Wagner and Schalke need a win

IT was supposed to be a marriage made in heaven when David Wagner took over at success-starved Schalke 04 at the start of the season but if their recent slump continues they could soon be heading for a messy divorce.

Wagner was hailed as one of the game’s brightest talents after guiding Huddersfield Town to the Premier League in 2017 and keeping them there the following season.

He had a bright start, guiding the team to fourth place and ahead of Bayern Munich after the first 15 matches. But the honeymoon period was short.

When the league resumed in January, Schalke had lost their ability to score, notching five goals and just one win in 12 matches.

A two-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic has done nothing to reverse their fortunes, with Schalke losing all four games and scoring just once since the restart.

They are now in 10th place

FIXTURES

Today: Freiburg v Borussia M’gladbach (8.30pm SA time)

Tomorrow: RB Leipzig v Paderborn, Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt v Mainz 05, Fortuna Düsseldorf v Hoffenheim (all 3.30pm); Borussia Dortmund v Hertha BSC (6.30pm)

Sunday: Werder Bremen v Wolfsburg (1.30pm); Union Berlin v Schalke 04 (3.30pm); Augsburg v Köln (6pm)