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

Union Berlin take on Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with the visitors looking to keep their slim hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

The capital outfit, meanwhile, have failed to win their last four matches, so will be aiming to get back to winning ways in order to move up the table.

Match preview

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Having looked like challenging for the Europa League qualification positions at one point this season, there may be an element of disappointment within the Union Berlin ranks regarding the latest drop off in form.

In truth, though, Urs Fischer's side had worked miracles to perform as well as they had done without their injured talisman and top goalscorer Max Kruse after the attacking midfielder tore a muscle bundle in the Berlin derby defeat in early December.

There is no doubt that Union Berlin endured a nightmare afternoon at struggling Mainz 05 on Saturday, though, with Moussa Niakhate's 22nd-minute penalty made worse by Nico Schlotterbeck's second yellow card and subsequent dismissal prior to the hour mark as the visitors fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat.

With Kruse due to return from injury in the coming weeks, however, Fischer will be hoping a home game against Schalke, who have taken only three points from nine away games this season, represents the perfect opportunity for his side to get back on track with a win.

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Indeed, despite bolstering their defence with the additions of Sead Kolasinac and Shkodran Mustafi from Arsenal, Schalke do not appear any more likely to undertake one of the greatest escapes from relegation in European history.

Christian Gross's side were second best throughout in their 3-0 defeat at home to RB Leipzig on Saturday, with Marcel Sabitzer's drilled effort sandwiched by two headed goals from set pieces by Nordi Mukiele and Willi Orban.

However, Schalke have at least improved a little offensively since Gross took charge, with Mark Uth squandering their only shot on target in the first half before leaving the field with a hamstring injury.

That news will come as a major blow to Gross, but if Matthew Hoppe and Armine Harit can turn it on in Berlin on Saturday, there is every chance they can record an upset and gain a small glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Union Berlin Bundesliga form: DWLLDL

Schalke 04 Bundesliga form: WLLLDL Schalke 04 form (all competitions): LLLDLL

Team News

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Kruse's injury was thought to be an eight-week one when it was sustained on 4 December, so the former Germany international should be set to return to first-team action imminently, with a spot on the bench potentially up for grabs.

Grischa Promel, Sheraldo Becker, Christopher Lenz and Anthony Ujah are all ruled out due to injury, with Schlotterbeck suspended.

Schalke have a host of absentees themselves, with Uth, Timo Becker, Can Bozdogan, Frederik Ronnow, Steven Skrzybski, Kilian Ludewig, Salif Sane and Goncalo Pacienca all unable to travel to Berlin.

Nassim Boujellab could come into the XI in place of Uth, with the creative burden on Harit having increased.

Union Berlin possible starting lineup: Luthe; Friedrich, Knoche, Ryerson; Trimmel, Gentner, Andrich, Ingvartsen, Giesselmann; Awoniyi, Teuchert

Schalke 04 possible starting lineup: Fahrmann; William, Mustafi, Nastasic, Kolasinac; Mascarell, Stambouli; Schopf, Boujellab, Harit; Hoppe

We say: Union Berlin 1-1 Schalke 04

We can envisage Schalke gaining a positive result in Berlin on Saturday, with the hosts missing several first-team players due to injury and suspension.

The likes of Hoppe and Harit have the quality to damage Union Berlin, but it may not be enough for their first away win of the season.