Schalke 04 must win against Hertha BSC to continue to believe in staying in the class. In addition to Terodde, another hopeful plays.
For Schalke 04, the stakes against Hertha BSC are not yet high – but they are high for the hope of somehow securing their place in the Bundesliga in the coming weeks. In order to secure a much-needed victory tonight (8:30 p.m. / DAZN and here in the RS ticker), coach Thomas Reis will make five changes to the starting eleven and also ensure a comeback: for the first time since February 4 in the 0-0 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Simon Terodde will again start for the Königsblauen against the Berliners. Reis will bring the 35-year-old in at striker in place of Michael Frey, and defensive boss Moritz Jenz is also back in the starting eleven.
The coach already hinted at the possibility of a swap in the Schalke attack in the press conference on Thursday: “We know that we have scored few goals,” said Thomas Reis and then referred to Simon Terodde: “I’m already toying with the idea of bringing him back from the start once again because he shows in training that he’s ready.” Reis had already shown a lucky hand once with a position swap: after the 1:6 against RB Leipzig, the Schalke coach took Alexander Schwolow out of goal and brought on Ralf Fährmann in his place in the next game against 1. FC Köln. It was the start of a series of eight games without defeat.
Is this move now working with Terodde? His fourth goal of the season would be of great importance in the duel of the last but one team in the table against the second last. Terodde, who will leave Schalke at the end of the season, last scored in a 1-0 win over Mainz 05 on November 9 last year. His replacement in recent weeks, Michael Frey, impressed with assiduous work in twelve appearances, but also remained largely harmless and completely scoreless.
How good from Schalke’s point of view that Moritz Jenz is also back in the game. However, instead of Maya Yoshida, Marcin Kaminski will stand next to him in central defense. Winter addition Jenz was on the pitch during the unbeaten streak, but then missed the games against Bayer Leverkusen (0:3) and at TSG Hoffenheim (0:2) due to a strain. Henning Matriciani moves to the left-back position, replacing Thomas Ouwejan. Also new in the match: Dany Latza on the six-position and Dominick Drexler behind Simon Terodde, on the bench must the form-weak Rodrigo Zalazar and Tom Krauß.
The standings could hardly be more explosive before the clash: Schalke is last with 21 points, Hertha BSC immediately ahead with 22 points. Thomas Reis doesn’t want to know anything about a final, saying, “The term doesn’t suit me, there are six more tasks after that.” But he also knows the importance of the 90 minutes: “It’s an important game, we have the chance to temporarily climb to the relegation spot.”
Schalke 04 – Hertha BSC – how they play
Schalke 04: Fährmann – Brunner, Kaminski, Jenz, Matriciani – Latza – Kral, Drexler – Skarke, Bülter – Terodde. Coach: Rice
Hertha BSC: Christensen – Uremovic, Kempf, Dardai – Richter, Cigerci, Plattenhardt – Tousart, Boateng – Lukebakio, Jovetic. Coach: Schwarz
Referee: Felix Brych (Munich)
