• Miroslav Klose changes three players for the hosts following their recent derby result.
• Miron Muslic also rotates his squad with three new faces in the starting eleven.
• Both sides will use a 4-2-3-1 formation for this important league encounter.
• Christian Mathenia and Kevin Müller both start in goal after recent absences.

Head coach Miroslav Klose has shaken up his starting eleven ahead of this key match. The Nürnberg boss brings in goalkeeper Christian Mathenia, left-back Danilo Soares, and forward Mohamed Ali Zoma. These three replace Jan Reichert, Berkay Yilmaz, and Adriano Grimaldi from the side that drew the derby against Greuther Fürth.

Visiting manager Miron Muslic has also named three fresh faces in his lineup. This comes after their promotion-clinching victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf. Goalkeeper Kevin Müller returns between the sticks, while defenders Felipe Sánchez and Vitalie Becker join the back four. They take the places of Loris Karius, Hasan Kuruçay, and Moussa Ndiaye.

The home team lines up in a 4-2-3-1 shape. Mathenia starts in goal behind a defence of Koudossou, Gruber, Lochoshvili, and Soares. Markhiev and Fernandez will sit in front of the back line. Justvan, Becker, and Lubach provide support for lone striker Zoma.

Schalke also adopt the 4-2-3-1 system. Müller keeps goal behind a back line of T. Becker, Ayhan, Sánchez, and V. Becker. El-Faouzi and Schallenberg anchor the midfield. Ljubicic, Karaman, and Aouchiche play behind centre-forward Sylla.

• Edin Džeko refuses to confirm his future at Schalke after securing promotion
• The 40-year-old striker wants to assess his physical condition following the World Cup
• Coach Miron Muslic has signed an extended contract until 2028

FC Schalke 04 have secured an immediate return to the Bundesliga following a 1-0 victory against Fortuna Düsseldorf. However, the celebrations were overshadowed by uncertainty surrounding the future of veteran forward Edin Džeko.

The 40-year-old Bosnian striker spoke to Sky Germany after the match. He expressed satisfaction with his decision to join the Royal Blues. He stated that achieving promotion and earning a call-up to the World Cup with his national team feels like a dream come true.

“Perhaps I would not have reached these heights without Schalke,” Džeko admitted. He urged his teammates to focus on celebrating their success for now. He mentioned enjoying a few drinks together before considering future plans.

Despite his enthusiasm for the game, Džeko remains cautious about committing to another season. He pointed out his age as a significant factor in his decision-making process. The experienced marksman explained that he needs to evaluate his physical condition after the World Cup tournament.

“There is no rush to decide what happens next,” he said with a smile. “When you experience moments like this, you remember why you play football. I do not want to retire yet. I feel strong. But I am 40 years old. We will discuss everything again after the World Cup.”

While Džeko’s future remains unclear, the club received positive news regarding their manager. Miron Muslic has automatically extended his contract with Schalke until 2028 as part of the promotion agreement.

• FC Schalke 04 manager Miron Muslic trusts the same players who won away at Paderborn
• Fortuna Düsseldorf coach Alexander Ende brings Tim Breithaupt into the starting eleven
• Anouar El Azzouzi drops to the bench for the visiting side

Miron Muslic has selected an identical FC Schalke 04 starting lineup. The manager shows faith in the exact team that secured three points against Paderborn. Every player keeps his place for this home fixture.

Fortuna Düsseldorf make one adjustment from their victory over Dresden. Coach Alexander Ende hands Tim Breithaupt a start in midfield. The 21-year-old replaces Anouar El Azzouzi in the engine room.

Schalke line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Loris Karius starts in goal. The defence includes T. Becker, Ayhan, Kuruçay and N’Diaye. El-Faouzi and Schallenberg sit in front of the back four. Ljubicic, Karaman and Aouchiche provide support for lone striker Sylla.

Düsseldorf respond with a 4-3-2-1 setup. Kastenmeier keeps his position between the posts. Zimmermann, Egouli, Oberdorf and Lenz form the defensive line. Breithaupt joins Appelkamp and Alexandropolous in central midfield. Iyoha and Ljubičić operate behind target man Itten.

• Kenan Karaman’s first-half strike secured a 1-0 win over Fortuna Düsseldorf and confirmed FC Schalke 04’s promotion to the Bundesliga.
• Manager Miron Muslic has extended his contract until 2028 following a remarkable turnaround despite financial troubles at the club.
• Schalke could still win the league title if SC Paderborn 07 fail to win their match tomorrow.

The Veltins-Arena was full of fans. Every seat was taken. The players knew they needed to win. The pressure was huge. One goal would change everything for FC Schalke 04.

