Bundesliga · Matchday 8 
Our pick0–1Correct result
Schalke seek a standings climb against Leipzig
FC Schalke 04 have a chance to move up from 16th, but face an RB Leipzig side with a stronger start and a clear edge in recent meetings.
📍 VELTINS-Arena
Preview written: · Updated after team news:
All Matchday 8 matchesFull head-to-head
Match report
RB Leipzig defeated FC Schalke 04 2-0. Antonio Nusa opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 37th minute. The visitors added a second in the 78th minute, with Rômulo José Cardoso da Cruz scoring from an assist by Nusa. There were no red cards.
The statistics reflected Leipzig’s attacking advantage: they had 18 shots to Schalke’s six and led 10-1 in shots on target. Leipzig also recorded 3.3 expected goals, compared with Schalke’s 0.58. L. Karius of FC Schalke 04 was the top-rated player, with a rating of 7.9. The 2-0 result was one goal wider than the model’s predicted 0-1 away win; its pre-match probabilities were 50% for an away win, 25% for a draw and 25% for a home win.
Goals
- 37'Antonio Nusa (pen.) · RB Leipzig
- 78'Rômulo José Cardoso da Cruz · Antonio Nusa · RB Leipzig
Cards
- 51'Timo Becker · FC Schalke 04
- 86'Adil Aouchiche · FC Schalke 04
Match stats
⭐ Top-rated player: L. Karius (FC Schalke 04) 7.9
Ratings and statistics: API-Football.
Confirmed lineups
FC Schalke 04 · 4-3-2-1
- 1L. KariusG
- 5T. BeckerD
- 25N. KatićD
- 4H. KuruçayD
- 33Vitalie BeckerD
- 13S. TanakaM
- 43M. AyhanM
- 24A. AouchicheM
- 20J. AdamuM
- 19K. KaramanM
- 7Hwang Hee-ChanF
Coach: M. Muslić
RB Leipzig · 4-5-1
- 26M. VandevoordtG
- 39B. HenrichsD
- 4W. OrbánD
- 23C. LukebaD
- 22D. RaumD
- 10B. GrudaM
- 20R. ReitzM
- 21N. El AynaouiM
- 6E. BanzuziM
- 7A. NusaM
- 40RômuloF
Coach: M. Demichelis
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| · | Scored | Conceded |
|---|---|---|
| FC Schalke 04 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| RB Leipzig | 2.9 | 1.6 |
League position
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | RB Leipzig | 7 | +9 | 12 |
| 16 | FC Schalke 04 | 7 | -3 | 6 |
Last meetings
- 2023RB Leipzig4-2FC Schalke 04
- 2023FC Schalke 041-6RB Leipzig
- 2021FC Schalke 040-3RB Leipzig
- 2020RB Leipzig4-0FC Schalke 04
- 2020FC Schalke 040-5RB Leipzig
Absences
FC Schalke 04
- OutJ. Bachmann · Hip Injury
- OutS. El-Faouzi · Broken nose
- OutA. Gantenbein · Muscle Injury
- OutR. Gosens · Head Injury
- OutM. Sylla · Leg Injury
- OutL. Vozar · Illness
- OutM. Wober · Muscle Injury
RB Leipzig
- OutM. Esteve · Knock
- OutM. Guiu · Hamstring Injury
- OutA. Ouedraogo · Shoulder Injury
PreviaXI model
Model confidence: Medium
- Predicted score
- 0-1
- Expected goals (model)
- 1.12 – 1.66
- Double chance
- 12 · 75%1X 50% · X2 75%
- Over 2.5 goals
- 53%Over 1.5: 77% · Over 3.5: 30%
- Both teams score
- 55%
- Clean sheet
- 19% – 33%FC Schalke 04–RB Leipzig
- Half-time result
- X · 41%1 22% · 2 37%
- Half-time / full-time
- 2/2 · 30%X/2 16% · X/X 15%
- Expected corners
- 9.54.4 – 5.1 · Over 9.5: 48%
- Expected cards
- 3.11.4 – 1.7 · Over 3.5: 38%
- Most likely scores
- 1-112%
- 0-110%
- 1-210%
- 0-29%
- 1-07%
Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →
A chance to climb
FC Schalke 04 have the opportunity to improve their position from 16th when they meet sixth-placed RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Schalke have six points from seven matches, six fewer than Leipzig, so a result at the VELTINS-Arena would be a valuable step towards climbing the standings.
Leipzig arrive with the sharper attack
Schalke’s last five matches have brought four goals for and four against, while Leipzig have scored 16 and conceded eight over the same span. The visitors have won four of their seven league games, all at home, but lost each of their three away fixtures. Schalke, meanwhile, have yet to win at home: two draws and a defeat from three matches, with no goals scored there.
That home record offers Schalke a platform defensively—they have conceded only once at the VELTINS-Arena—but they will need to find a way to turn that resilience into goals. Leipzig’s recent scoring rate makes the visitors a major test, although their away results show they have not yet carried their home form onto the road.
A difficult recent matchup
The last five Bundesliga meetings have all gone Leipzig’s way. Their most recent encounter, in May 2023, finished 4-2, while the previous meeting in Gelsenkirchen ended in a 6-1 Leipzig victory. Schalke will need to break that sequence to give their push up the table a lift.
Several absences for Schalke
Schalke are without J. Bachmann, S. El-Faouzi, A. Gantenbein, R. Gosens, M. Sylla, L. Vozar and M. Wober. Leipzig also have three listed absentees: M. Esteve, M. Guiu and A. Ouedraogo.
Leipzig’s scoring threat
Leipzig have scored 20 league goals in seven games, compared with Schalke’s four. The visitors have also found the net in each of their three away matches, though they have conceded 11 across those games. Schalke’s home defence has been much tighter, but their failure to score at home is the central challenge.
Our prediction
Leipzig’s stronger scoring form and higher position make them favourites, even with three away defeats so far. Schalke’s home defence could keep the contest close, but the model’s most likely outcome is a narrow away win.
FC Schalke 04 0-1 RB Leipzig
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