Schalke 04 – Hamburg

In Gelsenkirchen, the home team will manage to pick up at least one point

Since 2021, Schalke's football fate has been one of the most tragic in German football. Having been relegated to the second division at the end of the aforementioned season, the Pitmen immediately returned to the elite from first place, reassuring their fans about the revival of the seven-time German champion. However, the club once again became helpless in the Bundesliga and once again crashed out. But the tragedy of the situation in Gelsenkirchen is formed not by the events described, but by the current status of the club. The Pitmen's fourteenth place at the end of the first round of the Second Bundesliga does not exactly correspond to the club's historical traditions, financial situation or objectives for the season. Hamburg, along with their upcoming opponents, were among the three favorites for the Second Division title before the start of the season. However, the trouble for the "dinosaurs" is the fact that in this status they start the sixth consecutive championship. Hamburg finished all the previous ones in third or fourth place, falling just short of the coveted direct promotion zone. Now Walter's team sits in the "native" third place, which brings a fair share of nervousness in its actions directly on the field. Bookmakers have not decided on the favourites of the upcoming meeting, offering about equal odds on the rivals. Despite the current position, Schalke went on winter break in a pretty good mood. Over the last three rounds of the first round, the Pitmen have picked up half of the points they scored in the previous fourteen rounds. Osnabrück and Hansa were beaten 6-0, while tough Groiter Fürth had to share the points with Schalke, finishing the game on the powerplay. Hamburg won only twice in the last five rounds before the end of the first part of the championship, losing away to Holstein Kiel and at home to Paderborn. The guests are now far from infallible in their playing qualities. And it is unlikely that a month's break could significantly change this situation. The first-round match between the rivals was the kick-off in the entire championship and has so far left admiring reviews. In Hamburg, the teams played with the score 3:3 until the guests were left in the minority and did not concede two goals. Schalke will find it easier to pick up at least a point at home.