2. Bundesliga Friday: Previews, team news and predicted lineups | OneFootball

Schalke 04 vs. SV Darmstadt

Miron Muslic’s Schalke are hitting form at just the right time. Not widely tipped as promotion contenders before the campaign began, the Royal Blues have quickly forced their way into the conversation with four consecutive victories, including last weekend’s emphatic 3-0 win away at Hannover. That result lifted them to second place on 21 points heading into Matchday 10.

Muslic has called for his side to keep making progress, saying: “We want to build on our recent performances and are making sure we are as well prepared as we can be.” Before adding: “We don’t need to focus too much on the opposition if we make sure we play well.”

Visitors Darmstadt are also enjoying a strong run, unbeaten in five and currently sitting fourth on 18 points. Their most recent outing was a goalless draw against Magdeburg - their fifth clean sheet of the season - although key man Isac Lidberg, the league’s second-top scorer, was kept unusually quiet. The Swede will be eager to rediscover his touch in front of goal on Friday night.

Head coach Florian Kohfeldt bigged up the clash, speaking beforehand: “Both teams are very good at set pieces. I think you could say this will be an absolute top game in the second division on Friday evening.

The meeting also serves as the first of two encounters in six days, with the sides set to face off again in the DFB-Pokal next Wednesday in Darmstadt. The visitors did the double over Schalke last season (3-5, 2-0) and have lost just once away from home this campaign, though Muslic’s side will be determined to dampen that record at the Veltins-Arena.

Team news: Schalke 04: Christopher Antwi-Adjei joins Timo Becker, Emil Højlund, and Tomas Kalas on the injury list after picking up a calf problem in Hannover. However, Peter Remmert is available for selection for the first time since August.SV Darmstadt: Sergio Lopez is suspended thanks to the red card picked up against Magdeburg, whilst Fabian Nürnberger will miss out due to injury. 

Predicted lineups: 

Schalke 04 (3-4-2-1): Karius (GK) - Ayhan, Katic, Kuruçay - Gantenbein, El-Faouzi, Schallenberg, V. Becker - Karaman, Gomis - Sylla 

SV Darmstadt (4-2-2-2): Schuhen (GK) - Maglica, Vukotić, Pfeiffer, Klassen - Akiyama, Richter - Marseiler, Corredor - Hornby, Lidberg 

Greuther Fürth vs. Karlsruher SC

After a bright start to Thomas Kleine’s first full season in charge, Greuther Fürth have hit a worrying patch of form, winning just once in their last five outings and slipping ever closer to the relegation zone. Their 6-0 capitulation away to leaders Elversberg last weekend was particularly damaging, as Fürth’s defence completely fell apart in the second half.

Heading into Matchday 10, Fürth hold the worst defensive record in the league, having conceded 24 goals. They are also yet to keep a clean sheet this season - an alarming statistic reminiscent of last year’s struggles. If Kleine’s men are to avoid another relegation battle, this trend must be reversed quickly.

Visitors Karlsruher SC, meanwhile, have enjoyed a steady start under Christian Eichner. Sitting seventh with 15 points, they remain within touching distance of the chasing pack, having lost only twice in their opening nine fixtures. Their main shortcoming, however, lies away from home, where they are still searching for their first victory of the campaign.

Eichner remains confident that his side can turn that around: “Due to the fact that we now have a blemished record at home, we have to take the break away! We all knew that we couldn't just win 17 home games. Tomorrow we have another chance to do better. We'll approach the game regardless of statistics, but rather with the knowledge that we made steps forward in Dresden." 

KSC completed the league double over Fürth last season (1-0, 3-2) and have lost just twice in their last 10 visits to the Sportpark Ronhof. Fürth, on the other hand, have only lost once at home this campaign and will again look to rely on their home advantage.

Team news: 

Greuther Fürth: Sacha Bansé, Timo Schlieck, Nils Körber, and Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason are all sidelined. Reno Münz is recovering well from illness and could return to the matchday squad. 

Karlsruher SC: Christian Eichner remains without Marcel Franke, Sebastian Jung, Louey Ben Farhat, and Efe-Kaan Sihlaroglu.

Predicted lineups: 

Greuther Fürth (4-2-3-1): Boevink (GK) - Reich, König, Itter, Dehm - Dietz, John - Keller, Hrgota, Klaus - Futkeu 

Karlsruher SC (3-3-2-2): Bernat (GK) - Kobald, Rapp, Beifus - Pinto Pedrosa, Müller, Herold - Egloff, Wanitzek - Förster, Schleusener