Rutten said: “We’ve prepared well for the game. If they need to, Mönchengladbach are capable of working very hard for 95 minutes. One thing is clear. They aren’t coming to Schalke simply to have a good time. On the contrary, they’ll be in confident mood after taking four points from the last two games. Gladbach are in good form, especially in the fitness department. I’m not expecting an open game. Gladbach will sit back and wait for an opportunity to break. So we’ll have to make use of any space on offer.”

That might be an understatement because if their was an award for out-working the opposition and playing physical, I’d be casting my vote to Gladbach. Schalke is in for a fine and should expect tight, physical marking at Veltins.

Schalke’s only omission is Rafinha while Gladbach will be without Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker, Oliver Neuville and Filip Daems is likely to miss out.

Off to my own match now but I’ll be back online when the match is on for those watching.

“He’s a football animal. You could say he simply can’t kick the football habit. When I heard he was returning to the Bundesliga and had taken the job at Mönchengladbach I have to admit I was a bit surprised. But now I’m obviously looking forward to seeing him again. We learnt a lot from each other during our time together in Enschede. Hans is very good on the physical side of things and I took a lot from that. But I’m sure he’ll have taken on some of my methods as well.”

‘Gladbach is sitting fourteenth in the Bundesliga table with eleven points but coming off an affirming 2-2 draw to Bayern München and a 2-0 victory over Arminia Bielefeld the week before.

It could have been a lot different for Schalke as they squandered two opportunities early including an easy go-ahead goal when Kevin Kurányi missed over the bar from a few meters fifteen minutes after the start. Once again, lost scoring chances come back to haunt you and following a turnover in Schalke end, Renato Augusto crossed into the box where Stefan Kießling volleyed the ball in from roughly five meters. That seemed to pick-up the home crowd and Werkself fed off, limiting Schalke’s attacks through the balance of the half. Four minutes before the break Patrick Helmes scooped up the chance when Augusto’s shot rebounded to him and the German international quickly stroked it in.

The Leverkusen were playing a perfect match at that time and while it might not make the statistics, any effort towards René Adler was from a poor angle and never had a chance. Die Königsblauen were the beneficiaries of a break when Gonzalo Castro was shown his second yellow card and finally with four minutes remaining Kevin Kurányi headed-in a well placed Christian Pander free-kick. With the 2-1 score Schalke’s efforts to come out with a point were sub-par and as manager Fred Rutten said after the match;

“They deserved to lose.”

“You just can’t afford to waste chances the way we did. And the two goals we conceded really annoyed me.”

It is a bitter lesson for Schalke as they were clearly the better club the first twenty-five minutes and should have had the lead but as they came up empty on the attacking side, each goal came on poor errors and should have never resulted in a goal.

Bayer manager Bruno Labbadia knows the importance of this match:

“We’ve earned our position by playing well and the team have done a lot of things right. It doesn’t affect our approach. But if we want to hold on to top spot then we need to beat Schalke and that’s important because they are direct competitors for a UEFA Cup place.”

Bruno Labbadia is confident of his lineup regardless of last weeks poor play:

“I won’t lose my belief in this team just because they didn’t play so well for half a game. They deserve that after their performances in recent weeks. I have full confidence in my players.”

The one draw-back for them is that Pirmin Schwegler injured his right knee in practice and is unavailable. Their attacking side of Arturo Vidal,Tranquillo Barnetta,Renato Augusto,Patrick Helmes and Stefan Kießling are possibly the best overall group in the Bundesliga and Fred Rutten will need to reinforce die Königsblauen defending lines and ensure the mix-ups against der Kaiser’s* club. Schalke is fully-fit with the exclusion of Levan Kenia.

Don’t miss this match as it is the best of the weekend.

* score another one for me in random reference’s to Franz Beckenbauer

Incredibly with such focus on defending, Bayern scored only three minutes after the start as Luca Toni and Mark van Bommel played a simple 1-2, resulting in the Azzurri capped sharpshooter knocking in the ball from close-in range. Before you could catch your breath the match was level two minutes later as Rafinha dealt a pass to Jefferson Farfán, who struck from a tight range. With only two goals in five minutes it was hard to see where the score was going to end and it of-course made you wonder where the tough defensive game plan went. The match settled down, almost with Farfán’s equalizing goal as a “re-start” and Schalke began to employ a tough tackling defensive plan. The home side had a few respectable opportunities but in a cardinal-sin, they left themselves open to a counter-attack at the thirty-first minute, allowing Bayern to score the go-ahead goal as Zé Roberto passed back to Franck Ribéry in point-blank range for what would turn out to the winning strike.

