Coach Bruno Labbadia is bracing himself for a big fight in VfB Stuttgart’s away match at FC Schalke 04 on Saturday (6.30pm/Sky).

The duel between the two traditional clubs threatened with relegation is one with “high explosiveness”, said the coach of the Swabians on Thursday. “We will be extremely challenged.” He expects a “huge atmosphere” and a “hot fight”, the 57-year-old said. VfB are 14th in the Bundesliga ahead of the 22nd matchday, while Schalke are bottom of the table.

The Gelsenkirchen side have played 0-0 four times in a row recently and have stabilised defensively after the winter break, Labbadia said. “They defend very, very well.” But he said he hoped his own team could carry the momentum from last weekend’s 3-0 home win over 1 FC Cologne. “There is no substitute for victories,” Labbadia stressed. The success was “extremely important”. After the 2:0, it was obvious that his team had played “more liberated”. All of a sudden it was “flowing”.

Striker Serhou Guirassy and defender Pascal Stenzel will miss VfB against Schalke due to injury. Offensive man Tiago Tomás, who has returned to training after an abdominal muscle injury, could at least be back on the bench, according to Labbadia. Fabian Bredlow will again be in goal.