2. Bundesliga Topspiel preview: FC Schalke 04 vs. Fortuna Düsseldorf

Bundesliga table. Promotion-chasing Schalke host relegation-threatened Düsseldorf, with a crucial three points on the line for both sides. Schalke come into this clash with expectation building across the club.

After a superb campaign under Miron Muslic, which has seen them set the pace at the summit for much of the season, the Royal Blues are now just one victory away from sealing their return to the Bundesliga. Achieving promotion in front of their home crowd on Saturday is firmly in their sights. They sent a strong message last time out with a dramatic victory away at second-placed Paderborn.

After falling 2-0 behind inside the opening half hour, Schalke responded impressively before the break, with Dejan Ljubicic and Adil Aouchiche restoring parity. The second half proved more cagey, but Ljubicic stepped up once more, netting an 83rd-minute winner to extend Schalke’s lead at the top to six points. Muslic remains confident his side can finish the job: “We haven’t changed anything about our routine or our preparation.

We’ve stuck with the same approach that has served us so well over the past few weeks and months,” he explained. “The team have trained with real focus and attention to detail. We’ve worked hard to earn this opportunity, and everyone knows we’ll only get over the line if we perform at the level we’ve shown recently.