Just like last season, Bayern Munich and Schalke 04 meet late in the DFB Pokal with plenty at stake for both teams. Bayern look well out of the title race at this point after this weekend’s loss to Borussia Dortmund, while qualifying for Europe through league position hasn’t looked like a realistic prospect for Schalke for quite some time. Both teams are still involved in the UEFA Champions League, but neither team has a very realistic shot at winning the competition. As a result, for both teams, a German Cup win could make their season.
DFB Pokal Semifinal, Bayern Munich Vs. Schalke 04: Königsblauen Need A Win To Salvage Season
Schalke are without Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but otherwise, both teams have full strength teams to field at the Allianz Arena. In a match between the two sides earlier this season, Schalke won 2-0, but were hardly the better side on the day. Felix Magath’s team defended deep while relying on counter-attacking, set pieces, and simple luck for their scoring opportunities. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him repeat this strategy on Wednesday. However, he faces a much fitter Bayern side who, despite their loss to Dortmund on the weekend, is in much better form than they were when that match took place.
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