Captain Kenan Karaman scored that important goal. He kept his cool in the first half. His finish gave Schalke a 1-0 victory against Fortuna Düsseldorf. This win takes them back to the Bundesliga. They had left the top division in 2023.

Head coach Miron Muslic planned this success. He took over a team that almost went down last season. They finished only three points above the relegation play-off zone. This year, he has taken them up automatically. He did this while the club had money problems and changes in the boardroom.

After the match, Muslic spoke to Sky. “I am very grateful,” he said. “From the first day, people accepted me here. We always get back up. That is Schalke. I feel very comfortable.”

The night got better for Muslic. His contract automatically extended until 2028. This happened because the team went up.

Schalke changed their tactics during the season. This was a big risk. But it worked. They also signed new players. Edin Džeko was the most important signing. The 40-year-old striker scored six goals in nine matches. His experience helped the team a lot.

People asked Džeko about next season. They want to know if he will play in the Bundesliga. They asked about the derby against Borussia Dortmund. Džeko did not give a clear answer. “Let us see,” he said. “First, we celebrate. I am very happy I joined FC Schalke. We have secured our place. That is what matters. We will see what happens tomorrow. We want to finish first.”

Karaman has now scored 14 goals this season. He has had hard times at the club before. He spoke with emotion after the match. “The last few years were not easy,” he said. “Now a huge weight has gone. I still cannot believe it. I am incredibly proud of the team. We deserved this.”

He smiled and added, “Now we celebrate. It is party time!”

Schalke might still win the championship. It depends on SC Paderborn 07’s result tomorrow. If Paderborn do not win, Schalke will lift the trophy. This would complete a truly special season for the Royal Blues.

• FC Schalke 04 need just one victory to secure promotion back to the Bundesliga
• Fortuna Düsseldorf sit only one point above the relegation zone and face a fight for survival
• The two sides meet on Saturday in a match with huge consequences at both ends of the table

This weekend brings an important match in Germany’s second division. FC Schalke 04 will play Fortuna Düsseldorf at home on Saturday. Both teams need the points for different reasons. Schalke want to go up to the Bundesliga. Düsseldorf want to stay in the second tier.

The Royal Blues are close to achieving their goal. Manager Miron Muslic has led the team to the top of the table this season. Now they need three more points to confirm their return to the top flight. Winning in front of their own fans on Saturday is the perfect scenario.

The team showed great spirit last weekend. They played away at second-placed Paderborn and fell behind by two goals early in the match. However, they fought back before half-time. Dejan Ljubicic and Adil Aouchiche scored to make it 2-2. The Austrian midfielder then got the winner in the 83rd minute. This victory gave Schalke a six-point lead at the summit.

Muslic says his players will not change their approach. He explained that they have kept the same training routine that has worked well in recent months. The coach added that the squad have prepared with focus and hard work. He believes they will only succeed if they play at their recent high level.

Fortuna Düsseldorf face a very different situation. They are in 15th place. Only one point keeps them above the relegation playoff spot. The club has changed managers twice this season. Current boss Alexander Ende must save them from dropping down.

Recent results give the visitors some hope. They beat Dynamo Dresden 3-1 at home in their last match. Cedric Itten, Emmanuel Iyoha and Luca Raimund all scored. This win ended a run of poor form and lifted confidence.

Ende refuses to accept defeat before the match. He knows few people expect his side to get a result. The manager stated that every game now is like a final. He stressed that every point and every goal matters in their current position.

When the teams met in December, Schalke won 2-0 away from home. Kenan Karaman and Vitalie Becker scored that day. That result ended a long wait for victory against Düsseldorf. However, Fortuna have a decent record at this ground. They have only lost once in their last five visits there. Their last win in Gelsenkirchen came in 2019, when both clubs were in the top division.

Schalke have several injury problems. Emil Højlund, Tomáš Kalas, Nikola Katić, Bryan Lasme, Finn Porath and Henning Matriciani are all out. Edin Džeko should come back into the squad.

Düsseldorf have some better news. Valgeir Lunddal and Christian Rasmussen have returned to training. Hamza Anhari and Tim Rossmann are also getting fitter. Anouar El Azzouzi might miss out due to a shoulder injury.

Schalke will likely use a 4-2-3-1 system. Karius should start in goal. The defence may include Becker, Kuruçay, Ayhan and N’Diaye. El-Faouzi and Schallenberg could play in midfield. Ljubicic, Karaman and Aouchiche offer support behind striker Sylla.

Düsseldorf are expected to line up in a 4-3-2-1 formation. Kastenmeier will keep goal. Zimmermann, Oberdorf, Egouli and Lenz should form the back four. Alexandropolous, El Azzouzi and Appelkamp may play in the centre. Iyoha and M. Ljubičić can support front man Itten.