For the balance of the match, Schalke controlled most of the play but could not develop enough close range attempts. Bayern played perfect championship quality defense, slowed the pace and didn’t allow die Königsblauen to advance without challenge. Jürgen Klinsmann’s side definitely nullified Schalke’s attack and will be pleased with their defending on set pieces as well. Hopefully Ribéry will recover for the horrible injury he sustained from the phantom strike that unfortunately was so lightning quick it couldn’t be seen on camera. Jermaine Jones did an admirable role in marking Franck Ribéry but that call was ridiculous and although many do, great players like Ribéry shouldn’t be flopping all over the pitch like that.

After the match Der Kaiser’s said: “Obviously it’s a deserved victory, although it was fortunate as well today. Both goals came from superb moves, it was wonderful to watch, but we didn’t invest enough after that. Schalke were the busier side in both halves, but they simply failed to score. If they’d made more of their corners and set-pieces, they might have taken more from the game.”

Fred Rutten summarized the match simply: “Today the more efficient team won. We were lacking there and our set pieces weren’t that good either,” adding “We played good football in the first half and created chances, but Bayern were superbly efficient. We weren’t, and you don’t win matches if you don’t score goals.”

It was a very disappointing loss for Schalke and the loss of Orlando Engelaar certainly had an impact in one of the toughest matches of the season. It might be a forgotten moment but when players lose discipline on the pitch as he did, it has a impact and his absence in the match definitely was an issue. The chief weaknesses in Schalke’s play was being unable to counter Bayern’s picture perfect defensive play and the midfield being unable to supply quality scoring chances and take the match to the Bavarians.

Fred Rutten has his club on five match unbeaten streak and with clinical marking have not allowed a goal in three matches. Unfortunately Orlando Engelaar will not be available for the match due to suspension and Fabian Ernst will need to step in the clubs tight marking scheme. With Jermaine Jones taking his strategic role in holding with the key target of his work Franck Ribéry, the attacking forces of Ivan Rakitić, Jefferson Farfán, Halil Altıntop and Kevin Kurányi will need to push forward with patience, lest be open to a swift and deadly counter.

Fred Rutten spoke of the match:

“Obviously we want to win at home. “The lads are up for it, I can sense that. But we shouldn’t overstate the importance of the game. The title race won’t be won or lost on Sunday. After eight games without a defeat we are confident. The outcome of the Bayern game won’t change that. They didn’t enjoy the best of starts, but Bayern have shown what they’re capable of just recently. Bayern Munich have lots of experience, they’re a good footballing side and they’re in good form. But the same can be said of us, so it’s bound to be a good game.”

*please note that was before their blogger arrived

Racing Santander owned the run of play from the start of the match with only and Schalke was playing behind the ball. The home squad threatened early with Manuel Neuer denying Jonathan Pereira and Pedro Munitis before the break. Twelve minutes after the break Jonathan Pereira set-up Mohammed Tchité for the go-ahead goal and with the Schalke attack taking the night off, things appeared bleak. However just past the hour mark die Königsblauen found the goal they needed as Jefferson Farfán who dished a pass to Orlando Engelaar, who subsequently found the back of the net from just over twenty meters. With the match now even, their was more of a heated effort for the winner but neither squad could find it.

Tactically this was the result Schalke wanted and although Racing Santander they were able to come out with the draw and now can focus on Bayern München.

Since the PSG match, Schalke is undefeated*, without surrendering a goal in three matches. They have shown an opportunistic side with their attacks with Jefferson Farfán, Halil Altıntop and Kevin Kurányi gelling as formidable attacking trio. On the opposite end of the pitch, Mohammed Tchité will need to be marked sternly by Marcelo Bordon, Heiko Westermann and company or he’ll cause a multitude of problems in what is likely to be a fast paced, exciting match.

* while the timing of my first blog entry and the play is interesting to note, I take no credit for the brilliant efforts and the defensive stronghold. So please, dispense with the conspiracy theories, although it is interesting how Werder has completely dismantled since their blog returned isn’t it?