FC Schalke is not only fighting against relegation from the Bundesliga at Eintracht Frankfurt, it is also about avoiding a historic negative record.

On Saturday (15:30), FC Schalke 04 has to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the opening match of the second round of the Bundesliga. Schalke is already five points away from the first non-relegation spot.

The preparation was bumpy, the Königsblauen have many personnel problems. Actually, there is hardly anything in Frankfurt that speaks in favour of the Knappen. Should Schalke not win, coach Thomas Reis’ team would have set a historic negative record, previously held by Karlsruher SC.

It is about the series of away games not won. Schalke’s defeat at Werder Bremen before the winter break has already set this negative record. One more away game without a three-pointer and Schalke are lonely at the top of this statistic.

KSC managed not to win 35 Bundesliga games in a row away from home between 21 February 1976 (3:1 at 1. FC Köln) and 21 February 1981 (2:1 in Düsseldorf). It took five years (1826 days) because Karlsruher had also been relegated in between.

And now – over 41 years later, Schalke could reach an even worse mark this weekend. The Knappen have failed to score three points away from home 35 times. The last victory came in Bremen.

On 23 November 2019, the S04 won 2-1 at SV Werder – at that time with goals from Benito Raman and Amine Harit.

Now – 1156 days later – Schalke must deliver in Frankfurt, otherwise the sole negative record looms.