Domenico Tedesco expecting a disciplined Hertha

On Saturday, 3rd March at (15:30 CET) FC Schalke 04 play host to Hertha BSC at the VELTINS-Arena. The away side will be hoping to continue their good form, having taken a point away at Bayern last weekend. "We need to be fully focused in the match and alert until the final minute," demands Domenico Tedesco, who expects a "patient game" from his team.

Bundesliga

02.03.18, 14:19

Hertha strong away from home

Despite Schalke’s impressive home record against Hertha BSC in recent years – they’ve won all nine of the last previous meetings at the VELTINS-Arena – Domenico Tedesco has cautious words ahead of the clash with the Old Lady. „We’re expecting a very strong Hertha team, because they have taken a lot more points off the top teams in the league than we have,“ warned the head coach. Among others, Hertha won with ten men in Leipzig and again at Leverkusen, as well as taking points off both Bayern and Dortmund.

Potential comeback for McKennie

Weston McKennie could return to the matchday squad to face Hertha. The 19-year-old US international took part in full team training this week for the first time having recovered from his knee injury. According to Tedesco, the Knappenschmiede graduate is „a direct option“ for the match against Hertha.

The Royal Blues will be without Guido Burgstaller and Cedric Teuchert against Hertha, however. Teuchert is missing due to a slight knee problem, while Burgstaller picked up a fifth yellow card against Bayer Leverkusen. „It’s of course a shame that Burgi will be missing, because he’s on really good form. But that’s something we can’t change so there’s no point worrying too much about it. Cedric has a slight issue with his knee, but nothing dramatic.“

The 32-year-old coach has multiple options at his disposal as he seeks to replace the absend Burgstaller. Where Marko Pjaca, Yevhen Konoplyanka or Amine Harit replaces him, or if a chance of system is on the cards, is something Tedesco has yet to decide. „We still have a day and another session left. Then we will make a decision that is best suited for this game, against this opponent and of course the players.“ For Leon Goretzka much depends on how the final training session goes, after he once again suffered pain in his foot.

Stats and facts ahead of #S04BSC

Schalke won their last nine home matches against Hertha – a club record. The last time we failed to beat the Berlin club was in September 2005 (0-0), while the last defeat came in November 2004 (3-1).

Hertha have scored just once in their last ten appearances in Gelsenkirchen (Salomon Kalou in October 2015)
Schalke‘s have scored 18 goals from set pieces – a league high. Bayern (17) and Hertha (15) trail in second and third place.

With 15 points, Hertha already have three more points away from home than they did last season. Only Bayern and BVB (2 each) have lost fewer games away from home than the Berlin club (3).

Schalke scored in their 18th consecutive Bundesliga math last time out against Leverkusen. The Royal Blues have beaten that run just once back between April 1983 and April 1985 – a run of 33 games spanning multiple seasons.

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