minutes later Ebbe Sand laid the ball off neatly for Ailton, who strode unchallenged into the box down the left-hand channel, only to see his shot blocked by Simon Jentzsch in the Wolfsburg goal. But Schalke took a deserved lead on 13 when Gerald Asamoah rose unchallenged to head home a Lincoln free-kick into the top right-hand corner.

In the 34th minute Ailton deserved to add a second when he turned his marker superbly after receiving the ball from Lincoln. But his accurately struck shot was brilliantly turned away for a corner by Jentzsch with his foot. This only delayed the inevitable, however, as seconds later Ebbe Sand headed Lincoln's cross into the net from close range.

Schalke had an opportunity to settle things six minutes into the second half when Hans Sarpei brought down Lincoln in the Wolfsburg penalty area, but Ailton failed to beat Jentzsch with the resulting spot kick. The visitors, who had clearly been second best thus far, suddenly perked up on the back of this success. And they almost found their way back into the game on 56 when Karhan was put through on goal, only to see his shot brilliantly saved by Schalke keeper Frank Rost, who showed great determination in rushing out of his goal.

The Royal Blues took a while to recover from missing the penalty, but were soon making their presence felt in attack again. In the 71st minute Jentzsch had to stretch hard to prevent Sand's header from sneaking in at the far post for Schalke's third. And five minutes later the visitors were reduced to ten men when Sarpei was shown a second yellow after a deliberate handball.

Schalke eventually got their third goal five minutes from time when substitute Hamit Altintop threaded the ball down the channel to Levan Kobiashvili, who with only Jentzsch to beat spotted Mike Hanke running into space. And the Germany under-21 international, having come on just seconds earlier, was able to slide the Georgian's square pass into the empty net to make it 3-0 and seal the highest home win of the season.



from Schalke website.

Now we are going to Gladbachs Borussia Park on Sunday for another turn :cool