Preview: Schalke 04 vs Hertha Berlin - prediction, team news, lineups

Two fallen giants of German football will clash on the 2. Bundesliga's opening matchday, as Schalke 04 host Hertha Berlin on Friday evening.

Both sides finished in the bottom half last season, so they will hope to fare much better in the coming campaign.

Match preview

Champions League semi-finalists as recently as 2011, Schalke have continued to struggle over the past decade, hit by financial crises and chronic mismanagement.

The Gelsenkirchen side now face a fourth 2. Bundesliga campaign in five years, and ex-Plymouth Argyle boss Miron Muslic is the latest man charged with leading them back to the big time.

With Hamburg and Koln booking their returns in May, Die Konigsblauen are certainly the biggest club left in Germany's second tier, so they will be targeting a promotion push after trailing home 14th last term.

Having ended the 2024-25 season with four straight defeats, Schalke returned to action in early July, since when they have won just two of six friendlies.

On Saturday, they were beaten 4-2 at home by Sevilla - their conquerors in the 2006 Europa League semi-finals - but the result will really matter on Friday.

Like their hosts, Hertha Berlin hopes of a revival have been hampered by a bleak balance sheet, and the capital club are now approaching their third consecutive year in the 2. Bundesliga.

Hertha have finished ninth and 11th so far, though the latter could have been even worse but for the February arrival of Stefan Leitl: his side lost just three of their final 12 matches last term.

Leitl - who previously led Greuther Furth to the top flight - impressively turned a struggling side around, so expectations will be higher this season.

Die Alte Dame could be contenders in what looks like a wide-open promotion race, and pre-season results suggest they may be ready to start sharply.

Following three straight friendly wins over minnows, they travelled to Austria for a training camp, being edged out 1-0 by Brondby before beating Austria Vienna 2-1.

Then, Hertha drew 1-1 with Scottish Premiership side Motherwell at Fir Park last Friday, wrapping up preparations for a tough trip to start their latest league campaign.

Schalke 04 pre-season form: D L W D W L

Hertha Berlin pre-season form: W W W L W D

Team News

Among Schalke's summer signings so far, Miron Muslic has acquired Nikola Katic, having worked with the Bosnian centre-back at Plymouth last season.

Soufiane El-Faouzi and Timo Becker have also arrived, while ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius - who joined on a short-term deal in January - has now signed a two-year extension.

However, Derry Murkin and Tobias Mohr have both left and Pape Meissa Ba is close to joining Queens Park Rangers; captain Kenan Karaman will be sidelined until September with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Hertha have lost regular starters Jonjoe Kenny, Derry Scherhant and Florian Niederlechner, plus rising star Ibrahim Maza.

By way of compensation, Paul Seguin was signed from Schalke and young midfielder Maurice Krattenmacher has joined on loan from Bayern Munich.

Fellow new boy Dawid Kownacki should support Fabian Reese up front. Owned by Werder Bremen, the Polish striker scored 13 league goals for Fortuna Dusseldorf last season.

Schalke 04 possible starting lineup: Karius; Becker, Katic, Sanchez; Gantenbein, Gruger, Schallenberg, Zalazar, Bulut; Sylla, Antwi-Adjei

Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup: Ernst; Gechter, Leistner, Dardai; Eitschberger, Demme, Seguin, Cuisance, Karbownik; Kownacki, Reese