FC Schalke 04 are guests at FC Kaiserslautern. S04 needs points at Betzenberg. Coach Karel Geraerts is sending this team into the race.

Even two hours before kick-off, all the journeys to the dreaded Betzenberg in Kaiserslautern were packed – the traditional duel between 1. FC Kaiserslautern and FC Schalke 04 sounds more like a glamorous Bundesliga match than a second division turmoil and relegation battle, around 48,000 spectators are there, the Fritz Walter Stadium is sold out. Nobody has anything to give away in the direct duel (18:30/Sky) between 15th (FCK) and 14th (S04).

But it’s not just the table constellation that makes for an explosive match. Schalke will meet their former head coach Dimitrios Grammozis again, who is currently in charge of the Red Devils. And Grammozis has come under considerable pressure there after three league games in a row – rumors of a player revolt shook FCK at the beginning of the week. “That was the lowest drawer,” Grammozis told the WAZ in an exclusive interview. Nevertheless, the evening will take place in front of “fantastic home fans”.

Schalke coach Karel Geraerts remains true to his 4-4-2 strategy, but changes his starting line-up in three positions: Timo Baumgartl replaces the yellow card suspended Marcin Kaminski in central defense. Derry John Murkin defends on the left for Thomas Ouwejan (bench). Murkin was absent from the 2-0 defeat against HSV due to a yellow-red suspension.

Lino Tempelmann moves into right midfield for Blendi Idrizi, who is ill. Schalke (20 points) could move one place and one point clear of the Palatinate, who are one place and one point lower down the table. Hansa Rostock (against SV Elversberg) and Eintracht Braunschweig (17 points/1st FC Magdeburg) also have no easy tasks at the weekend.

Grammozis also makes three changes to his team. Ragnar Ache, Frank Ronstadt and Julian Niehues come in for Jean Zimmer, Tobias Raschl and Daniel Hanslik