From 3.30 pm, FC Schalke 04 will host 1. FC Union Berlin. We have the latest information before kick-off at the Veltins-Arena.

Already two hours before kick-off, cars were jammed on the A2 before the Gelsenkirchen-Buer exit from both directions: The anticipation of FC Schalke 04’s fans for the second home match after the club’s re-promotion is enormous. On the fourth matchday, the first win of the season is to be achieved, but the hurdle is very, very high. The opponents are 1. FC Union Berlin.

Schalke’s coach Frank Kramer had many positive words for the opponent: “Their strength is continuity. It’s all very balanced and compact. You have to work for everything against them, you don’t get anything as a gift.” Union would play without frills – that was exemplary for his team.

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The course of the game is not so easy to predict this time, as the teams are in last (Schalke with an average of 28 per cent) and penultimate (Union with 41 per cent) place in the league’s possession table. Both actually rely on a compact defence and fast switching play. Union, as European Cup participants and still undefeated after three victories, are favourites going into the game.

Kramer makes only one change to Schalke’s starting eleven: Dominick Drexler has served his red suspension and returns for Danny Latza. Kramer had hinted at this in the pre-match press conference. Drexler had been sent off unjustifiably in the opening game in Cologne (1:3). “Everyone saw the scene, he couldn’t help it,” said Kramer.

There are professionals in both teams who have played for both clubs: They are Schalke’s Simon Terodde and Marius Bülter as well as Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow. Berlin coach Urs Fischer said: “Schalke is a team that is organised, plays a lot on the last chain and yet has the one or other long ball in play. It’s all about second balls, that’s where they become dangerous. “