NK Maribor vs Schalke 04 preview - Schalke ready for biggest test - 7M sport

NK Maribor vs Schalke 04 preview - Schalke ready for biggest test



Posted Tuesday, December 09, 2014 by PA

Schalke have arrived in Slovenia for the biggest game of their season so far against a Maribor side who are not likely to be a pushover.

The Royal Blues slipped to third in Group G after losing 5-0 at home to Chelsea last time out and their destiny is no longer in their own hands, although they still have a chance of joining the Blues in the knockout round.

"It's not going to be a very comfortable game for us," said Schalke forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. "It's going to be important and difficult, but we want to go through."

Victory over Maribor will only be enough for second place if Chelsea beat Sporting in the group's other game, but Maribor know that victory would see them snatch third place off Schalke.

All Schalke can do is fulfil their own duty and hope for good news from Stamford Bridge, although they will not be concerning themselves with the proceedings in London.

"We've just got to get the three points in Maribor without wasting any unnecessary energy thinking about what's happening there," said defender Jan Kirchhoff.

"We've got to do our own job and influence what we can influence, and that is the game in Maribor."

Kirchhoff expects Maribor to do all they can to keep their own hopes alive of remaining in Europe next season.

"That could play into our hands," he said. "Maribor are very well organised and they caused us problems at the Arena AufSchalke."

If they play like they did in the Bundesliga at the weekend, when they put Stuttgart to the sword inside the own stadium, Schalke should not have too many concerns.

"We've got to carry on where we left off in the Bundesliga," said Roman Neustadter.

"We will play with self-confidence and work out of an organised defence. We've already shown how good we are in front of goal."

Maribor's reward for a first ever win over Bundesliga opposition, having gone close in the reverse fixture when they scored for only the second time against a German side, would be a place in the Europa League.

Their recent record at home should stand them in good stead, though, with a seven-game unbeaten run at home.



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