Bundesliga Preview: Energie Cottbus – Schalke 04

CelticKing · Oct 31, 2008

Bundesliga Preview: Energie Cottbus – Schalke 04

VS

What: Bundesliga Round 11
Who: Energie Cottbus (18th) vs. Schalke 04 (6th)
When: Saturday 1st November, 2008 (15:30) CET
Where: Stadion der Freundschaft, Cottbus

History repeats itself on Saturday with Energie Cottbus hosting Schalke in the first game in November. Last year the home side were victorious. Who will leave the happier of the two sides this time around?

The Only Way Is Up

Almost a year to the day, Cottbus played Schalke at the Stadion der Freundschaft desperately in need of points as they are this weekend. At the time the Lausitzer were bottom of the Bundesliga after 11 games played, but caused an upset against the fancied Königsblauen to win 1-0.

They didn’t climb out of the bottom three however until March and it was touch and go as to whether they would survive, but survive they duly did. Football has a habit of repeating itself, so what are the odds of Cottbus winning on Saturday and going on to secure their top flight status in May?

Trainer Bojan Prasnikar’s certainly have the fighting spirit, but do they have the quality this time around. That fighting spirit was in evidence in midweek as they secured a potentially vital point away at fellow strugglers Arminia Bielefeld even though they goal scorer Rangelov sent off just before half time.

“The game against Arminia was important for us” trainer Bojan Prasnikar said at the pre-match press conference. “It was important for the morale, and for the belief of the team.

“The reaction of the team to defeat against Frankfurt makes me optimistic. We all have to believe, that is enormously important for the team” he added.

Königsblauen Back On Track

Schalke travel to the Stadion der Freundschaft this weekend knowing that anything but ‘friendship’ awaits them when they come up against Energie Cottbus.

Last year’s loss there will be fresh in the memory of Fred Rutten’s team meaning that they will by no means be underestimating the challenge they face against a team at the bottom of the table and fighting for survival. “I don't think the 3-0 win in Karlsruhe will see us getting careless” explained assistant boss Mike Büskens at the pre-match press conference.

“Their home ground might be called the Stadium of Friendship, but you don't get any presents on the pitch” he added. “Cottbus are a team who always battle as hard as they can. We'll need to rise to the challenge and hold our own before we can start playing football. We're much better than them at that.”

The Königsblauen’s comprehensive 3-0 win over Karlsruhe last time out has certainly boosted confidence at the club after their disappointment at only drawing 0-0 with Bielefeld last weekend. Schalke find themselves within touching distance of the top sitting as they do in 6th place.

“We're on the right road at the moment and are determined not to lose our way” Büskens continued. “We've had a very busy programme just recently and so it's important to have a big squad full of top-class players.

“Ten years ago we could only dream of having so much quality at our disposal. Now we're glad to have so many good players here.”

Schalke have actually only lost once this season. Their problem has been converting good performances into wins rather than draws. Saturday’s battle with Cottbus will be one such occasion where three points needs to be secured if the Gelsenkirchen club are to fighting for a place in the top three at the end of the season.

FORM GUIDE

Energie Cottbus

28/10/08 v Arminia Bielefeld (a) DREW 1-1 (Bundesliga)

25/10/08 v Eintracht Frankfurt (h) LOST 2-3 (Bundesliga)

18/10/08 v 1.FC Köln (a) LOST 1-0 (Bundesliga)

05/10/08 v Hamburg (h) LOST 1-2 (Bundesliga)

27/09/09 v Hertha Berlin (a) WON 0-1 (Bundesliga)

23/09/08 v Bor. Mönchengladbach (h) WON 3-0 (DFB Pokal)

Schalke 04

28/10/08 v Karlsruhe (a) WON 0-3 (Bundesliga)

25/10/08 v Arminia Bielefeld (h) DREW 0-0 (Bundesliga)

23/10/08 v Paris St. Germain (h) WON 3-1 (Uefa Cup)

19/10/08 v Hamburg (a) DREW 1-1 (Bundesliga)

05/10/08 v Wolfsburg (h) DREW 2-2 (Bundesliga)

02/10/08 v Apoel Nicosia (h) DREW 1-1 (Uefa Cup)

Head to head record in Cottbus:

02/11/07 Energie Cottbus 1 Schalke 0

18/11/06 Energie Cottbus 2 Schalke 4

02/11/02 Energie Cottbus 0 Schalke 1

02/03/02 Energie Cottbus 2 Schalke 0

03/02/01 Energie Cottbus 4 Schalke 1

TEAM NEWS

Energie Cottbus

Midweek goal scorer Dimitar Rangelov is suspended following his silly red card against Bielefeld which turned him from hero to villain for Cottbus. Branko Jelic and Ivica Iliev are the possible understudies.

Also suspended is centre back Igor Mitreski, while Stanislav Angelov will miss out after undergoing an operation on a tooth. Mario Cvitanovic is also unlikely to feature. Better news concerns Dennis Sörensen and Stiven Rivic who should be able to play.

Probable starting XI: Tremmel, Pavicevic, Kukielka, Cagdas, Ziebig, Kurth, Rost, Rivic, Skela, Sörensen, Jelic

Schalke 04

Fred Rutten has the luxury of having nearly everybody fit. Only Christian Pander (calf) and Levan Kenia (ankle) have been ruled out of the trip to Cottbus.

Even though full back Rafinha was restricted to just a few laps round the training ground on Thursday, and Jefferson Farfan didn't train at all, they will be available for selection

Probable starting XI: Neuer, Rafinha, Westermann, Bordon, Kobiashvili, Jones, Engelaar, Rakitic, Farfan, Altintop, Kuranyi

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Energie Cottbus- Ervin Skela

Albanian midfielder Skela could a key figure for Cottbus in the midfield battle with the likes of Jermaine Jones and Orlando Engelaar. His goals were vital for Energie last season and one or two at the weekend would go down very nicely with boss Bojan Prasnikar.

Schalke 04- Kevin Kuranyi

The whole furore over Kuranyi walking out on the national side and Joachim Löw’s subsequent decision not to consider the Schalke striker in future seems to have died down now. The curious thing is however, that Kuranyi has been playing very, very well of late. He was the match winner against Karlsruhe with a goal and two assists. This is the form of a German international striker. Are you watching Jogi Löw?
Click to expand...

Log in or Sign up

Bundesliga Preview: Energie Cottbus – Schalke 04

CelticKing The Green Monster

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Bundesliga Preview: Energie Cottbus – Schalke 04

Moderators

CelticKing The Green Monster

Share This Page

Useful Searches