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Sparks are sure to fly when high-riding Leverkusen and Schalke lock horns
JUST ONE year on from when both teams were struggling to recreate past glories in the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke are now set to do battle in what has emerged as one of 2017/18’s most eagerly anticipated fixtures.
What a difference those 365 short days have made to the fortunes of two clubs set to do battle in one of the closest races for European places the continent has seen this season.
A look at the Bundesliga table from second spot down, the narrowest of margins separate a plethora of sides determined to end the campaign on a high.
Virtually out of the race at this point last season, when they found themselves in tenth and eleventh respectively, Leverkusen and Schalke are now right in the mix in the upper echelons of the standings, and neither dare contemplate a slip-up in their meeting on Matchday 24.
B04, Sunday’s hosts, have been on fire under one of the division’s most astute tacticians, Heiko Herrlich. Brought in as a virtual unknown in
terms of his top-flight coaching experience at the start of the season, the 46-year-old has more than justified the decision of the club’s hierarchy and his methods will have won over many a new student to his coaching ways.
“We want to [consistently] perform to 100% of our ability,” the former Leverkusen, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund striker explained earlier this season, adding, “Attitude beats quality.”
His charges have certainly boasted both of those traits this term.
The third-highest scoring side in the Bundesliga after Bayern Munich and Dortmund, star turns such as Leon Bailey, Kevin Volland, Julian Brandt and even goalkeeper Bernd Leno are among those to have brought pace, excitement, and plenty of class to the BayArena and beyond. Volland’s ten goals in 22 Bundesliga games means the Germany international striker is well on course to achieve his best ever season in Germany’s top division. Jamaican Bailey, meanwhile has been a phenomenon in attack, the wide man’s astonishing nine goals served with a side of five assists, just one more than attacker Brandt, who has also added four goals.
An impressive counter-attacking prowess has helped Die Werkself to a far superior home record this season, losing just twice as compared to five times at this stage last term and seven points better off.
Schalke are also faring better in virtually every statistical aspect as compared with 2016/17 too. More points on the board, a higher goals scored tally to a fewer conceded ratio. Leon Goretzka, Weston McKennie, Max Meyer, Guido Burgstaller and Naldo have been some of those credited with what has been a significantly improved campaign in Gelsenkirchen, yet much of the focus has fallen on the man in charge, Domenico Tedesco.
“Our coach is doing an outstanding job. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” veteran Naldo said. “He makes everybody feel hugely important for the team,” the 35-year-old continued.
Added to the team’s new-found defensive solidity this season, Tedesco has shown his fearlessness in inspiring players to fill unfamiliar tasks. Take Germany Under-21 European champion midfielder Max Meyer, for example. A wellknown attacking threat prior to the tactician’s arrival, Meyer is now performing brilliantly as a defensive midfielder in the style of recently retired Italian legend and world footballing icon Andrea Pirlo, all thanks to Tedesco’s keen eye.
“He has a God-given gift [for coaching],” goalkeeper and club captain Ralf Fährmann said of the man in charge.
The last time these teams met, fans were entertained by a 1-1 draw at the VELTINS-Arena on Matchday 7, when Goretzka’s third-ever goal scored directly from a free-kick was cancelled out by Bailey’s first-ever Bundesliga goal. As a testament to their solidity, both have enjoyed extended unbeaten runs in Germany’s top division, with Leverkusen at one point going 12 games unbeaten, just one game more than Schalke managed earlier this season.
“They’re one of the best teams in the league, it’ll be a tough task,” Tedesco said of Sunday’s encounter.